Bacteria removal in milk

Jointly with our OEM partner TetraPak, fluXXion is developing filtration technology for the selective removal of bacteria from milk. This will not only reduce the energy use and consumption of cleaning chemicals in the milk production, it can ultimately lead to large cost savings and market expansion by producing so-called Extended Shelf Life milk (ESL milk) .

With fluXXion technology very high levels of bacteria removal can be achieved (log 7 and more). Moreover, fluXXion removes all bacteria and spores, this in contrast with pasteurization where CT spores and thermophylic bacteria and other spores remain. The much improved bacteria removal with fluXXion technology results in an extended shelf life. Such extended shelf life does not only reduce the complexity of the milk supply chain (cooling trucks, time, cooled storage etc), but also improves taste. Furthermore, such ESL milk can bring fresh milk to areas that are now out of the normal distribution ranges, esp in the developing world.

The scale up of the fluXXion technology with TetraPak is now at a pilot plant stage where runtime, cleaning conditions and fluxrate are being optimized. It is expected to start industrial applications in 2010.