Method for increasing the yield in lactose production (II)
AssigneeDMK Deutsches Milchkontor GmbH
InventorSven-Rainer Döring
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for improving the yield of the production of crystalline alpha-lactose is suggested, wherein (a) an aqueous lactose solution is gradually cooled down to about 10° C., (b) a first amount of precipitated alpha-lactose crystals is separated from the mother liquor, (c) an amount of a carbohydrate compound is added to the mother liquor such that the solubility product of the lactose is exceeded at the given temperature, (d) a second amount of precipitated alpha-lactose crystals is separated from the mother liquor, and (e) both amounts of alpha-lactose crystals are combined.
Claims9
A method for improving the yield of the production of crystalline alpha-lactose, comprising the steps of
- (a1) gradually cooling an aqueous lactose solution, as a mother liquor, to about 10° C.,
- (a2) separating a first amount of precipitated alpha-lactose crystals from the mother liquor,
- (a3) adding a carbohydrate compound, without adding additional lactose, to the mother liquor, in an amount of from 0.1 to 3% by weight of the mother liquor, such that the solubility product of the residual amount of lactose still held in solution is exceeded,
- (a4) separating a second amount of precipitated alpha-lactose crystals from the mother liquor and
- (a5) combining the first and second amounts of alpha-lactose crystals.
A method for improving the yield of the production of crystalline alpha lactose, comprising the steps of
- (b1) adding a carbohydrate compound, without adding additional lactose, to an aqueous lactose solution, as a mother liquor, said carbohydrate compound added in an amount of from 0.1 to 3% by weight of the mother liquor, such that the solubility product of the residual amount of lactose still held in solution is exceeded,
- (b2) gradually cooling the mother liquor to about 10° C., and
- (b3) separating the amount of precipitated alpha-lactose crystals from the mother liquor.
A method for the production of crystalline alpha-lactose, comprising the steps of
- (i) subjecting whey to a separation process in which a protein-rich and a lactose-rich fraction is obtained,
- (ii) subjecting the lactose-rich fraction of step (i) as lactose solution to demineralisation, optionally after concentration, to obtain a demineralised residue and precipitated salts,
- (iii) cooling the demineralised residue of step (ii), optionally after further concentration, to obtain an aqueous lactose solution as mother liquor and a first amount of precipitated lactose in crystalline form,
- (iv) adding an amount of a carbohydrate compound, without adding additional lactose, in an amount of from 0.1 to 3% by weight of the mother liquor, suitable to exceed the solubility product of the amount of lactose held in solution to the aqueous lactose solution as mother liquor of step (iii),
- (v) gradually cooling the lactose solution as mother liquor of step (iv) to about 10° C. to precipitate a second amount of alpha-lactose crystals, and
- (vi) separating the second amount of precipitated alpha-lactose crystals from the lactose solution as mother liquor of step (v).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.