Pressure-driven membrane technologies for the treatment and recovery of bioactive substances from agri-food wastewaters

Today, pressure-driven membrane technologies, including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis, have demonstrated their efficiency to separate different organic molecules differing in molecular weight contained in aqueous systems. The food industry is one of the largest producers of wastes and by-products, which are naturally characterized by high content of organic compounds including biomolecules with a high-added value. In this context, membrane operations represent a valid approach not only to reduce the polluting load of these effluents but also sustainable and eco-friendly technologies to recover, purify and concentrate bioactive compounds contained in agri-food residues in agreement with the principles of circular economy. This chapter provides an overview on the current developments dealing with the use of membrane processes for the treatment of agri-food wastewater and their potential in the recovery of valuable biomolecules.