Citric Acid Fermentation Broth Mycelium Separation Decanter Centrifuge Food

The LW360 citric acid fermentation broth mycelium separation decanter centrifuge is a food grade machine built for the citric acid and organic acid industry, where Aspergillus niger mycelium must be separated from the fermented broth efficiently and economically. Citric acid is produced worldwide by submerged fermentation of molasses or starch hydrolysate, and the first step of downstream processing is the removal of the mycelial biomass. The broth is acidic, warm and loaded with fibrous mycelium that forms a compressible cake, a combination that quickly defeats traditional filtration equipment. The LW360 separates this broth continuously, discharging a dense mycelium cake and a clarified liquor that proceeds to precipitation and recovery of citric acid crystals.

Food grade construction is essential in this service. The bowl, conveyor and all wetted components are manufactured from SS304 stainless steel, and the machine is designed for easy sanitation between production runs. The acidic broth is handled without corrosion by the choice of materials and a protective coating system on external parts. The decanter is equipped with a variable speed back drive that allows the operator to adjust the differential speed to control cake moisture and clarify efficiency, adapting to seasonal variations in molasses quality and fermentation performance. Low energy consumption per ton of broth makes the machine attractive for the large scale continuous operation typical of citric acid plants.

• Food grade SS304 construction: all product contact parts are built from SS304 stainless steel suitable for acidic food processing streams.
• Continuous mycelium discharge: screw conveyor removes Aspergillus niger biomass automatically without filter media or manual cake removal.
• Acid resistant design: material selection and protective coatings withstand citric acid broth at elevated process temperatures.
• Adjustable differential speed: inverter controlled back drive tunes cake dryness and liquor clarity during operation.
• High recovery efficiency: clarified broth contains minimal suspended solids, improving the yield of subsequent calcium citrate precipitation.
• Easy sanitation: accessible interior, hinged covers and smooth surfaces support quick washdown between campaigns.

The LW360 is applied in citric acid fermentation plants, lactic acid and gluconic acid production, monosodium glutamate manufacturing and other organic acid biorefineries that need to separate fungal or bacterial biomass from broth. It also dewaters mycelium waste before drying or composting and can clarify molasses based fermentation media. The food grade design makes it suitable for facilities certified for food ingredient production where hygiene and traceability are mandatory.

Our factory conducts a full load trial of every LW360 using water and a representative slurry before shipment, verifying capacity, vibration and sealing. The machine is delivered with a balance test certificate, material certificate and complete engineering documentation. Export packaging follows food industry requirements, with all product contact surfaces protected by food grade rust preventive and clean plastic film. We provide 12 months warranty and offer a spare parts package including bearings, mechanical seals and wear parts to support uninterrupted production in continuous acid plants.