Method and apparatus for producing a sterile milk product
AssigneeTetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
InventorAnders Lindquist
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process and apparatus for producing a sterile milk product from raw milk is disclosed. After separation, the skim milk portion is conducted to a primary filter assembly having a plurality of microfiltration units arranged in series. Bacteria having a size larger than the pores in the microfilters are retained in the retentate. The retentate is discharged from the primary filter assembly and flows to a secondary filter assembly having a plurality of microfiltration units. The permeate from the units in the primary filter assembly are combined and subjected to heat treatment.
Claims23
Apparatus for producing a milk product having a reduced concentration of bacteria comprising:
- a primary filter assembly having at least one microfiltration unit, each microfiltration unit having a microfilter with an inlet conduit for supplying a skim milk portion to one side of the microfilter and a permeate outlet conduit on the opposite side of the microfilter, the at least one microfiltration unit having a retentate outlet conduit;
- a secondary filter assembly having at least one microfiltration unit, each microfiltration unit having a microfilter with an inlet conduit for supplying a skim milk portion to one side of the microfilter, a permeate outlet conduct on the opposite side of the microfilter, the at least one microfiltration unit having a retentate outlet conduit;
- and
- an interconnecting conduit between the retentate outlet conduit of the primary filter assembly and the inlet conduit of the secondary filter assembly;
- whereby the permeate stream from the primary filter assembly has a reduced concentration of bacteria.
A process for producing a sterile milk product comprising:
- (a) arranging a plurality of microfiltration units in a primary filter assembly, each unit having a microfilter providing a retentate stream and a permeate stream,
- (b) supplying a skim milk portion in a stream to the first microfiltration unit in the primary filter assembly;
- (c) conducting the retentate stream in series from the first unit to each subsequent unit, and thereby providing a retentate discharge stream from the primary filter assembly;
- (d) arranging a plurality of microfiltration units in a secondary filter assembly, each unit having a microfilter providing a retentate stream and a permeate stream;
- (e) supplying the retentate discharge stream to the secondary filter assembly;
- (f) combining the permeate stream from the respective microfiltration units of the primary filter assembly to produce the sterile milk product;
- and
- (g) supplying the permeate stream from the secondary filter assembly to the skim milk portion stream upstream from the primary filter assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.