Pilot Study on the Removal of Lactic Acid and Minerals from Acid Whey Using Membrane Technology

Abstract

Acid whey presents a major disposal issue for the dairy industry due to its high lactic acid and mineral concentrations. In this work, the feasibility of using membrane technology to treat acid whey to produce high quality whey powder was demonstrated at pilot scale. Three process combinations were tested, namely, (1) ultrafiltration and electrodialysis; (2) ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and electrodialysis; and (3) ultrafiltration, dia-nanofiltration, and electrodialysis. All three combinations were successful in reducing the levels of lactic acid and minerals in acid whey. However, the lowest ratio between lactic acid and lactose (0.017 g lactic acid/g of lactose) was obtained with the ..