A powder sterilization method for sterilizing powder, in particular an active pharmaceutical ingredient in powder form or food in powder form, using fluid vapor, in particular steam. According to the invention, the fluid vapor is applied to the powder in an evacuated treatment chamber (3), in particular it is applied to the powder during its free fall along a drop section (7), in particular in countercurrent.

A powder sterilization method for sterilizing powder, in particular an active pharmaceutical ingredient in powder form or food in powder form, using fluid vapor, in particular steam. According to the invention, the fluid vapor is applied to the powder in an evacuated treatment chamber (3), in particular it is applied to the powder during its free fall along a drop section (7), in particular in countercurrent.

Directly heating a protein-enriched milk product occurs by introducing steam, the direct heating taking the form of an infusion or injection method. The described technique significantly extends service time, ensuring a content of non-denatured whey proteins in the treated protein-enriched milk product greater than that obtained in the prior art. The milk product, which is preheated and kept at temperature is indirectly cooled before direct heating by a recuperative cooling step from the preheating temperature to a cool-down temperature with a temperature difference ranging from 5 K to 10 K. The direct heating from the cool-down temperature to the high pasteurization temperature is controlled by direct heating setting parameters which are known per se. Finally, the milk product is cooled by flash cooling from the high pasteurization temperature to a necessarily required exit temperature.

Directly heating a protein-enriched milk product occurs by introducing steam, the direct heating taking the form of an infusion or injection method. The described technique significantly extends service time, ensuring a content of non-denatured whey proteins in the treated protein-enriched milk product greater than that obtained in the prior art. The milk product, which is preheated and kept at temperature is indirectly cooled before direct heating by a recuperative cooling step from the preheating temperature to a cool-down temperature with a temperature difference ranging from 5 K to 10 K. The direct heating from the cool-down temperature to the high pasteurization temperature is controlled by direct heating setting parameters which are known per se. Finally, the milk product is cooled by flash cooling from the high pasteurization temperature to a necessarily required exit temperature.

The present invention relates to a method (200) for producing a heat-treated concentrated dairy product (cdp). The method (200) comprising the steps of passing (210) the dairy product (dp) under a pre-determined pressure through a reverse osmosis, RO, filter (110) at a first temperature, the pre-determined pressure being sufficient to allow reverse osmosis, thereby concentrating the dairy product (dp). Preheating (230) the concentrated dairy product (dp) at a second temperature for a second period of time to stabilize the concentrated dairy product (dp). Homogenizing (240) the stabilized concentrated dairy product (dp) to reduce a size of particles in the stabilized concentrated dairy product (dp). Heating (250) the stabilized concentrated dairy product (dp) at a third temperature for a third period of time to reduce microorganisms in the stabilized concentrated dairy product (dp), thereby forming the heat-treated concentrated dairy product (cdp).

A plant for heat treating heat-sensitive fluid foodstuffs including an infusion chamber, in which the fluid foodstuff is subjected to a heat treatment by a feeding of steam, a fluid foodstuff inlet connected to a plurality of openings at the top of the infusion chamber for creating a plurality of essentially downwardly directed separate fluid foodstuff jets. The infusion chamber has a bottom section configured to collect the fluid foodstuff from the jets. The bottom section has an outlet opening at the bottom of the infusion chamber for allowing the collected fluid foodstuff to exit the infusion chamber. The outlet opening is connected to the inlet of a pump. A cooling jacket surrounds the bottom section for cooling the wall of the bottom section, and an optical camera is mounted on the infusion chamber with an angle of view covering at least a portion of the bottom section.

A plant for heat treating heat-sensitive fluid foodstuffs including an infusion chamber, in which the fluid foodstuff is subjected to a heat treatment by a feeding of steam, a fluid foodstuff inlet connected to a plurality of openings at the top of the infusion chamber for creating a plurality of essentially downwardly directed separate fluid foodstuff jets. The infusion chamber has a bottom section configured to collect the fluid foodstuff from the jets. The bottom section has an outlet opening at the bottom of the infusion chamber for allowing the collected fluid foodstuff to exit the infusion chamber. The outlet opening is connected to the inlet of a pump. A cooling jacket surrounds the bottom section for cooling the wall of the bottom section, and an optical camera is mounted on the infusion chamber with an angle of view covering at least a portion of the bottom section.

Provided is a process for producing a concentrated or a concentrated and sterilized milk composition, including subjecting the composition to multi-stage recirculating reverse osmosis, where during recirculating reverse osmosis (RRO), for at least part of the RRO process, a step in the RRO process, or during the entire RRO process, the RRO process is carried out at a temperature of from greater than 45° F. to 60° F., where water is removed, to produce a concentrated milk composition. The concentrated milk composition can optionally be sterilized by first heating the concentrated composition to a first elevated temperature of from 175° F. to 185° F. (and in some cases to 210° F.) within a time period of 45 seconds to produce a first heated composition.

Provided is a process for producing a concentrated or a concentrated and sterilized milk composition, including subjecting the composition to multi-stage recirculating reverse osmosis, where during recirculating reverse osmosis (RRO), for at least part of the RRO process, a step in the RRO process, or during the entire RRO process, the RRO process is carried out at a temperature of from greater than 45° F. to 60° F., where water is removed, to produce a concentrated milk composition. The concentrated milk composition can optionally be sterilized by first heating the concentrated composition to a first elevated temperature of from 175° F. to 185° F. (and in some cases to 210° F.) within a time period of 45 seconds to produce a first heated composition.

A method for treating liquid food products after direct heating comprises a first cooling of the liquid food product occurring on a floor of the infuser vessel up to an outlet opening. A second cooling of the liquid food product occurs in a tubular section connecting directly to the outlet opening. A third cooling of the liquid food product occurs in a housing cover of a pump housing of a centrifugal pump. At least one flushing operation of the pump housing and of an impeller via a rear impeller gap is performed, wherein the at least flushing operation occurs via a front impeller gap located between the housing cover and the impeller. Volume flows of the at least one flushing operation are greater than equalization flows within the pump housing.