Pamela Daniek Indriyantini, Grace Lintang Panjaitan, Dikianur Alvianto, Angky Wahyu Putranto, Mochamad Bagus Hermanto, Wahyunanto Agung Nugroho, Bambang Dwi Argo, Mohd Usman Mohd Junaidi, Yusuf Wibisono
Clarification is a critical step in orange juice processing to enhance visual quality, stability, and shelf life. Conventional clarification methods often rely on chemical additives and are labor-intensive, which can compromise juice quality. To address these limitations, this study developed sustainable, high-performance composite membranes based on Cellulose Acetate (CA), selected for its excellent biodegradability and renewable origin. The CA matrix was modified using Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) and Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC), which functions as a hydrophilic reinforcing filler. The novelty of this work lies in the synergistic application of ‘oxaline’ DES (synthesized from choline chloride and oxalic acid) as both a pore-forming agent and a dispersion-enhancing medium that effectively prevents MCC agglomeration within the CA matrix. Membranes were fabricated via the non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) technique and evaluated for morphology, mechanical strength, and clean water permeability (CWP). The optimized membrane (DMAc-DES/M2) exhibited a high CWP of 4042.52 L/m2·h·bar, a water contact angle of 68.56° indicating improved hydrophilicity, and sufficient tensile strength of 6.16 MPa. Capillary flow porometry confirmed a mean pore size of 0.3941 μm, classifying the structure as a microfiltration membrane. In orange juice clarification trials, this membrane achieved a flux of 8.67 L/m2·h and 100% rejection of suspended solids and alcohol-insoluble solids while preserving essential nutritional attributes. These results affirm the potential of DES–MCC-modified CA membranes as effective, eco-friendly, and high-performance alternatives to commercial polyethersulfone and polysulfone membranes for industrial juice processing. © 2026 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Department of Agricultural Product Technology, Universitas Mulawarman, Samarinda, 75119, Indonesia; Department of Bioprocess Engineering, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia; MILI Institute for Water Research, Kawasan Industri Jababeka, Bekasi, 17530, Indonesia
