A system for drying a wet lactose product stream includes a disperser configured to disperse agglomerated lactose particulates in a wet lactose stream into a dispersed wet lactose stream. A back-mixed partial drying zone is configured to at least partially dry the dispersed wet lactose stream by recirculating a partially dried lactose stream with the dispersed wet lactose stream. A plug-flow secondary drying zone is configured to dry the partially dried lactose stream to generate a substantially dried lactose stream.

A system for drying a wet lactose product stream includes a disperser configured to disperse agglomerated lactose particulates in a wet lactose stream into a dispersed wet lactose stream. A back-mixed partial drying zone is configured to at least partially dry the dispersed wet lactose stream by recirculating a partially dried lactose stream with the dispersed wet lactose stream. A plug-flow secondary drying zone is configured to dry the partially dried lactose stream to generate a substantially dried lactose stream.

A sugar liquid or solid sugar is derived from cellulose-containing biomass or blackstrap molasses, wherein content of one or more free amino acids selected from the group consisting of serine, threonine, asparagine, aspartic acid, glutamine, glutamic acid, proline, phenyl alanine, lysine, and histidine, which are impurities, is below the limit of detection.

A sugar liquid or solid sugar is derived from cellulose-containing biomass or blackstrap molasses, wherein content of one or more free amino acids selected from the group consisting of serine, threonine, asparagine, aspartic acid, glutamine, glutamic acid, proline, phenyl alanine, lysine, and histidine, which are impurities, is below the limit of detection.

An example method for refining lactose may include washing lactose crystals in a lactose stream in an upstream wash stream including an upstream recirculating wash medium. Washed lactose crystals may be sieved from the upstream recirculating wash medium. The upstream recirculating wash medium may be recirculated back to the upstream wash stream. The washed lactose crystals may be discharged to a downstream wash stream comprising a downstream recirculating wash medium. An example system may include a plurality of refining stages. At least one refining stage may include a washing tank including a lactose crystal inlet and a crystal slurry outlet. The refining stage may include a pump to recirculate a wash stream from the crystal slurry outlet back to the washing tank at a predetermined flow rate. The refining stage includes a screen to separate washed lactose crystals from the wash stream.

An example method for refining lactose may include washing lactose crystals in a lactose stream in an upstream wash stream including an upstream recirculating wash medium. Washed lactose crystals may be sieved from the upstream recirculating wash medium. The upstream recirculating wash medium may be recirculated back to the upstream wash stream. The washed lactose crystals may be discharged to a downstream wash stream comprising a downstream recirculating wash medium. An example system may include a plurality of refining stages. At least one refining stage may include a washing tank including a lactose crystal inlet and a crystal slurry outlet. The refining stage may include a pump to recirculate a wash stream from the crystal slurry outlet back to the washing tank at a predetermined flow rate. The refining stage includes a screen to separate washed lactose crystals from the wash stream.

The invention relates to a method for making a tablet having a diameter, as determined by the longest enveloping circle, in the range of 1 to 5 mm and/or a weight in the range of 1 to 100 mgcomprising an active ingredient selected from the group of pharmaceutical substances and active substances for a dietary supplement or nutraceutical, comprising (a) providing a lactose agglomerate comprising lactose, and a sugar alcohol; (b) providing the active ingredient; (c) mixing the agglomerate and the active ingredient, thereby obtaining a mixture; and (d) forming the tablet by direct compression.

An example system for purifying a supply stream including lactose includes a clarification system configured to separate insoluble impurities from the stream to produce a clarified stream. The system includes an adsorption system fluidically coupled to the clarification system. The adsorption system includes an adsorbent resin configured to purify the clarified stream. An example technique for purifying a supply stream including lactose includes separating insoluble impurities from the supply stream to produce a clarified stream and passing the clarified stream over an adsorbent resin to produce a decolorized stream.

An example system for purifying a supply stream including lactose includes a clarification system configured to separate insoluble impurities from the stream to produce a clarified stream. The system includes an adsorption system fluidically coupled to the clarification system. The adsorption system includes an adsorbent resin configured to purify the clarified stream. An example technique for purifying a supply stream including lactose includes separating insoluble impurities from the supply stream to produce a clarified stream and passing the clarified stream over an adsorbent resin to produce a decolorized stream.

A crystallization apparatus for a crystallization of a preliminary product. The crystallization apparatus includes an inlet for receiving the preliminary product, a rotary drive, and a rotatable receiving unit having, on an upper side thereof, a circular surface and/or an annular surface for the crystallization so that, when the rotatable receiving unit is rotated, the preliminary product received can be recrystallized in a defined manner on the circular surface and/or the annular surface and can be discharged as a crystallized product.