Basic RO question

[claystroup]

I am a small producer (100 taps) and looking at adding a small hobby RO next year to save boiling time. On a big sap run I may get 140 gallons sap. I put it in a 150 gallon stainless milk tank till i boil. If I set up an RO can I run the concentrate line directly back into the 150 gallon tank and just let it keep pulling permeate out until it reachs 6 to 8 brix? Basically keep recirculating the concentrate back into the sap holding tank. When done RO'ing I would feed my evaporator out of the concentrate in the 150 gallon holding tank.
Thanks,
Clay

[Urban Sugarmaker]

Yes, you can definitely do that but plan to boil shortly after it's done, or while you are concentrating. It can spoil rapidly.

[maple flats]

Warm concentrate spoils faster. As you remove water you not only concentrate the sugar but also the micro organisms. Plus, just pumping sap thru the membrane raises the temperature. So, keep the concentrate as cool as you can and don't store it very long. Little things like keeping the tank on a shady side, or even under a shade cloth can help. Some freeze sap and then float some of the sap cubes to help cool the sap. If trying that, a 2-4 gal sap cube will help, maybe even 2. Then boil as soon as possible.