Ceramic membranes are increasingly being used in a broad range of industries such as biotechnology and pharmaceutical, dairy, food and beverage, as well as chemical and petrochemical, microelectronics, metal finishing, and power generation. Each industry presents specific needs and opportunities. The membrane modules can withstand elevated temperatures, extremes of pH (0 to 14), and high operating pressures up to 5 bar without concern for membrane compaction, delamination or swelling. This makes these membranes suitable for many applications where polymeric and other inorganic membranes cannot be used. Additionally, ceramic membranes are ideal for in-place chemical cleaning at high temperatures, while using caustic, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, ozone and strong inorganic acids, and/or by using steam sterilization. Industrial applications Clarification of natural fruit juices such as apple, cranberry and grape is one of the most successful and widely practiced industrial applications of ceramic membranes. In the filtrations of sugar cane juice ceramic membranes can be used in several different stages in the raw and refine sugar production. the need to purchase, use and dispose of filter aids is then eliminated. Ceramic membranes are used for fermentation broth clarification at numerous installations worldwide, successfully competing with other technologies such as polymeric membranes, vacuum filtration and centrifugation. Finally, in many chemical process application there is the need to treat not only the waste streams, but also to recover and reuse chemicals. Ceramic membranes can be applied for this purpose, i.e. filtration of chemical solvents, dye and pigment wastewater from dye processing and colouring plants and highly variable wastewater containing detergents, polymers and organic solvents.