sales@sky-agro.com 
01327 828001 
Comprar en España
Alcohol Removal
Dealcoholiser
Output ABV: < 0.5%
The Dealcoholiser is a skid-mounted spiral reverse osmosis membrane system for reducing the alcohol content of fully fermented beer and other low-alcohol fermented products. It operates without heat input, using pressure-driven separation to remove ethanol and water while retaining heavier flavour-active compounds in the retentate.
The system is suited to breweries producing low- and no-alcohol beer where aroma, body, and base beer character need to be preserved. Capacity is scalable by adding membranes in parallel, and the process can run in batch or continuous mode with dedicated CIP loops for membranes and process pipework.
Technical Details
Process Description
1. Concentration (Crossflow Filtration)
The product is pressurised up to approximately 10 bar and circulated across semi-permeable membranes. Ethanol and water permeate through the membrane and are collected for discharge or reuse, while flavour compounds and other high molecular weight components are retained and recirculated. This enables efficient alcohol removal with high flavour retention.
2. Diafiltration (Alcohol Reduction)
De-aerated water is added to the retentate to enhance removal of residual ethanol by diffusion into the permeate stream. Similar in principle to sparging, this step increases separation efficiency. The volume of diafiltration water directly controls the final ABV, allowing precise adjustment for non-alcoholic or low-alcohol products.
3. Final Dilution (Standardisation)
De-aerated water is added to restore the product to its target volume and composition, ensuring consistent flavour, extract balance, and product stability.
Alcohol Reduction & Product Quality
-
01
Low-Temperature Processing
Reverse osmosis removes alcohol without heat input, helping preserve delicate flavour compounds that can be damaged by thermal dealcoholisation.
-
02
ABV Control
Final ABV is managed through membrane selection, operating pressure, diafiltration volume, and dilution strategy, allowing production of low- and no-alcohol formats.
-
03
Flavour Retention
The membrane process retains many heavier beer compounds in the retentate, helping the finished product remain closer to the original beer profile.
Scalability & Operation
-
04
Scalable Membrane Capacity
Throughput can be increased by adding membrane modules in parallel, allowing capacity to grow with market demand.
-
05
Batch or Continuous Modes
Dual operating modes support both smaller production runs and more continuous production planning.
-
06
Dedicated CIP Loops
Separate cleaning circuits for RO membranes and process pipework help maintain hygiene while protecting membrane performance.
Available configurations
-
Single-Membrane Dealcoholiser
Base skid configuration for smaller production volumes, typically suitable for pilot, craft, or lower-throughput no-alcohol beer programmes.
-
Multi-Membrane Dealcoholiser
Expanded configuration with membrane modules in parallel, increasing throughput while retaining the same reverse osmosis process principle.
-
Semi-Automatic Dealcoholiser
Operator-supervised configuration with PLC-assisted control over key process variables, suitable where manual oversight is acceptable.
-
Fully Automatic Dealcoholiser
Higher-automation configuration with process supervision, flow regulation, pressure monitoring, and automated cleaning routines for more repeatable operation.
| Parameter | Value | Unit / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Process Technology | Reverse Osmosis (membrane) | Non-thermal alcohol removal |
| Application | Beer (also wine, seltzer) | Low / non-alcohol production |
| Operation Mode | Batch | 4 hours per cycle |
| Batch Capacity | 20 | hL per batch |
| Alcohol Reduction | < 0.5 | % ABV achievable |
| Feed Flow Rate | 5 hL/h ±15% | Process throughput |
| Feed Temperature | 4-15°C | – |
| Membrane Configuration | 8 modules (scalable) | Capacity adjustable |
| Utilities Required | Glycol, compressed air, deaerated water | Standard brewery utilities |
| Automation | PLC + HMI control | Fully automated operation |
| Construction | SS304 hygienic design | CIP-compatible, skid-mounted |
Contact us
Request a quote
Send us your details and we'll be in touch to talk through configurations, pricing and lead time.
