Fouling during food processing – progress in tackling this inconvenient truth

Abstract

Progress in understanding fouling in food processing operations is assessed based on a review of the literature published from 2014-2017. Quantitative mechanistic models have been refined and tested for milk heat exchanger fouling: in other heat transfer and membrane separation applications the studies have focused on identifying fouling behaviour and management of fouling. The awareness of fouling being one stage in a fouling-cleaning cycle is becoming more widespread and this is being incorporated in the selection of mitigation strategies and development of coatings or new surfaces. Analytical techniques are providing more detailed insight into how fouling deposits grow and evolve, which can be used to optimise parts of the cycle.