Standard plants

GEA COLDSAN® Filtration Brine Sanitation Unit

COLD SANITATION OF CHEESE Brine by MicroFiltration (MF)

COLDSAN™

COLDSAN™

GEA has developed the brine sanitation unit COLDSAN® which is simple to operate and easy to install in connection with existing brine systems. The COLDSAN® unit is fitted with polymeric microfiltration membrane elements which are widely recognized as the most effective method of cheese brine sanitation. GEA COLDSAN® ensures high-quality cheese and preserves flavor and texture.

Securing first-class cheese brine

Dumping of cheese brine is normally very costly, and in some countries it is even prohibited due to the high salt content of the brine. Purification and recycling of the brine is therefore preferable and can provide advantages such as reduced operating costs and improved cheese quality.

Cheese brine, if not treated properly, can contain large amounts of undesired microorganisms, such as gas-producing lactobacilli, pigment-producing micrococcus, pathogenic bacteria, yeast and mold, which all affect the final cheese quality. 

Unlike traditional brine treatment methods such as heat treatment, kieselguhr filtration or the addition of preservatives, microfiltration physically removes the undesired microorganisms, dead cells and physical contaminants from the brine without causing any significant change to its chemical composition. 

GEA COLDSAN® has the following key advantages:

  • Minimum loss of water and salt
  • Clean and clear brine
    • Total removal of physical impurities
    • Over 99% reduction in total bacteria count
    • No undesired enzymatic activity
  • No pasteurization involved, therefore no protein denaturation, no precipitation of calcium phosphate, and no changes in pH
  • Simple and flexible process and easy operation
  • Standardized 'Plug & Play' unit

Larger brine pool volumes and fully automated units can be engineered individually to meet the required specifications.

The COLDSAN® unit can either extract a stream from the brine pool, cool it and send it back to the pool via a microfiltration unit. Therefore, the impurities are constantly removed resulting in higher purity of the brine pool. Alternatively, the feed can be returned to a separate pool exclusively for the clarified brine.

 COLDSAN® 15COLDSAN® 30 COLDSAN® 45 COLDSAN® 60 COLDSAN® 75COLDSAN® 90COLDSAN® 120
Number of modules1234568
Module size6"6"6"6"6"6"6”
Area m2285684112140168224
Flow l/day15.00030.00045.00060.00075.00090.000120.000
Flow l/h7501.5002.2003.0003.8004.5006.000

NOTE: The data above are theoretical figures only cannot be guaranteed. The calculated flows are based on clean cheese brine. 

GEA Insights

Next level dewatering for wastewater

Wastewater treatment plants are essential for our modern lives. But how can their operation be continuously advanced and improved? What has long been a challenge in terms of optimization has now been achieved: the automatic control...

Computer generated AI in shape of brain.

Brains of steel: AI drives sustainability for GEA and its customers

With modern sensor technologies, cloud connectivity and advanced analytics firmly in place, GEA is now adding a layer of intelligence to its hard-working machines. The results demonstrate the power of AI to take production processes...

GEA supports farmers in industry transformation

Innovation is in the air

The atmosphere in Europe has rarely felt so palpably rural as it has during the first months of 2024: With their tractors and manure tankers in tow, protesting farmers in the capitals of Berlin, Paris and Brussels and elsewhere,...

Receive news from GEA

Stay in touch with GEA innovations and stories by signing up for news from GEA.

Contact us

We are here to help! With just a few details we will be able to respond to your inquiry.