10 NEW PRODUCT RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
application of advanced water recovery technologies.
Whey contains a wide range of proteins with
exceptional nutritional and functional properties. The
content of protein in whey is approximately 5–7g/l.
The α-lactalbumin has a concentration in whey of
approximately 0.6–1.7 g/l depending on the type of
whey and the treatment of the milk prior to cheese or
casein production. By using the EBA chromatographic
technology the α-lactalbumin can be isolated from whey
and converted into a powder.
The processing of whey is started with the loading of
the whey and washing of the column. In the first elution
step the ß-Lg is removed from the column with a
NaCl/lactate buffer and in the second step the α-LA
is eluted by means of a mild NaOH solution. The α-La
solution has a α-La/ß-Lg ratio of 4-6, which makes it
suitable for infant formula.
Eluate is concentrated by ultrafiltration to about
20 per cent protein followed by spray drying to form a
Fig. 2. Rhobust Whey Refinery is a cost-efficient concept
white free flowing α-La enriched Whey Protein Isolate
for whey protein separation.
(WPI) depleted of ß-Lg. The water consumption is
☞
resin absorbs the proteins which can then successively minimised through buffer reuse, which also reduces the
be eluted with buffers at different pH values. consumption of chemicals.
This basically eliminates the cumbersome As a by-product the ß-Lg eluate can
pre-treatment of the whey necessary be concentrated and spray dried. ß-Lg
in the more conventional processing. is increasingly used for gelation and
While chromatography usually has emulsification in a wide range of food
been connected with complicated formulations.
processing, large chemical consumption
and excessive water consumption, the
Conclusion
Rhobust EBA One Step system eliminates Rhobust Whey Refinery is a cost-
these concerns. efficient concept for whey protein
The use of chemicals are minimised due separation. The EBA technology
to low concentration of buffer solutions, eliminates pre-treatment of the
which are partially recovered by means Fig. 3. Adsorbent close-up: High whey and ensures high capacity and
of conventional membrane processing density particles encapsulated into fast flow rate. The water recycling
and likewise the water is reused through agarose matrix system reduces water consumption
to a minimum and together with
mild buffer solutions and a chemical recovery system it
is possible to reduce cost to a minimum and reduce the
environmental impact.
UpFront Chromatography A/S has carried out
cost calculations on the production of α-La and ß-Lg-
enriched WPI from crude whey. In order to make such
calculations it is necessary to make several assumptions.
The cost on water, chemicals, energy, and labour
differs across countries. This calculation is based on
the average prises in northern Europe and may be
considered as the upper level of costs around the world.
Also, the calculation does not include interest and
depreciation. p

Natalya Clark is with Upfront Chromatography A/S,
Copenhagen, Denmark. www.upfront-dk.com. The company
develops and manufactures innovative products and
technologies for extraction and recovery of biotherapeutics,
Fig. 4. By using the EBA chromatographic technology the α-lactalbumin functional biomolecules, macromolecular complexes, and even
can be isolated from whey and converted into a powder. living cells, directly from bioreactors and industrial side-streams.
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