Method of producing beta-casein compositions and related products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11470857-B2
Application number	US-201414763141-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2014
Priority date	Jan 23, 2013
Publication date	Oct 18, 2022
Grant date	Oct 18, 2022

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a method of producing beta-casein-containing compositions and products obtainable by such methods. More particularly, the invention pertains to a method of producing beta-casein compositions using controlled microfiltration first at a temperature higher than 20 degrees C., followed by cooling of the retentate to 0-15 degrees C. and a second microfiltration of the cooled composition resulting in beta-casein containing permeate.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of producing a beta-casein-containing composition, the method comprising the steps of:
a) pre-heating a milk by adjusting it to a pre-heating temperature in the range of 20-60 degrees C. and with a holding time in the range of 1 minute-1 hour, thereby providing a warm milk,
b) subjecting the warm milk to a first microfiltration at a first microfiltration temperature using a filter that retains at least a substantial fraction of casein micelles but allows for the passage of milk serum protein, thereby providing a first microfiltration permeate and a first microfiltration retentate,
c) subjecting the first microfiltration retentate to a first microfiltration-diafiltration at a first microfiltration-diafiltration temperature, wherein (i) at least part of the microfiltration-diafiltration involves the use of a first diluent having Ca 2+ concentration of at least 0.01 g/kg, and (ii) the first microfiltration retentate comprises at least 92% (w/w) casein relative to the total amount of protein of the first microfiltration retentate;
d) adjusting the temperature of the first microfiltration retentate to a cold temperature in the range of 0-15 degrees C. and keeping the temperature of the first microfiltration retentate within that range for a duration of at least 0.5 hour, thereby obtaining a cooled first composition,
e) subjecting the cooled first composition to a second microfiltration, thereby obtaining a second microfiltration retentate and a second microfiltration permeate, which second microfiltration permeate is enriched with respect to beta-casein,
f) optionally, subjecting the second microfiltration retentate to a second microfiltration-diafiltration, and
g) optionally, subjecting the second microfiltration permeate to one or more further purification or concentration steps, thereby providing the beta-casein-containing composition.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the filter for microfiltration of the warm milk has a nominal pore size in the range of 0.005-0.3 micrometer.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first microfiltration temperature of step b) is at least 20 degrees C.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the filter for the first microfiltration-diafiltration is the same or similar to the one for the first microfiltration of step b).

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first microfiltration-diafiltration temperature is kept within the range of the first microfiltration temperature of step b) during at least part of the first microfiltration-diafiltration.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first diluent has a pH in the range of 6-8.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first diluent comprises ultrafiltration permeate of milk or whey.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first microfiltration retentate comprises a total amount of protein of at least 0.1% (w/w) relative to the total weight of the first microfiltration retentate.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first microfiltration retentate comprises a total amount of beta-casein of at least 0.1% (w/w) relative to the total amount of protein.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first microfiltration retentate comprises a total amount of beta-casein of at least 20% (w/w) relative to the total amount of casein.

11. The method according to claim 1 , which comprises subjecting the first microfiltration retentate to a first microfiltration-diafiltration at a first microfiltration-diafiltration temperature, and wherein the first microfiltration retentate comprises a diafiltration retentate or a protein concentrate thereof.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first microfiltration retentate is kept within the cold temperature range for at least 1 hour prior to step e).

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cooled first composition has a temperature in the range of 3-12 degrees C.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second microfiltration of step e) uses the same microfiltration filter as that used in the first microfiltration of step b).

15. The method according to claim 1 , which comprises subjecting the second microfiltration retentate to a second microfiltration-diafiltration.

16. The method according to claim 1 , which comprises subjecting the second microfiltration permeate to one or more further purification or concentration steps.

17. The method according to claim 16 , which comprises increasing the weight percentage of beta-casein of the second microfiltration permeate to at least 50% (w/w) on a dry weight basis.

18. The method according to claim 16 , which comprises increasing the weight percentage of beta-casein in the second microfiltration permeate to 50-85% (w/w) on a dry weight basis.

19. The method according to claim 16 , which comprises increasing the solids content of the second microfiltration permeate to at least 5% (w/w).

20. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the one or more concentration steps comprises ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, evaporation, spray drying, and/or freeze drying.

Assignees

• Arla Foods Amba

Inventors

• Christensen Jesper
• Holst Hans Henrik

Classifications

• A23J3/10

  Casein (drying casein A23J1/22) · CPC title

• C07K1/34

  by filtration, ultrafiltration or reverse osmosis · CPC title

• A23C2210/206

  Membrane filtration of a permeate obtained by ultrafiltration, nanofiltration or microfiltration · CPC title

• A23C9/1422

  by ultrafiltration, microfiltration or diafiltration of milk, e.g. for separating protein and lactose; Treatment of the UF permeate · CPC title

• A23V2200/00

  Function of food ingredients · CPC title