Process for preparing lactose-free skimmed, partially skimmed and whole milk, comprising the following steps: 1) pasteurization and skimming, 2) enzymatic hydrolysis of the skimmed milk by lactase enzyme, 3) microfiltration of the hydrolysed skimmed milk and obtainment of a microfiltration retentate (RMF) and of a microfiltration permeate (PMF), 4) PMF ultrafiltration and obtainment of an ultrafiltration retentate (RUF) and of an ultrafiltration permeate (PUF), 5) first PUF nanofiltration and obtainment of the first nanofiltration retentate (RNF 1) and of a first nanofiltration permeate (PNF 1), 6) second PNF 1 nanofiltration and obtainment of a second nanofiltration retentate (RNF2) and of a second nanofiltration permeate (PNF2), and 7) final step: obtainment of lactose-free milk by mixing one or more of the fractions deriving from one or more of the previous steps, which is characterized in that: (I) the first nanofiltration of step 5) is carried out with membranes having a molecular weight cut-off ranging from 400 to 600 Da and the second nanofiltration is carried out with membranes having a molecular weight cut-off ranging from 150 to 250 Da, and (II) the final step 7) is carried out by mixing a composition comprising at least RUF, RNF1 and PNF2.

A method of producing sialyloligosaccharides a sialyloligosaccharides-containing source that also contains carbohydrates and minerals. The process includes subjecting the source to a temperature of from about 67 C. and (i) filtration with a heat-resistant filter at a temperature of about 35 to about 95 C. to produce a first retentate and first permeate, or (ii) centrifugal separation to produce a light phase and a heavy phase and filtration of the light phase at a temperature of about 50 to about 70 C. to produce a first retentate and first permeate, (b) nanofiltration of the first permeate, or nanofiltration and diafiltration of the first permeate, to produce a second retentate and second permeate, and (c) concentration of the second retentate, to produce a sialyloligosaccharide-containing extract. Additionally, the invention relates to a sialyloligosaccharide-enriched composition comprising at least 3-sialyllactose and 6-sialyllactose and its use in, for example, nutritional and infant formulas, and for maintaining or improving cognitive function.

Durable asymmetric composite membranes consisting essentially of a film of cross-linked sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) adhered to a sheet of hydrophilicitized microporous poly(ethylene) are disclosed. The membranes have application in the recovery of water from feed streams where the ability to clean in situ is desirable, for example in dairy processing. Methods of preparing cross-linked sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) suitable for use as the rejection layer and hydrophilicitized sheets of microporous poly(ethylene) suitable for use as the support layer of such membranes are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a method of modification of dry matter composition and/or dry matter content of milk, comprising the steps of: providing raw milk having a fat content in the range of about 3% w/w to about 60% w/w; modifying a dry matter composition and/or dry matter content of the raw milk to provide a modified raw milk having a fat content in the range of about 35% w/w to about 60% w/w based on the total weight of the modified raw milk, and a protein content of at most 3% (w/w) and/or carbohydrate content of at most 4% (w/w) based on a fat-free portion of the modified raw milk. The invention further relates to a method of production of butter, wherein the milk with the modified dry matter composition and/or dry matter content is churned to provide butter.

A method of producing sialyloligosaccharides a sialyloligosaccharides-containing source that also contains carbohydrates and minerals. The process includes subjecting the source to a temperature of from about 67? C. and (i) filtration with a heat-resistant filter at a temperature of about 35 to about 95? C. to produce a first retentate and first permeate, or (ii) centrifugal separation to produce a light phase and a heavy phase and filtration of the light phase at a temperature of about 50 to about 70? C. to produce a first retentate and first permeate, (b) nanofiltration of the first permeate, or nanofiltration and diafiltration of the first permeate, to produce a second retentate and second permeate, and (c) concentration of the second retentate, to produce a sialyloligosaccharide-containing extract. Additionally, the invention relates to a sialyloligosaccharide-enriched composition comprising at least 3-sialyllactose and 6-sialyllactose and its use in, for example, nutritional and infant formulas, and for maintaining or improving cognitive function.

Disclosed are membrane separation cleaning processes and clean in place compositions for such membranes. The cleaning compositions can remove proteins, fats, and other food, beverage, and brewery based soils and offer an environmentally friendly alternative surfactant system to NPE. Branched extended chain PO/EO nonionic surfactants with certain characteristics may be used to provide superior cleaning to membranes. The specific surfactants may be used alone or in combination. In some embodiments, the surfactant package is used as part of a cleaning composition.

The present disclosure relates to systems and processes for production of a concentrate of skim milk or whey. Such systems and processes may include the steps of providing a feed of skim milk or whey, subjecting said feed to a reverse osmosis to obtain a reverse osmosis permeate and a concentrate of skim milk or whey, and subjecting the concentrate of skim milk or whey to an ultra-filtration to obtain an ultra-filtration permeate and a retentate of skim milk or whey.

The present invention relates to a method of inactivation of plasmin enzyme in a milk-based product, wherein casein and whey protein are separated from a milk raw material by microfiltration to provide a casein concentrate as a microfiltration retentate having a whey protein content of less than 20 wt. %, based on the total protein content of the concentrate, and a whey protein concentrate as a microfiltration permeate; the casein concentrate is subjected to a thermal treatment at a temperature in the range of about 72 C. to about 95 C. to provide a thermally treated casein concentrate; and a milk-based product with a reduced plasmin activity comprising the thermally treated casein concentrate is provided. The milk-based products prepared by the method retain flawless organoleptic properties at different storage temperatures even under prolonged storage periods.

Suggested is a foamable dairy composition, containing or consisting of: (a) at least one dairy product, and (b) an additive which is obtained by subjecting a dairy product to filtration, separating the permeate which is optionally subjected to a thermal post-treatment.

The invention relates to a method for producing a milk-based product, comprising the steps of: providing a milk raw material; altering a ratio of casein to total protein of the milk raw material to less than about 0.80; subjecting the milk raw material with the altered ratio of casein to total protein from step b) to a heat treatment at the temperature of at least about 150 C. for a period of at most about 0.3 sec; cooling the heat-treated milk raw material from step c) to provide the milk-based product. The method provides milk-based products with long shelf life and good organoleptic properties.