Recovery of proteins from EDAM whey using membrane ultrafiltration

Abstract

In Algeria, whey is discharged without any treatment and this ‎causes not only pollution problem, but also a loss in nutritive ‎components of milk. In this paper, characterization of EDAM whey ‎is done, which is resulted from pasteurised mixture of cow’s milk ‎and skim milk. The recovery of whey protein by ‎ultrafiltration/diafiltration, was studied. The physical-chemical ‎analysis of whey has emphasized on its pollutant and nutritive ‎characteristics. In fact, its BDO5 and CDO are 49.33, and 127.71 ‎g of O2/l of whey respectively. It contains: fat (1,90±0,1 gr/l), ‎lactose (47.32±0,57 gr/l), proteins (5,82±0,4gr/l) and ashes ‎‎4.53±0.15gr/l, calcium (0,518gr/l), Na (1.104gr/l), K (1.014 gr/l), ‎Mg (0.118 gr/l) and P (0.482 gr/l). Tangential ultrafiltration of ‎whey after treatment was carried out in a polyetersulfone ‎membrane with a cut-off of 10K. Its hydraulic intrinsic resistance ‎‎(Rm) and permeability (Lp) are respectively: 2.041.1012 m-1 and ‎‎176, 32 l/h.m2bar. The dry matter obtained at FC6 is of 70.25 g/l, ‎containing 16.33g/l of proteins. The retention rate of protein is ‎‎98.18 % and the decrease in BDO5 and CDO are at 18.875 and ‎‎42.818 g of O2/liter of permeate respectively. Diafiltration ‎performed on concentred retentat allowed the complete removal of ‎lactose and minerals. The ultrafiltration of the whey before the ‎disposal is an alternative for Algéria dairy industry