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Dairy Australia Limited

Robert Leonard Johnson

Robert Sleigh

James Arthur Hourigan

Sean M Dalziel

Estelle V Lifran

Rosalie Joyce Durham

Robert J Steele

The present invention relates to improved methods of purification of sugars and in particular to a method of preparing lactose. A low purity lactose source such as whey is subjected to a first demineralization step involving either ion-exchange or the addition of divalent metal cations, followed by a second demineralization step where alcohol is added. The invention also relates to lactose produced by this method and products comprising lactose produced by this method.

Method for purification of lactose

A separation process is described for separation of a nutrient from divalent ions of an aqueous solution. The aqueous solution is contacted with an ion exchange resin that includes monovalent ions until the concentration of divalent ions in the aqueous solution has been depleted and an eluate is collected. The eluate is then subjected to a process, preferably a nanofiltration membrane process, capable of separating monovalent ions to obtain a permeate fraction including monovalent ions and a retentate fraction including the nutrient. The retentate fraction is then separated into fractions with at least one fraction including a major portion of the nutrient. The ion exchange resin is then regenerated by contacting it with a solution including the permeate fraction until a major portion of the divalent ions have been replaced by monovalent ions.

Process for the purification of nutrients from food process streams

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Castle Hill, Australia

Robert Leonard Johnson