Membrane Contactors

Fast.
Efficient.
Precise
control.
3M™ Liqui-Cel™
Membrane Contactors
Dissolved gas control solutions
for the beverage industry.
2 | 3M™ Liqui-Cel™ Membrane Contactors for the beverage industry

Smooth. Sparkling.
Purely satisfying.
We owe some of the sparkle, taste and texture of our favorite
drinks to dissolved gases. Whether removing oxygen to help
extend shelf life or adding fizz, gas control systems help the
beverage industry improve product quality from the first sip
to the last drop.

Total dissolved gas control

Capable of both adding and removing gases to liquids, 3M™ Liqui-Cel™ Membrane
Contactors provide a versatile, compact, in-line solution that delivers rapid
deoxygenation, decarbonation, carbonation, and nitrogenation of liquids to precise
concentration levels. Applying this advanced membrane-based science in your
production processes can help increase operating efficiency and reduce guesswork
while maintaining or improving product quality, consistency and stability.

Compact and versatile: Predictable and precise:

• Allows for installation • Gas concentrations can be precisely
in space‑limited locations controlled to consistently meet
• May reduce or eliminate construction target specifications
and expansion costs • Bubble-free gas injection helps
• Can be mobile and used in multiple with product and beer head stability
process steps
High performance and efficient:
Rapid in-line gas control: • Can reach 1 ppb oxygen to help
• May eliminate need for tanks or pumps protect product quality and reduce
risk of can corrosion
• Can reduce fabrication work
and simplify production • Smaller pumps and efficient use of sweep
gases may lower operating costs
• Reduces hold-up time in gas
absorption, speeding up production Modular design:
• Skids can be scaled up to meet
future expansion needs

Applications • Carbonation • Nitrogenation • Deoxygenation • Decarbonation

 3M™ Liqui-Cel™ Membrane Contactors for the beverage industry | 3

Vacuum/sweep gas
Distribution Hollow fibre
Cartridge tube membrane Baffle

Liquid
inlet

Liquid
outlet

Vacuum/ Collection tube Housing

sweep gas

Advanced membrane technology

Liquid flows around the outside (shellside) of the hollow fibre while a vacuum
or sweep gas is applied to the inside (lumenside) of the fibre. Applying the
vacuum or sweep gas creates a difference in gas concentration that drives
the rapid transfer of gases into or out of the liquid with exceptional precision.

liquid/gas
The micropores in the wall of the hollow
contact fibre membrane provide a large surface area
area at the
pore for efficient gas transfer in a small space.
The small size of 3M™ Liqui-Cel™ Membrane
liquid Contactors enables the construction of small
flow systems that can be scaled to meet changing
vacuum flow requirements.
and/or
sweep
gas
Hollow fibre membrane array

membrane Hollow fibre

wall

The hydrophobic membrane and

small pore sizes keep water from
passing into the gas stream.

Hydrophobic
membrane with pores
approx. 0.03 µm
4 | 3M™ Liqui-Cel™ Membrane Contactors for the beverage industry

Soft drinks.
Coffee. Tea.
Better flavour and bigger yields.

Deoxygenation Carbon
dioxide and
nitrogen control
Removing dissolved O2 Beverage producers require
from blending and process precise control of carbon
water helps prevent spoilage dioxide to produce distinctive
and may extend the shelf flavour and fizz. They are also
• Blending water deaeration life of soft drinks, coffees, increasingly relying on precise
• Bulk deaeration teas and other beverages. nitrogenation of coffee.
• Deaeration at filling/rinse water Low oxygen levels also help 3M™ Liqui-Cel™ Membrane
reduce risks of can corrosion Contactors can operate
• Point-of-use gas control
and improve process in-line, allowing for rapid
efficiency and energy use infusion of dissolved gases
in cold-fill applications. in a controlled way.
3M™ Liqui-Cel™ Membrane
Contactors can reduce O2
to industry-leading levels
of 1 ppb. This compact,
low maintenance solution
to dissolved oxygen may
be the answer you need
to protect your product
and improve yield.
 3M™ Liqui-Cel™ Membrane Contactors for the beverage industry | 5

Beer and wine.

Freshness, foam and flavour.

Deoxygenation
Oxygen in wine and beer accelerates spoilage and shortens
shelf life. 3M™ Liqui-Cel™ Membrane Contactors can reduce
O2 in wine and its impact on aroma and taste without using
chemicals. In brewing, deoxygenated water is commonly
used for diluting beer concentrate, pushing water, and
centrifuge seal water to prevent oxygen pick-up and protect
product quality.

Carbonation, decarbonation
and nitrogenation
• Deaeration of bulk water
Carbon dioxide and nitrogen impact product taste, mouthfeel
• Deaeration of blending/
and appearance. 3M™ Liqui-Cel™ Membrane Contactors dilution water
provide a bubble-free in-line solution that can rapidly infuse
• Nitrogenation
gases to water, beer and wine with precision and predictability.
Applying this advanced membrane-based science in your • Deoxygenation of seal water
production process may help increase operating efficiency • Deoxygenation of pushing
and reduce guesswork while maintaining or improving product water in breweries
quality, consistency and stability.
Liqui-Cel membrane contactors can also be used to decarbonate
wine and beer to achieve desired taste and texture.
6 | 3M™ Liqui-Cel™ Membrane Contactors for the beverage industry

Efficiency at every stage

of dissolved gas control.

• Allows for installation in space-limited locations

Compact • May reduce or eliminate construction and
and versatile • expansion costs
• Can be mobile and used in multiple process steps

• May eliminate need for tanks or pumps

Rapid in-line • Can reduce fabrication work and simplify production
gas control • • Reduces hold-up time in gas absorption,
speeding up production

• Gas concentrations can be precisely controlled

Predictable to consistently meet target specifications
and precise • • Bubble-free gas injection helps with product
and beer head stability

• Can reach 1 ppb oxygen to help protect product

High quality and reduce risk of can corrosion
performance • • Smaller pumps and efficient use of sweep gases
and efficient
may lower operating costs

Modular • Skids can be scaled up to meet future

design • expansion needs
 3M™ Liqui-Cel™ Membrane Contactors for the beverage industry | 7

A study in savings.

A blending system using 3M™ Liqui-Cel™ Membrane

Contactors contributed to a North American soft drink
plant saving over $200,000 each year. After replacing
vacuum + tank gas control systems with Liqui-Cel
membrane contactors, the plant used less water and
energy, decreased time and costs for maintenance,
and significantly improved product quality and yield.
*Operating expenses and savings provided
Operating expense Annual savings by the customer.Actual savings and
operating expenses will vary according
to each project.
Production downtime $17,000

Pump energy $12,670

Thermal energy $11,800

Maintenance $10,000

Water $440

+ Increased yield $157,900

Total annual cost savings: $209,810*

Support at every step
With 3M™ Liqui-Cel™ Membrane Contactors technology in hundreds
of applications around the globe, 3M has the knowledge and experience
to support the design of your Liqui-Cel system.
Visit our website to download technical bulletins, mechanical drawings,
case studies and more! 3M.co.uk/liquicel or 3Mireland.ie/liquicel

Technical Information: The technical information, recommendations and other statements contained in this document are based upon tests or experience that
3M believes are reliable, but the accuracy or completeness of such information is not guaranteed.

Product Use: Many factors beyond 3M’s control and uniquely within user’s knowledge and control can affect the use and performance of a 3M product in a particular
application. Given the variety of factors that can affect the use and performance of a 3M product, user is solely responsible for evaluating the 3M product and
determining whether it is fit for a particular purpose and suitable for user’s method of application.

Warranty, Limited Remedy, and Disclaimer: Unless an additional warranty is specifically stated on the applicable 3M product packaging or product literature,
3M warrants that each 3M product meets the applicable 3M product specification at the time 3M ships the product. 3M MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTIES
OR CONDITIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION ARISING OUT OF A COURSE OF DEALING, CUSTOM OR USAGE OF TRADE. If the
3M product does not conform to this warranty, then the sole and exclusive remedy is, at 3M’s option, replacement of the 3M product or refund of the purchase price.

Limitation of Liability: Except where prohibited by law, 3M will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from the 3M product, whether direct, indirect, special,
incidental or consequential, regardless of the legal theory asserted, including warranty, contract, negligence or strict liability.

Separation and Purification Sciences Division

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