Method of converting lactose-containing dairy by-products into monosaccharides

Abstract

A method of making a solution containing glucose and galactose. The method includes the steps of reducing the concentration of non-protein nitrogen-containing (NPN) compounds in a dairy by-product stream comprising lactose to yield a reduced-NPN dairy by-product stream; and contacting the reduced-NPN dairy by-product stream of step (a) with an acid catalyst at a temperature of from about 120° C. to about 200° C., and for a time of from about 1 minute to about 180 minutes, wherein at least a portion of the lactose contained in the reduced-NPN dairy by-product stream is hydrolyzed to monosaccharides comprising glucose and galactose. The dairy by-product stream may be ultrafiltered prior to reducing its NPN concentration.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.