Foods that undergo aseptic processing have improved nutritional value and contain natural pigment retention as opposed to canned food products.
Processing with aseptic tanks offers flexibility and the possibility of the addition of bioactive and heat-sensitive elements like probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamins, or other micro-nutrients.
What Is Aseptic Processing?
Aseptic processing is a technique in which commercially and thermally sterilized liquid foods are packaged into already sterilized containers in strictly sterile conditions to deliver shelf-stable products. These products do not require refrigeration till the packs are opened.
Continuous in line Aseptic processing, aseptic storage, and aseptic packaging have almost entirely replaced in-container sterilization or Canning of liquid food products, like fruit juices, milk, and other dairy products.
What Are Aseptic Storage Tanks?
Aseptic tanks are utilized to store liquids, and some viscous products, including dairy, before an aseptic filling is done. They are intended to adhere to the most rigorous hygienic specifications of the food and beverage industries and are compatible with the methods of CIP cleaning system.
They are utilized after UHT and before the milk is stored in the Aseptic filler machines to boost production sequences, decrease product loss, and improve efficiency.
Aseptic storage tanks are built using stainless steel and are usually vertical & cylindrical, with a dished or conical bottom, fitted with a cooling jacket.
These tanks are created and examined to ensure they perform at a pre-decided pressure and under a full vacuum. The tanks might also be outfitted with a bottom-mounted agitator if the product tends to separate.
Before beginning production, the aseptic tanks are sterilized with steam, then cooled by circulating water in the cooling jacket. At this point, sterile air is supplied to the tank, preventing vacuum formation and keeping the tank under some pressure.
During production, the sterile air fills the area above the tank’s product level. The pressure is then administered to sustain the feed pressure needed by the filling machine.
The tanks are furnished with a valve cluster module and a control panel that steers product flow, cleaning liquids, sterile air, and steam. Throughout the production, a steam barrier offers protection from contamination. Then the end-valve cluster shields from the risk of reinfection.
The Benefits of Aseptic Storage Tanks:
The filling and sterilization of a food product, acting as a buffer, is a characteristic of the aseptic storage tank. The tanks also offer:
- Flexibility in production planning by eliminating the necessity for the return of the excess sterilized product from the aseptic filler back to the sterilizer.
- Storage safety in between processing and packaging, minimizing any product losses.
- A cleaning mechanism is in place along with production monitoring to enhance efficiency.
- Customized using agitators or cooling jackets to further improve safety and quality of processing.
As one of the leading aseptic beverage equipment manufacturers, Neologic Engineers offers tanks designed to comply with FSSAI & EHEDG specifications. Our tanks are suited for the processing of juice & juice concentrate, milk, condensed milk, flavored milk, or other dairy products.
The state-of-the-art tank encloses sanitary valves using a steam barrier and sterile air system with micron filters, instrumentation, control panel, and touch screen for ease of operation, monitoring, and control.