How process filters can ensure your beer's purity
Throughout the beer production process, contaminants are typically found in air, water, steam, and final product (beer). Generally, you can encounter infected yeast / contaminated fungi and bacteria. A common fungus found in the brewing process is Saccharomyces pastorianus, which is a form of yeast.
Since yeast is a living organism essential for making beer, it's important to exercise proper care in handling potential contaminants. This also applies to the air and water used for various stages in beer production, which can contain bacteria. As a result, countermeasures are required. Not acting can result in code violations and damage your reputation.
You'll want a proper beer filtration system to comply with regulations like FDA CFR Title 21 and EU Regulation No. 1935/2004. Our process filters remove contaminants to meet these standards. Read on below to learn more about proper filter placement and their effectiveness for clean and optimal operations.
Contaminants removed with beer filtration
Process filtration placement
With the information above, it's important to know where to install filters. They are typically placed at the following steps of the beer production process:
● Water treatment for process and brew water
● Yeast breeding
● After Kieselguhr (DE) / clarification and CO2 delivery for bright beer tank: trap filtration
● Water and steam delivery for CIP
● After beer filtration to remove residual yeast: trap filtration + final filtration (0.65-0.45)
● PVPP and/or Bentonite stabilization, removal of Polyphenols and KOAG Prots to improve beer shelf life: trap filtration
● Cold sterilization between bright beer tank and bottling machine
● Compressed air for bottling machine
The right membrane size
When placing filters at each stage, it's important to note that different types are needed. To help you understand which ones to use, a list of membrane sizes for acceptable contaminant removal in microns (µm) is found below.
● Air - CO2, N2: <0.2 µm
● Water - particle free: 5 µm, or sterile: <0.2 µm
● Steam - particle free: 5 µm
● CIP chemicals - particle free: 5 µm
● Beer - free of microorganisms: 0.45-0.6 µm
It's important to follow these guidelines for maximum efficiency and performance. Common issues experienced by breweries include fast clogging filters, yeast removal, poorly handled sanitization, and low throughput.
Meeting regulations
As pointed out in the introduction, it's important to meet regulations like FDA CFR Title 21 and EU Regulation No. 1935/2004. Below, you'll find more information on how they relate to acceptable contaminant levels. Noncompliance could cause serious issues for your business.
FDA CFR Title 21
Developed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 21 outlines guidelines for food and drugs. Under Subchapter B, Part 165, acceptable contaminant levels are found.
On a related note, the Food and Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011 regulates beer. According to the FSMA, you must counteract potential foodborne illnesses at known contamination points. This is referred to as the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan. Not complying can result in fines from the FDA.
EU Regulation No. 1935/2004
In the European Union (EU), there is Regulation No. 1935 of 2004. This provides standards on materials and articles that encounter food and foodstuffs. It regulates both the ingredients and equipment used during beer production. Like FDA CFR Title 21, EU Regulation No. 1935/2004, outlines acceptable hygiene standards
Our process filter solution
Since each brewery has their own production scale, we offer a comprehensive range of filters to meet different equipment needs. We're capable of serving both independent microbreweries, and internationally recognized brands. In either case, our team of experienced experts can create a custom solution.
Like mentioned in the section about filtration placement, we offer a range of options to properly contaminants at each stage of the production process. Whether you're worried about bacteria, particles, or infected yeast, we have a solution for you.
As an example of how well our filters work: One customer reduced operational costs by 12% through installing an efficient beer filtration system using our products. This is due to using filters requiring less frequent change-out and reduced labor costs. If you need advice on your beer filtration, feel free to reach out today.
