Methods for preparing dairy compositions utilize an electrodialysis apparatus to separate a feed stream into a lactose stream and a mineral stream. The feed stream can be a UF permeate fraction, a NF retentate fraction, or a RO retentate fraction. The brine input to the electrodialysis apparatus can be a milk mineral stream.

Methods for preparing dairy compositions utilize an electrodialysis apparatus to separate a feed stream into a lactose stream and a mineral stream. The feed stream can be a UF permeate fraction, a NF retentate fraction, or a RO retentate fraction. The brine input to the electrodialysis apparatus can be a milk mineral stream.

The invention relates to the field of dairy products and particularly concerns a method for the demineralization of whey. The method according to the invention comprises the following steps: obtaining a whey, electrodialysis of the whey at a temperature of 30° C. to 60° C., acidification of the whey to a pH of between 2 and 3.5, pasteurization of the acidified whey, electrodialysis of the pasteurized acidified whey at a temperature of 30° C. to 60° C., and neutralization of the demineralized whey to a pH between 6.7 and 7.2. The method according to the invention makes it possible to achieve the whey demineralization using only the method of electrodialysis while avoiding the problems conventionally encountered with this method, namely a limited demineralization rate, fouling of the membranes, and an insufficient service life.

The invention relates to the field of dairy products and particularly concerns a method for the demineralization of whey. The method according to the invention comprises the following steps: obtaining a whey, electrodialysis of the whey at a temperature of 30° C. to 60° C., acidification of the whey to a pH of between 2 and 3.5, pasteurization of the acidified whey, electrodialysis of the pasteurized acidified whey at a temperature of 30° C. to 60° C., and neutralization of the demineralized whey to a pH between 6.7 and 7.2. The method according to the invention makes it possible to achieve the whey demineralization using only the method of electrodialysis while avoiding the problems conventionally encountered with this method, namely a limited demineralization rate, fouling of the membranes, and an insufficient service life.

A process for manufacturing a demineralized milk protein composition, including a step (ii) of electrodialysis of a milk protein composition on an electrodialyzer, the unit cells of which have three compartments, and configured to substitute at least one cation by at least one hydrogen ion H+ in the milk protein composition to obtain an at least partially demineralized and acidified milk protein composition; a step (iii) of electrodialysis of the milk protein composition obtained in step (ii) on an electrodialyzer, the unit cells of which have three compartments, and configured so as to substitute at least one anion by at least one hydroxyl ion OH− in the milk protein composition.

A process for manufacturing a demineralized milk protein composition, including a step (ii) of electrodialysis of a milk protein composition on an electrodialyzer, the unit cells of which have three compartments, and configured to substitute at least one cation by at least one hydrogen ion H+ in the milk protein composition to obtain an at least partially demineralized and acidified milk protein composition; a step (iii) of electrodialysis of the milk protein composition obtained in step (ii) on an electrodialyzer, the unit cells of which have three compartments, and configured so as to substitute at least one anion by at least one hydroxyl ion OH− in the milk protein composition.

Dairy products are produced by subjecting a starting dairy material to nanofiltration to remove monovalent ions to produce an ion-depleted dairy permeate; passing the ion-depleted dairy permeate through an ion exchange column and subsequently with a sodium-containing eluting solution to produce sodium phosphate and sodium citrate derived from the starting material; concentrating the sodium phosphate and sodium citrate; and combining the concentrated sodium phosphate and sodium citrate with dairy components. The dairy product contains an amount of the concentrated sodium phosphate and sodium citrate sufficient to cause fat in the dairy product to be emulsified and protein in the dairy product to be hydrated. In addition or alternatively, a dairy by-product stream may be subjected to ion exchange to remove calcium therefrom; concentrated, and combined with dairy materials naturally containing phosphate and citrate in order to adjust the citrate+phosphate-to-calcium ratio to reach an emulsified dairy product.

A treatment of demineralization effluents, particularly recycling effluents, a method for demineralizing whey and treating the effluents, and a facility for implementation thereof. The treatment of whey demineralization effluents includes: i) supplying a whey demineralization effluent, ii) treating by reverse osmosis effluent recovered in i) to obtain a reverse osmosis permeate and retentate, iii) neutralizing the retentate pH, iv) treating the neutralized retentate by nanofiltration to obtain a permeate including monovalent ions and a retentate including divalent ions and residual organic materials, v) treating the permeate in iv) by electrodialysis with bipolar membrane to obtain acidic solution(s) and basic solution(s). Thus, it is possible to treat effluents, limit their environmental impact, generate solutions for the whey demineralization process, reduce the cost of whey demineralization because some process water from electrodialysis comes from treatment of the generated effluents, and reduce the total amount of effluent sent to the wastewater treatment plant.

A treatment of demineralization effluents, particularly recycling effluents, a method for demineralizing whey and treating the effluents, and a facility for implementation thereof. The treatment of whey demineralization effluents includes: i) supplying a whey demineralization effluent, ii) treating by reverse osmosis effluent recovered in i) to obtain a reverse osmosis permeate and retentate, iii) neutralizing the retentate pH, iv) treating the neutralized retentate by nanofiltration to obtain a permeate including monovalent ions and a retentate including divalent ions and residual organic materials, v) treating the permeate in iv) by electrodialysis with bipolar membrane to obtain acidic solution(s) and basic solution(s). Thus, it is possible to treat effluents, limit their environmental impact, generate solutions for the whey demineralization process, reduce the cost of whey demineralization because some process water from electrodialysis comes from treatment of the generated effluents, and reduce the total amount of effluent sent to the wastewater treatment plant.

The invention relates to the field of dairy products and particularly concerns a method for the demineralization of whey. The method according to the invention comprises the following steps: obtaining a whey, electrodialysis of the whey at a temperature of 30° C. to 60° C., acidification of the whey to a pH of between 2 and 3.5, pasteurization of the acidified whey, electrodialysis of the pasteurized acidified whey at a temperature of 30° C. to 60° C., and neutralization of the demineralized whey to a pH between 6.7 and 7.2. The method according to the invention makes it possible to achieve the whey demineralization using only the method of electrodialysis while avoiding the problems conventionally encountered with this method, namely a limited demineralization rate, fouling of the membranes, and an insufficient service life.