Maximise value and quality in milk-based products
Membrane filtration is a core processing technology for dairies worldwide. Its popularity reflects a cost-effective and gentle treatment that uses no heat, thus preserving the milk’s properties.
Membrane filtration is the go-to method for standardizing raw milk and is used in the production of virtually all dairy products. It allows milk to be fractionated into its constituent components, which can then can be used to produce a wide spectrum of products. Membrane filtration is also effective at removing bacteria and spores, and is frequently used to standardize protein and casein content.
Additionally, milk producers deploy membrane filtration to concentrate their product into a smaller volume, thereby saving costs during transportation.
Uses
Effective elimination
Bacteria and spore removal
Removing bacteria or spores is a common processing step in cheese milk production and in milk powder production. It is also a way to extend product shelf life.
The filtration membrane’s very narrow pores efficiently remove bacteria and spores while allowing all other non-fat milk components to pass.
Effective processing
Protein and casein standardization
Milk-based protein products are a fast-growing segment in dairy production. They include milk protein concentrate (MPC), milk protein isolate (MPI), micellar casein concentrate (MCC) and micellar casein isolate (MCI).
Membrane technology is integral to the processing of these products, which are used in infant formula, various foods, and sport nutrition products.
Processing raw or pasteurized whole or skim milk through filtration membranes separates the milk proteins into two distinct flows, namely a casein stream and a serum protein stream.
The membrane pores retain large casein micelles while allowing smaller serum proteins to pass through as permeate. Typically, casein concentrate is produced using microfiltration. Often, this process is complemented by a washing step (diafiltration) to refine product streams further and improve protein serum yield.
Milk streams can also be used to produce a range of products including minerals such as lactoferrin and calcium phosphate, as well as lactose, permeate powder and hydrolysates.
Mineral-based ingredients serve as components in nutritional supplements, lactose ingredients occur in snack, confectionary and nutritional products, and hydrolysates are included in infant formula and dietary products.
WPI, lactose and more
Whey separation and key component separation
Membrane filtration is effective at concentrating dairy products such as cheese and cultured products. It is also useful for isolating target components for high-value whey-based ingredients.
Permeate streams containing native whey proteins can be be further processed into higher value protein products such as whey protein isolate (WPI) or various grades of whey protein concentrate (WPC).
Filtration permeate from milk ultrafiltration and microfiltration consists primarily of lactose, a favoured ingredient in milk powder standardization.
Whey-based ingredients are a fast-growing dairy segment. Products include lactoferrin, calcium phosphate, lactose, permeate powder and hydrolysates.
Mineral-based ingredients serve as components in nutritional supplements, lactose-based ingredients occur in snack, confectionary and nutritional products, and hydrolysates form part of infant formula and dietary products.
Technologies
Initial concentration
Reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis filtration is used for initial concentration before other processes or prior to transportation, thereby reducing volume transport costs.
Using the finest possible membranes, reverse osmosis filtration essentially allows water only to pass. All other liquid or suspended components, including bacteria, fats, proteins, sugars and minerals, are filtered out as retentate. High pressure is applied to the liquid during the reverse osmosis filtration process.
Ion and mineral removal
Nanofiltration
The diluted streams from microfiltration and ultrafiltration processes are often concentrated using nanofiltration or reverse osmosis – or a combination of the two.
The nanofiltration process removes or recovers water and also separates monovalent ions, thus demineralizing the product.
Nanofiltration plays a role in the production of products such as milk protein concentrate (MPC), milk protein isolate (MPI) and infant formula.
The technology uses slightly more open membrane pores than reverse osmosis. These allow small ions such as dissolved minerals to pass but exclude larger ions and most organic components such as bacteria, spores, fats, proteins, gums and sugars.
Fat and protein separation
Ultrafiltration
Ultrafiltration is used for concentrating large molecules such as fat and protein in raw or pasteurized whole or skim milk and for reducing lactose and mineral content.
Typical products include milk protein concentrate (MPC) and milk protein isolate (MPI). These are produced using polymeric spiral membranes. Diafiltration is often used here to increase the protein-to-dry-matter ratio to achieve high-grade varieties such as MPC 85.
Ultrafiltration is also used to concentrate whole or standardized milk for the production of fully or partially concentrated cheeses.
Ultrafiltration membrane pores are larger than in nanofiltration and the pressure applied is relatively low. Salts, sugars, organic acids and smaller peptides pass through as permeate. Proteins, fats and polysaccharides remain as retentate.
Skim milk processing
Microfiltration
Microfiltration primarily serves two purposes: removing bacteria and spores from skim milk, and separating skim milk proteins into a casein stream and a serum protein stream.
Microfiltration membranes have the largest pore size of the four main dairy filtration technologies. They allow most substances to pass except suspended solids, bacteria and fat globules.
In casein separation, the membranes retain large casein micelles, letting smaller serum proteins pass. Casein concentrate is produced either using polymeric spiral membranes or with ceramic membranes, depending on the application.
Optimizing performance
Membrane types
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