Technical data of must decolorization plants

Penta-Dec must decolorization plants are specialized adsorption systems designed to remove pigments and phenolic compounds from grape must. By utilizing high-affinity resins, the process ensures a significant reduction in color intensity and improved stability, making the must suitable for high-quality white wine production and other food applications.

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What it means

Must decolorization is the selective removal of coloring matter (anthocyanins and melanoidins) from grape must. This treatment is essential for producing “blanc de noirs” or for correcting the color of musts that have undergone excessive oxidation or skin contact.

How it works

The plant passes the must through a bed of macroporous adsorbent resins. These resins trap the large pigment molecules while allowing sugars and acids to pass through unaffected. The result is a clear, bright must with preserved organoleptic properties.

Automation

The Penta-Dec system features fully automated cycles for production, rinsing, and resin regeneration. Integrated sensors monitor the color of the output in real-time, ensuring consistent performance and optimizing the use of regeneration chemicals.

Process concept and operating strategy

The decolorization process is a critical step for wineries aiming for color precision and product stability. Penta-Dec systems are engineered for high efficiency and minimal product loss.

The use of specific adsorbent resins allows for the targeted removal of polyphenols and pigments without stripping the must of its essential flavor precursors or sugar content.

By removing the precursors of browning, the decolorization process significantly enhances the shelf-life and color stability of the final wine, preventing future oxidation issues.

The resins are regenerated using a mild alkaline solution, followed by a thorough rinse. The automated system minimizes water consumption and ensures the resins maintain their adsorption capacity over many seasons.

Effective removal of unwanted color and oxidized phenols.
Preservation of sugar profile and natural acidity.
Improved protein and tartaric stability.
Reduced need for traditional fining agents like charcoal.
Compact and modular design for easy integration.

Useful references

Adsorption Technology
Wine Phenolics

Sizing inputs:
Initial color intensity (Absorbance at 420/520 nm), total polyphenol content, required flow rate, and desired final color target.

Technical data for must decolorization plants

Model	Resin volume (L) ADS (Adsorbent)	Instant flow rate (hL/h)	Treated volume (hL/day)	NaOH 50% consumption (L per cycle)	H₂SO₄ 50% consumption (L per cycle)	Water consumption (L per cycle)	Plant dimensions (L x W x H)
System DEC 375m	375	11.2	Service/regeneration cycles vary depending on product type and color concentration target	12	//	1.300	1.200 x 1.200 x 2.300 mm
System DEC 575m	575	17.5	Service/regeneration cycles vary depending on product type and color concentration target	18	//	2.100	1.400 x 1.300 x 2.300 mm
System DEC 800m	800	24	Service/regeneration cycles vary depending on product type and color concentration target	24	//	2.800	1.500 x 1.200 x 2.400 mm
System DEC 1.000m	1.000	30	Service/regeneration cycles vary depending on product type and color concentration target	30	//	3.500	1.600 x 1.500 x 2.600 mm
System DEC 1.300m	1.300	39	Service/regeneration cycles vary depending on product type and color concentration target	40	//	4.200	1.700 x 1.500 x 2.800 mm
System DEC 2.500m	2.500	75	Service/regeneration cycles vary depending on product type and color concentration target	76	//	8.050	1.900 x 1.900 x 2.800 mm

Three-column decolorization

Model	Resin volume (L) ADS (Adsorbent)	Instant flow rate (hL/h)	Treated volume (hL/day)	NaOH 50% consumption (L per cycle)	H₂SO₄ 50% consumption (L per cycle)	Water consumption (L per cycle)	Plant dimensions (L x W x H)
System DEC 175	175 + 175 + 175	5.2	125	15	1.5	1.880	2.400 x 1.200 x 2.300 mm
System DEC 375	375 + 375 + 375	11.2	270	33	3.3	4.000	2.600 x 1.200 x 2.300 mm
System DEC 575	575 + 575 + 575	17.5	420	52	5.2	6.200	3.000 x 1.300 x 2.300 mm
System DEC 800	800 + 800 + 800	24	575	72	7.2	8.600	3.400 x 1.400 x 2.400 mm
System DEC 1.000	1.000 + 1.000 + 1.000	30	720	90	9	10.780	3.600 x 1.500 x 2.600 mm
System DEC 1.300	1.300 + 1.300 + 1.300	39	935	120	12	14.000	4.200 x 1.600 x 2.800 mm
System DEC 2.500	2.500 + 2.500 + 2.500	75	1800	230	23	26.900	5.200 x 1.900 x 2.800 mm

Three columns + color recovery

Model	Resin volume (L) ADS (Adsorbent) + K (Purification)	Instant flow rate (hL/h)	Treated volume (hL/day)	NaOH 50% consumption (L per cycle)	H₂SO₄ 50% consumption (L per cycle)	Water consumption (L per cycle)	Plant dimensions (L x W x H)
System DEC 175	175 + 175 + 175 + 200	5.2	125	15	30	1.880	3.500 x 1.200 x 2.300 mm
System DEC 375	375 + 375 + 375 + 400	11.2	270	33	65	3.800	3.800 x 1.200 x 2.300 mm
System DEC 575	575 + 575 + 575 + 600	17.5	420	52	98	5.800	4.300 x 1.300 x 2.300 mm
System DEC 800	800 + 800 + 800 + 825	24	575	72	135	8.600	4.500 x 1.400 x 2.400 mm
System DEC 1.000	1.000 + 1.000 + 1.000 + 1.050	30	720	90	165	10.780	5.500 x 1.500 x 2.600 mm
System DEC 1.300	1.300 + 1.300 + 1.300 + 1.350	39	935	120	220	14.000	6.000 x 1.600 x 2.800 mm
System DEC 2.500	2.500 + 2.500 + 2.500 + 2.500	75	1800	230	420	26.900	7.000 x 1.900 x 2.800 mm

FAQ

No, the adsorbent resins are highly selective for pigments and polyphenols. The sugar content, acidity, and primary aroma precursors remain largely unaffected.

Yes, it is frequently used to produce white or rosé wines from red grapes (blanc de noirs) by removing the anthocyanins extracted during pressing.

With proper regeneration and maintenance, the resins can last for several years, typically covering 5 to 10 production campaigns depending on the must quality.