Crystal-Clear Collagen: How Megaflux-CRM Turns Peptide Streams Bright & Color-Free
- gabriela2554
- Aug 6
- 2 min read
Collagen peptides are one of the most sought-after ingredients in the cosmetics and healthcare industries, prized for their benefits in skin health, joint support, and anti-aging formulations.
Collagen peptides are small, hydrolyzed fragments of collagen protein that can be easily absorbed by the human body. Their small molecular size between 1,000–5,000 daltons (about 1–5 nm in size) makes them ideal for cosmetic and nutritional formulations, but during production, color and impurities from the raw materials can reduce their appearance quality and perceived purity.
How are they made?
Collagen peptides are typically produced by enzymatically hydrolyzing collagen-rich sources such as bovine hide, fish skin, or poultry, breaking the protein into smaller, bioavailable peptide fragments. After hydrolysis, further purification steps are needed, including decolorization to improve product quality.
Ceramic Membrane Filtration in Collagen Peptide Decolorization
During hydrolysis and subsequent thermal steps, chromophores (pigments) and residual macromolecules can carry color into the peptide solution. Traditionally, activated carbon has been used for decolorization. While effective, it has drawbacks. Activated carbon works by adsorption but can strip functional ingredients, adds a consumable cost, creates disposal issues, and can vary in performance.
How decolorization with Megaflux-CRM works
1. Mechanism: Primarily pore-size interception (size exclusion) with some surface adsorption of colloidal pigments/macromolecular color bodies.
2. Selectivity: Choose a pore size (MWCO) that retains unhydrolyzed collagen + macromolecules + pigment complexes, while letting collagen peptides pass.
3. Typical setup:
Guard step (optional): Ceramic microfiltration 0.1–0.2 µm to remove fines/oils and reduce UF fouling.
Decolorization UF: Ceramic MWCO ~30–50 kDa (range 10–100 kDa depending on feed). Peptides (~2–5 kDa) permeate; larger color bodies/aggregates are retained.
4. Expected outcome: Colorless (or near-colorless) permeate with ~90–95% pigment removal (process-dependent), while retentate (unhydrolyzed collagen + pigments) can be reprocessed to increase overall peptide yield.
Benefits of Ceramic membrane filtration vs. conventional approaches
Protects actives: Physical filtration, no phase change, no chemical stripping of peptides or sensitive actives.
Consistent quality: Tight ceramic pore distribution, stable color, clarity, and turbidity batch to batch.
Lower OPEX over time: No ongoing carbon purchase/disposal; fast CIP restores flux.
Process robustness: Ceramic membranes handle high temperatures, pH swings, solvents, and abrasive fines better than polymeric UF.
Higher yield: Retained unhydrolyzed collagen can be returned to hydrolysis, improving peptide yield.
Compact footprint: High packing density modules enable smaller skids with the same throughput.
Conclusion: The Future of Peptide Decolorization with PHILOS
Looking to stabilize your process or scale up with confidence? Discover how PHILOS Megaflux-CRM supports high-precision production. PHILOS has extensive experience in the separation and purification of food and healthcare products with ceramic membranes. If you’re exploring collagen peptide decolorization or upgrading from carbon, we’ll help you specify the best-fit ceramic membrane and process conditions for your line.
For more details on how the PHILOS Humidor can transform your industrial processes, visit www.pmbr.co.kr or contact us at gabriela@pmbr.co.kr.
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