Method and system for producing purified galacto-oligosaccharide derived from acid whey or pasteurized whey

A method for making a dairy-derived galacto-oligosaccharide product, the method comprising:

• subjecting a pasteurized whey mixture having an original concentration of lactose to a first ultrafiltration step to form a first ultrafiltration retentate and a first ultrafiltration permeate;
• subjecting the first ultrafiltration permeate to a first separation step to form a first separation permeate and a first separation retentate, wherein the first separation step consists of either a first nanofiltration process or a first reverse osmosis process;
• subjecting the first separation retentate to a first evaporation step to form a first evaporation concentrate and a first evaporation condensate;
• adjusting a pH of the first evaporation concentrate to a value greater than or equal to 3 and less than or equal to 9 to form a pH-adjusted first evaporation concentrate;
• reacting, to form a galacto-oligosaccharide, at least one enzyme with the first evaporation concentrate by adding the at least one enzyme to the first evaporation concentrate to form a first reaction product comprising the galacto-oligosaccharide;
• subjecting the first reaction product to a second ultrafiltration step to form a second ultrafiltration retentate and a second ultrafiltration permeate, the second ultrafiltration permeate being poorer in a protein concentration than the second ultrafiltration retentate;
• subjecting the second ultrafiltration permeate to a second ion exchange chromatography step comprising reducing one or more mineral concentrations in the second ultrafiltration permeate to form a second mineral-reduced mixture;
• subjecting the second mineral-reduced mixture to a second evaporation step to form a second evaporation concentrate and a second evaporation condensate;
• separating a portion of the second evaporation concentrate to form a second evaporation concentrate bypass mixture and a second evaporation concentrate line mixture;
• subjecting the second evaporation concentrate line mixture to a fractionation chromatography step to form a first fractionation portion and a second fractionation portion, wherein the first fractionation portion comprises the galacto-oligosaccharide;
• subjecting the first fractionation portion to a third evaporation step to form a third evaporation concentrate and a third evaporation condensate;
• mixing the third evaporation concentrate and the second evaporation concentrate bypass mixture to form a premium mixture;
• subjecting the premium mixture to a polishing ion exchange chromatography step to form a polished premium mixture;
• and
• subjecting the polished premium mixture to a fourth evaporation step to form a fourth evaporation condensate and a fourth evaporation concentrate, the fourth evaporation concentrate comprising the dairy-derived galacto-oligosaccharide product, the dairy-derived galacto-oligosaccharide product comprising lactose in a concentration less than the original concentration of lactose.

A method for making a dairy-derived galacto-oligosaccharide product, the method comprising:

• subjecting a pasteurized whey mixture having an original concentration of lactose to a first ultrafiltration step to form a first ultrafiltration retentate and a first ultrafiltration permeate;
• subjecting the first ultrafiltration permeate to a first separation step to form a first separation permeate and a first separation retentate, wherein the first separation step consists of either a nanofiltration separation or a reverse osmosis separation;
• subjecting the first separation retentate to a first evaporation step to form a first evaporation concentrate and a first evaporation condensate;
• adjusting a pH of the first evaporation concentrate to a value greater than or equal to 3 and less than or equal to 9 to form a pH-adjusted first evaporation concentrate;
• reacting, to form a galacto-oligosaccharide, a first at least one enzyme with the first evaporation concentrate by adding the first at least one enzyme to the first evaporation concentrate to form a first reaction product comprising the galacto-oligosaccharide;
• subjecting the first reaction product to a second ultrafiltration step to form a second ultrafiltration retentate and a second ultrafiltration permeate, the second ultrafiltration permeate being poorer in a protein concentration than the second ultrafiltration retentate;
• subjecting the second ultrafiltration permeate to a second ion exchange chromatography step comprising reducing one or more mineral concentrations in the second ultrafiltration permeate to form a second mineral-reduced mixture;
• subjecting the second mineral-reduced mixture to a second evaporation step to form a second evaporation concentrate and a second evaporation condensate;
• separating a portion of the second evaporation concentrate to form a second evaporation concentrate bypass mixture and a second evaporation concentrate line mixture;
• subjecting the second evaporation concentrate line mixture to a fractionation chromatography step to form a first fractionation portion and a second fractionation portion, wherein the first fractionation portion comprises the galacto-oligosaccharide;
• subjecting the first fractionation portion to a third evaporation step to form a third evaporation concentrate and a third evaporation condensate;
• mixing the third evaporation concentrate and the second evaporation concentrate bypass mixture to form a premium mixture;
• cooling the premium mixture to form a cooled premium mixture;
• reacting, to form additional galacto-oligosaccharide, a second at least one enzyme with the cooled premium mixture to form an enzyme premium mixture;
• subjecting the enzyme premium mixture to a third ultrafiltration step to form a third ultrafiltration permeate and a third ultrafiltration retentate;
• subjecting the third ultrafiltration permeate to a third ion exchange chromatography step to form a super-premium mixture;
• subjecting the super-premium mixture to a polishing ion exchange chromatography step to form a polished super-premium mixture;
• and
• subjecting the polished super-premium mixture to a fourth evaporation step to form a fourth evaporation condensate and a fourth evaporation concentrate, the fourth evaporation concentrate comprising the dairy-derived galacto-oligosaccharide product, the dairy-derived galacto-oligosaccharide product comprising lactose in a concentration less than the original concentration of lactose.