In the present work the dead-end filtration of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast suspensions disrupted by
high voltage electrical discharges (HVED treatment) was investigated. The efficiency of disruption was
evaluated using conductivity disintegration index of suspension Z (Z = 0–1) and absorbance spectra of
supernatant solutions. The electronic microscopy study, particle sizing and measuring of -potential and
turbidity were used to characterize variation of the colloidal properties of a yeast suspension during
disruption. The HVED treatment was found to cause an effective disruption of yeast cells and extraction
of intracellular proteins and other bio-products. The study of filtration revealed suspension filterability
deterioration after disruption. It was shown that filtration behaviour of the HVED-processed suspensions
was governed by cake formation, the filtrate volume decreased and the cake resistance increased
with increase of Z. For high levels of disruption (Z > 0.99), filtration was governed by membrane fouling.
The optimal dosage of polycationic flocculant promoted the formation of flocks and accelerated
filtration. However, selected flocculant (poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)) provoked binding of
bio-product and was inappropriate for using as an agent enhancing extraction from disrupted yeast cells.