Laboratory Membrane Systems for Process Development and Scale-Up

Messinger Engineering develops experimental systems that generate Engineering Knowledge

Laboratory systems, pilot plants and custom R&D equipment for membrane filtration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, pervaporation and industrial membrane process development.

Laboratory stirred cell for membrane filtration, ultrafiltration and nanofiltration testing
01 / Laboratory Membrane System

Laboratory Stirred Cell for Membrane Filtration

Compact stirred-cell system for membrane screening, flux testing, retention studies, fouling experiments and early process development with flat-sheet membranes.

  • Application: Microfiltration, Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration and Reverse Osmosis
  • Use: Membrane screening, dead-end filtration and small-batch trials
  • Focus: Reproducible membrane experiments and process understanding
→ Laboratory Stirred Cell for Membrane Filtration
Process balances for membrane process development and permeate flux measurement
02 / Measurement System

Process Balances for Membrane Process Development

Precision balance systems for permeate flow measurement, mass balance, flux calculation, concentration factor and continuous data acquisition.

  • Measurement: Mass, time, permeate flow, flux and concentration factor
  • Use: Laboratory membrane systems and pilot plants
  • Focus: Process data, reproducibility and experimental documentation
→ Process Balances for Membrane Testing
Laboratory pumps for membrane filtration, dosing, recirculation and pressure control
03 / Fluid Handling

Laboratory Pumps for Membrane Process Development

Pump modules for controlled feed flow, dosing, recirculation, crossflow operation and pressure generation in laboratory and pilot membrane systems.

  • Use: Feed delivery, dosing, retentate circulation and pressure control
  • Integration: Sensors, valves, balances and software control
  • Focus: Stable operating conditions for membrane experiments
→ Laboratory Pumps for Membrane Systems
Sampler for membrane process development and laboratory filtration trials
04 / Sampling

Sampler for Membrane Filtration Trials

Sampling modules for structured laboratory trials, defined process intervals, permeate and retentate sampling and reliable sample handling during membrane experiments.

  • Use: Permeate, retentate and process sampling
  • Application: Test series, cleaning studies and process monitoring
  • Focus: Clean, traceable and reproducible sampling
→ Sampler for Membrane Process Development
Pervaporation laboratory membrane system for process development
05 / Special Membrane Process

Pervaporation Laboratory System

Experimental systems for pervaporation studies, membrane evaluation, vapor-side separation and process development with controlled operating conditions.

  • Application: Pervaporation and vapor-side membrane separation
  • Use: Feasibility studies, membrane evaluation and process testing
  • Focus: Process understanding and experimental scale-up
→ Pervaporation Laboratory System
Level switch for laboratory membrane systems and pilot plants
06 / Instrumentation

Level Switch for Laboratory and Pilot Systems

Level detection components for laboratory equipment, feed tanks, permeate vessels, safety functions and automated process operation.

  • Use: Feed tanks, process vessels, permeate containers and process modules
  • Integration: Automation, alarms and safety logic
  • Focus: Reliable process control in laboratory membrane systems
→ Level Switch for Laboratory Systems
Benchtop ceramic membrane system for microfiltration and ultrafiltration testing
07 / Ceramic Membranes

Benchtop Ceramic Membrane System

Benchtop system for ceramic membrane testing, filtration trials, cleaning studies, fouling experiments and process development with robust membrane modules.

  • Application: Ceramic Microfiltration and Ultrafiltration Membranes
  • Use: Laboratory trials, feasibility studies and cleaning tests
  • Focus: Robust membrane testing for demanding feed streams
→ Benchtop Ceramic Membrane System
Pilot plants for membrane technology, process development and industrial scale-up
08 / Pilot Scale

Membrane Pilot Plants for Process Scale-Up

Pilot-scale membrane systems for process development, scale-up, cleaning studies, long-duration trials and preparation of industrial production systems.

  • Scale: Pilot and pre-industrial operation
  • Use: Scale-up, process validation and industrial design data
  • Focus: Transition from experiment to production
→ Membrane Pilot Plants for Scale-Up
09 / Process Development

Membrane Process Development from Laboratory Testing to Pilot Scale

Industrial membrane processes are developed step by step. A laboratory membrane system helps identify membrane type, operating pressure, temperature, flux, retention, fouling behaviour and cleaning strategy before a process is transferred to a larger pilot plant or production system.

Messinger Engineering develops and supplies R&D systems for membrane technology, including laboratory stirred cells, process balances, pumps, samplers, sensors, ceramic membrane test systems and pilot plants. These systems support experimental process development for food engineering, biotechnology, fermentation processes, water treatment, chemical applications and industrial separation processes.

Membrane Processes & Applications

  • Microfiltration
  • Ultrafiltration
  • Nanofiltration
  • Reverse Osmosis
  • Diafiltration
  • Pervaporation
  • Food and beverage processing
  • Dairy and protein fractionation
  • Biotechnology and fermentation
  • Ingredient recovery
  • Water and wastewater treatment
  • Chemical process development

Typical Development Questions

  • Which membrane provides the required retention?
  • Which flux is achievable under process conditions?
  • How does membrane fouling develop over time?
  • Which cleaning strategy restores membrane performance?
  • Which operating parameters require optimization?
  • Which experimental data are required for process scale-up?
  • Which membrane configuration is most suitable?
  • How can process reproducibility be improved?
10 / Scale-Up Engineering

From Scale-Down System to Industrial Membrane Plant

A useful laboratory system represents the relevant mechanisms of the later industrial process. This includes transmembrane pressure, flow regime, membrane area, concentration factor, temperature, residence time, sample handling and cleaning procedure. The aim is to generate experimental data that can support engineering decisions for pilot plants and production systems.

For this reason, membrane process development requires more than a single test device. It requires a coherent experimental system: membrane module, pump, pressure measurement, temperature control, balance, sampler, data acquisition and documentation. Messinger Engineering combines these elements into laboratory and pilot systems for process scaling engineering.