Pilot-scale β-casein depletion from micellar casein via cold microfiltration in the diafiltration mode

Physicochemical properties of micellar casein retentates generated at different microfiltration temperatures

Processing temperature has a significant influence on the composition and functionality of the resulting streams following microfiltration (MF) of skim milk. In this study, MF and diafiltration (DF) were performed at 4 or 50°C to produce β-casein (β-CN)-depleted and nondepleted (i.e., native casein profile) micellar casein isolate retentates, respectively. Microfiltration combined with extensive DF resulted in a 40% depletion of β-CN at 4°C, whereas no β-CN depletion occurred at 50°C. Microfiltration at 4°C led to higher transmission of calcium into permeates, with retentate generated at 4°C containing less total calcium compared with retentate generated at 50°C, based on the volume of retentate remaining. Higher heat stability at 120°C was measured for retentates generated at 4°C compared with those at 50°C, across all pH values measured. Retentates generated at 4°C also had significantly lower ionic calcium values at each pH compared with those generated at 50°C. Higher apparent viscosities at 4°C were measured for retentates generated at 4°C compared with retentates generated at 50°C, likely due to increased voluminosity of β-CN-depleted casein micelles. The results of this study provide new information on how changing the composition of MF retentate, by appropriate control of processing temperature and DF, can alter physicochemical properties of casein micelles, with potential implications for ingredient functionality.

Bovine milk β-casein: Structure, properties, isolation, and targeted application of isolated products

β-Casein, an important protein found in bovine milk, has significant potential for application in the food, pharmaceutical, and other related industries. This review first introduces the composition, structure, and functional properties of β-casein. It then reviews the techniques for isolating β-casein. Chemical and enzymatic isolation methods result in inactivity of β-casein and other components in the milk, and it is difficult to control the production conditions, limiting the utilization range of products. Physical technology not only achieves high product purity and activity but also effectively preserves the biological activity of the components. The isolated β-casein needs to be utilized effectively and efficiently for various purity products in order to achieve optimal targeted application. Bovine β-casein, which has a purity higher than or close to that of breast β-casein, can be used in infant formulas. This is achieved by modifying its structure through dephosphorylation, resulting in a formula that closely mimics the composition of breast milk. Bovine β-casein, which is lower in purity than breast β-casein, can be maximized for the preparation of functional peptides and for use as natural carriers. The remaining byproducts can be utilized as food ingredients, emulsifiers, and carriers for encapsulating and delivering active substances. Thus, realizing the intensive processing and utilization of bovine β-casein isolation. This review can promote the industrial production process of β-casein, which is beneficial for the sustainable development of β-casein as a food and material. It also provides valuable insights for the development of other active substances in milk.

Cold ultrafiltered or microfiltered milk retentates: A systematic comparison of the effects of compositional differences on their gelation functionality

The colloidal stability of casein micelles suspensions prepared using ultrafiltration (UF) and microfiltration (MF) was studied by testing acid- and rennet-induced destabilization. Skim milk and 4× (based on volume reduction) concentrates were obtained by processing under similar conditions, at temperatures below 10°C. Concentrates were subjected to different levels of diafiltration (DF), resulting in samples with comparable casein volume fractions but different amounts of proteins and ions in the serum phase. The novelty of the work is the systematic comparison of MF and UF concentrates of similar history. More specifically, concentrates similar in ionic composition but with or without serum proteins were compared, to evaluate whether whey proteins and β-casein depletion from the micelles will play a role in the processing properties, or whether these are affected solely by the ionic balance. Microfiltered micelles' apparent diameter decreased by about 50 nm during the specific hydrolysis of κ-casein by chymosin, whereas those in skim milk control showed a decrease of about half that size. All concentrates subjected to extensive DF showed smaller hydrodynamic diameters, with reductions of ∼18 and 13 nm for MF and UF, respectively. Highly diafiltered UF retentates showed a delayed onset of rennet-induced gelation, due to low colloidal calcium, compared with other samples. Low-diafiltered samples showed weak storage modulus (∼1 Pa) after 60 min of onset of gelation. In addition, onset pH increased with diafiltration to ∼5.8 for UF and ∼6 for MF in high-diafiltered samples. These results clearly demonstrated that the functional properties of casein micelles change during membrane concentration, and this cannot be solely attributed to changes in ionic equilibrium.

Calcium-Reduced Micellar Casein Concentrate-Physicochemical Properties of Powders and Functional Properties of the Dispersions

This study aimed to examine the physicochemical properties of 30% calcium (Ca)-reduced micellar casein 80% protein powders (RC-MCC) and the functional properties of the resultant dispersions. The calcium reduction in the micellar casein (MCC) powder was achieved by subjecting the liquid micellular casein obtained from the microfiltration of pasteurized skim milk to carbon dioxide (CO2) treatment before and during ultrafiltration. The CO2 injection was controlled to obtain a 0 and 30% reduction in calcium in the C-MCC (control) and RC-MCC powders, respectively. The MCC powders were tested for physicochemical properties such as chemical composition, particle size distribution, and bulk density. The MCC powders were reconstituted in deionized water to test the functional properties of the dispersions, i.e., solubility, viscosity, heat stability, emulsifying capacity, emulsion stability, foam capacity, and foam stability. The CO2 injection did not result in any significant differences in the composition except mineral contents, particularly calcium. The particle size and bulk density of RC-MCC powders were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than control powders. The RC-MCC powder dispersions showed increased heat stability compared to control, whereas no significant changes in viscosity and emulsification capacity were observed between the two dispersions. However, the emulsion stability and foam stability of RC-MCC dispersions were significantly lower than C-MCC dispersions. This study showed that by utilizing a novel microfiltration−CO2 injection−ultrafiltration process, 30% calcium-reduced MCC powder was commercially feasible. This research also provides a detailed understanding of the effect of calcium reduction on the functional properties of resultant MCC dispersions. It showed that calcium reduction could improve the solubility of the powders and heat stability and foam capacity of the dispersions.

Influence of Transglutaminase Crosslinking on Casein Protein Fractionation during Low Temperature Microfiltration

Low temperature microfiltration (MF) is applied in dairy processing to achieve higher protein and microbiological quality ingredients and to support ingredient innovation; however, low temperature reduces hydrophobic interactions between casein proteins and increases the solubility of colloidal calcium phosphate, promoting reversible dissociation of micellar β-casein into the serum phase, and thus into permeate, during MF. Crosslinking of casein proteins using transglutaminase was studied as an approach to reduce the permeation of casein monomers, which typically results in reduced yield of protein in the retentate fraction. Two treatments (a) 5 °C/24 h (TA) and (b) 40 °C/90 min (TB), were applied to the feed before filtration at 5 °C, with a 0.1 µm membrane. Flux was high for TA treatment possibly due to the stabilising effect of transglutaminase on casein micelles. It is likely that formation of isopeptide bonds within and on the surface of micelles results in the micelles being less readily available for protein-protein and protein–membrane interactions, resulting in less resistance to membrane pores and flow passage, thereby conferring higher permeate flux. The results also showed that permeation of casein monomers into the permeate was significantly reduced after both enzymatic treatments as compared to control feed due to the reduced molecular mobility of soluble casein, mainly β-casein, caused by transglutaminase crosslinking.

Cold Microfiltration as an Enabler of Sustainable Dairy Protein Ingredient Innovation

Classically, microfiltration (0.1–0.5 µm) of bovine skim milk is performed at warm temperatures (45–55 °C), to produce micellar casein and milk-derived whey protein ingredients. Microfiltration at these temperatures is associated with high initial permeate flux and allows for the retention of the casein fraction, resulting in a whey protein fraction of high purity. Increasingly, however, the microfiltration of skim milk and other dairy streams at low temperatures (≤20 °C) is being used in the dairy industry. The trend towards cold filtration has arisen due to associated benefits of improved microbial quality and reduced fouling, allowing for extended processing times, improved product quality and opportunities for more sustainable processing. Performing microfiltration of skim milk at low temperatures also alters the protein profile and mineral composition of the resulting processing streams, allowing for the generation of new ingredients. However, the use of low processing temperatures is associated with high mechanical energy consumption to compensate for the increased viscosity, and thermal energy consumption for inline cooling, impacting the sustainability of the process. This review will examine the differences between warm and cold microfiltration in terms of membrane performance, partitioning of bovine milk constituents, microbial growth, ingredient innovation and process sustainability.

Effect of Temperature, Added Calcium and pH on the Equilibrium of Caseins between Micellar State and Milk Serum

Micellar casein and casein monomers in milk serum are in a dynamic equilibrium. At temperature below 15–20 °C a considerable amount of casein monomers, β-casein in particular, is released from the casein micelle into the aqueous serum phase. This study investigates the effects of added calcium and related variations of pH on this peculiar equilibrium in order to minimize the amount of caseins in the serum and to better understand the casein permeation during microfiltration. The pH was varied in the range of 6.3 to 7.3 and the content of calcium was increased up to 7.5 mM by adding CaCl₂. Upon equilibration, the milk was separated by ultracentrifugation and the amounts of protein in the supernatant were analyzed. It was shown that the addition of low amounts of calcium shifts the equilibrium towards the micellar casein phase and can, thus, lower the serum casein content induced at low temperatures. Relative to that, the adjustment of pH separately from the CaCl₂ addition had a minor effect on casein concentration and composition in the serum.