Permeate is a co-product derived from milk or serum when they are concentrated in protein content. It is a fraction (of milk, of whey) that goes through a membrane after filtration. Filtration happens by different means of membrane separation.
The ultrafiltration process retains from a liquid certain of the biggest particles and lets through water, minerals and, for milks and liquid derived from curd, whey. Two new products are then obtained:
- Permeate, that went through the membrane, is a solution of water, minerals, lactose (and its derivatives) and small molecules that may be in the milk.
- Retentate is a protein concentrate constituted of soluble milk or whey proteins.
Milk permeate is obtained after elimination by ultrafiltration of milk proteins and dairy fat contained in the milk, the semi-skimmed milk or the skimmed milk.
Milk permeate, rich in NPN and in urea, has a stabilising effect on casein micelles. It is preferably used as a bulking agent or as a protein standardisation agent.
Manufacturing process of milk permeate by ultrafiltration
- Reception of pre-concentrated milk permeate: obtained after extraction of protein and milk fat by ultrafiltration. It undergoes a heat treatment at least equivalent to a pasteurisation, that may happen in a liquid form before or after the manufacturing process.
- Vacuum concentration
- Crystallisation
- Spray drying
- Storage
t is also possible to find demineralised milk permeate.
Le cas du perméat de lait instant :
Liquid permeate may be concentrated, before spray drying and crystallisation. A good concentrate crystallisation favours the permeate powder capacity to dissolve into water. The powder is then instant.
Products' advantages
- Excellent bulking agent
- Reduced hygroscopicity
- Protein rate standardisation
- Good fluidity and flow
- Reduction of production costs (mixtures and preparations)
Whey permeate comes from ultrafiltration of whey, concentrated then spray dried.
It is low in proteins but rich in lactose (milk sugar) and in minerals.
Whey permeate derived from casein may also be called “deproteinised whey”.
Manufacturing process to obtain serum permeate
- Reception of pre-concentrated whey permeate
- Vacuum concentration
- Crystallisation
- Spray drying
- Storage
Advantages of powder whey permeate
- Used as a bulking agent
- Production cost optimisation
- Reduced hygroscopicity
- Lactose source
- Flavour support
- Very good fluidity
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