VLB Berlin to receive research plant for membrane dealcoholisation

Dealcoholisation | The Versuchs- und Lehranstalt für Brauerei in Berlin (VLB) is expanding its technological infrastructure for research into alcohol-free and low-alcohol beers. Reflecting the growing technological and economic importance of this market segment, Bucher Denwel is providing VLB with a De-Alconox M membrane dealcoholisation plant, which will be permanently installed in the institute’s pilot brewery. The plant will be used both for applied research into membrane-based beer dealcoholisation and for teaching and practical training.

The De-Alconox M is based on a cross-flow membrane process. Operating in batch mode, the process essentially comprises three stages. The beer is first concentrated, followed by diafiltration with deaerated water to further reduce its alcohol content. In the final reconstitution step, the alcohol and extract contents are adjusted to the required target values. The process is carried out at low product temperatures, thereby minimising thermal stress on the beer and limiting the loss of volatile aroma compounds associated with thermal dealcoholisation.

The configuration developed for VLB is designed as a flexible research platform. Its design allows different membranes and process conditions to be assessed in terms of separation performance, process behaviour and potential effects on product quality. Areas of investigation may include the retention of quality-relevant beer constituents and volatile aroma compounds, the sensory profile of the beer, membrane fouling, cleanability and process stability. The plant thus provides a basis for systematically investigating the influence of membrane selection and process parameters on process performance and product quality under reproducible conditions.

The development and implementation of the research plant has also been supported by Bucher Denwel’s industry partners, notably Endress+Hauser, Kieselmann and Samson, among others.

By making the research plant permanently available to VLB, Bucher Denwel is supporting independent research and teaching in an area of brewing technology of growing technological and economic importance. The findings generated using the plant are expected to advance scientific understanding of membrane dealcoholisation, particularly with regard to the relationships between membrane selection, process conditions and the resulting quality attributes of alcohol-free and low-alcohol beers.