An integrated membrane process for producing apple juice and apple juice aroma concentrates is proposed. The process involves
the following operations: an integrated membrane reactor to clarify the raw juice; reverse osmosis (RO) to preconcentrate the juice
up to 25°Brix; pervaporation (PV) to recover and concentrate aroma compounds, and a ®nal evaporation step to concentrate apple
juice up to 72°Brix. These operations were tested in laboratory and pilot plant units. Promising results were obtained with the
membrane operations involved. In order to have an economic process assessment, the pilot plant units were assembled into an
integrated unit and operated with raw apple juice. The products were more clear and brilliant than apple juice produced by conventional
methods. The integrated membrane process also seemed to be more advantageous on the basis of economics than the
conventional one. Ó 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.