A shear-enhanced
filtration process with ultrafiltration (UF) for
the concentration of milk was investigated to recycle nutrients and
produce cheese. Full recycling experiments were utilized to study
the influence of operation conditions (rotating speed, transmembrane
pressure (TMP), and membrane types) on separation performance, flux
behavior, energy cost, and permeability recovery in membrane cleaning.
Then, extreme hydraulic conditions (2500 rpm, 6 bar, and a 10 kDa
P010P membrane) were selected to concentrate skim milk, whole milk,
and dairy factory whole milk. Four Hermia blocking models were utilized
to explain the membrane fouling mechanism and estimate the degree
of pore blocking. The retentate solution of dairy factory whole milk
was utilized for lactic fermentation and making cheese by adding two
kinds of fermentation agents FD-DVS YF-L903 and yogurt. However, these
cheeses had a lower nutritional value than traditional cheeses due
to a long concentration time, high operating temperature, and low
concentration. Other strategies should be used to enhance flux behavior,
reduce membrane fouling, and shorten concentration time.