The EBC Manuals of Good Practice are being revamped! After consultations within both the EBC and the wider network of brewers, the decision was made to start a process of reviewing the outdated manuals. The manual Beer Filtration and Stabilisation is now in print in its completely revised form, in terms of both its content and its look and feel. Technically, there have been a lot of developments in beer filtration.

With the arrival of affordable membrane technology, the need for an assessment and inclusion into the manual became an important goal, as did the need for a thorough overhaul of the existing chapters on depth filtration in its many forms (kieselguhr, perlite, cellulose, and others). Beer Filtration and Stabilisation represents a most valuable addition to the current state of knowledge and practical applications for filtration technologists, process engineers, and brewers operating in the beer production environment.

Beer Filtration and Stabilisation

Foreword

About the author

Acknowlegments

Objectives

Purpose

Filtration, (see Sections 3 & 4)
Stabilisation (see section 5)
Cold Sterile Filtration (see Section 6)

Major Processes

Required Performance

Outline of Process Requirements
Nature and Loadings of Solids in Beer Filters
Influence of Beer Stabilisation Processes on Filter Loading
Influence of Beer Haze on CSF (Cold Sterile Filtration) Processes

Filtration using filter-aids

Introduction

Background
Filtration Equipment
Design Considerations

Filter-Aids

Types
Kieselguhr
Perlite
Cellulose
Impact on Beer Quality
Impact on Process Performance

Principles of Operation

Mechanisms of Solids Removal
Filter-aid Characterisation
Process Model

Powder Handling and Slurrying

Powder Packaging
Powder Conveying
Slurrying

Pre-coating Procedures

First-Pre-coat
Second Pre-coat
Quantities

Body-Feed

Types
Grades
Mixing Grades
Quantity
Dosing Systems

Filter Performance

Total Suspended Solids in Feed
The Size and Nature of Beer Solids
Unfiltered Beer Solids Loading
Filtered Beer Solids
Filter-Cake
Microbiological Considerations

Quality Control

Beer Haze
Oxygen Pick-up
Microbiological Requirements
Beer Losses Caused by Handling Beer in the Filter Cellar

Filtration Equipment

General Factors

Design Basis
Operation
Process Hygiene, Cleaning and Disinfection
Process Failure and Troubleshooting
Power Consumption
Operator Safety

Candle Filters

General Description
Operation
Process Hygiene, Cleaning and Disinfection
Water Consumption
Maintenance
Process Failure and Troubleshooting
Operator Safety
Twin Flow System

Plate and Frame Filters

General Description
Operation
Process Hygiene, Cleaning and Disinfection
Water Consumption
Maintenance
Process Failure and Troubleshooting
Operator Safety

Horizontal Leaf Filters

General Description

Operation

Process Hygiene, Cleaning and Disinfection

Water Consumption
Power Consumption
Maintenance
Process Failure and Troubleshooting
Operator Safety

Recycling Filter-aids
Viscose Fibres
Crossflow Microfiltration

General Description
Operation including Process Hygiene, Cleaning and Disinfection
Quality of CMF Filtered Beer
Utility Consumption and Beer Losses
Maintenance
Troubleshooting
Safety

Stabilisation In-filter

Introduction

Background to Haze Formation and Stabilisation
Colloidal Haze Formation
Haze Prevention
Systems Currently in Use
Disposal
Operator Safety
Control of Oxygen Pick-up
Water Consumption
Impact on Beer Quality

PVPP at Main Beer Filtration

Principles of Operation
Procedures
Process Engineering
Process and Quality Control

Regenerable PVPP Systems

Principles of Operation
Procedure
Process Engineering
Process Operation
Process and Quality Control
Process Hygiene, Cleaning and Disinfection

Continuous Regenerable PVPP-Systems

Ecostab System by KHS
Continuous Beer Stabilisation (CBS) by Pall
Continuous Stabilisation System by Handtmann

Silica Gels with Main Beer Filtration

Range of Amorphous Silicas
Principles of Operation
Procedures
Operation
Process and Quality control
Process Hygiene, Cleaning and Disinfection

Particle, Fine and Final Filtration

Particle Filtration
Fine Filtration

Sheet Filtration
Depth Filter Cartridges

Cold Sterile Filtration

Testing of Membrane Filter Assembly
Pre-treatment of Beer
Membrane Cleaning
Membrane Sizing
Cartridge Installation in Housing
Installation of the Filter
System Design
Maintenance
Operator Safety

SAFETY

Supplier Obligations
Risks from Typical Filtration Materials

General
Kieselguhr and Crystalline Silica
Preventative Measures to be Used when Handling Kieselguhr
Perlite
Current EU-specific Legislation

Suggested Further Reading

Appendix

Disclaimer