Abstract
The recovery of functional compounds from underutilized bioresources is today accomplished in five distinct stages, whereas ultrafiltration has been utilized for the separation and the clarification of macromolecules from smaller molecules or the opposite. The current article highlights the outcomes of an integral study including research articles, which cover the separation mechanisms dominating during UF (from 100 to 1 kDa) of different feed solutions and extracts, under similar processing conditions. Target macromolecules concern dietary fibers (i.e. pectin, β-glucan), proteins and polymeric anthocyanins, while assayed micromolecules were sugars, cations, monomeric anthocyanins and different phenolic classes such as o-diphenols, hyxrodycinnamic acid derivatives and flavonols.
•Outcomes of an integral study for the separation mechanisms of ultrafiltration.•Separation of dietary macromolecules (i.e. proteins, dietary fibers) from micromolecules (i.e. antioxidants, sugars).•Referred ultrafiltration studies were conducted with membranes between 100 and 1 kDa.•Polysulphone membranes (20–25 kDa) were very efficient for several separations.•Composite fluoro polymer membrane separates hydroxycinnamic acids from flavonols.