The influence of naturally occurring levels of urea on the heat stability of bulk milk

Invited review: Heat stability of milk and concentrated milk: Past, present, and future research objectives

The ability of milk and concentrated milk to withstand a defined heat treatment without noticeable changes such as flocculation of protein is commonly denoted as heat stability. A heat treatment that exceeds the heat stability limit of milk or concentrated milk, which has a much lower heat stability, may result in undesired changes, such as separation of milk fat, grittiness, sediment formation, and phase separation. Most laboratory-scale batch heating methods were developed in the early 20th century to simulate commercial sterilization, and these methods have since been standardized. Heat stability studies have been motivated by different objectives during that time, addressing different processing issues and targets in the framework of available technology, legislation, and consumer demand. Although milk hygiene has improved during the last couple of decades, rendering milk less sensitive to coagulation, different standard methods suffered from poor comparability of results, even when comparing results for the same milk sample, indicating that unknown procedural steps affect heat stability. The prediction of heat stability of concentrated milk from the heat stability results of the corresponding unconcentrated milk for rapid quality testing purposes has been difficult, mainly due to different experimental conditions. The objective of this study is to review literature on heat stability, starting from studies in the early 20th century, to summarize the vast number of studies on compositional aspects of milk affecting heat stability, and to lead the way to the most recent work related to compositional changes in concentrates produced by membrane concentration and fractionation, respectively. Particular attention is paid to early and most recent developments and findings, such as the application of kinetic models to predict and limit protein aggregation to assess and describe heat stability as a temperature-time-total milk solids continuum.

Physicochemical properties of whole milk powder derived from cows fed pasture or total mixed ration diets

This study examined the effect of dietary factors on compositional and functional properties of whole milk powder (WMP) produced from bovine milk. Raw milk samples were obtained from 3 groups of 18 Holstein Friesian spring-calving cows randomly assigned to diets based on perennial ryegrass (GRS), perennial ryegrass/white clover sward (CLV), and total mixed ration (TMR). Raw milks obtained in late lactation were subsequently standardized for fat, heat-treated (90°C for 30 s), evaporated, and homogenized before spray drying. The WMP produced from each diet were analyzed to determine differences in color, particle size distribution, heat coagulation time, yogurt gelation, texture profile, and protein profile due to each diet. Significant differences in heat coagulation time were observed between the CLV and TMR samples, whereas color values were significantly different between GRS and TMR samples. No significant differences in gross composition, protein profile, or whey protein nitrogen index were found between the 3 WMP samples. Average D₉₀ values (the particle size at which 90% of the particles were smaller than the specified size) for fat globules were significantly lower in the TMR sample compared with the GRS and CLV samples. Yogurts produced from GRS- and CLV-derived WMP had significantly higher elastic moduli (G') than those produced from TMR-derived WMP. Similarly, texture profile analysis revealed significantly higher firmness values in yogurt samples derived from CLV compared with TMR samples. Our data characterize the effect of these diets on the composition and functional properties of fat-standardized WMP, suggesting better yogurt functionality and thermal stability in WMP derived from pasture-based bovine diets.

Milk utilization and manipulation of composition in the future

Milk composition varies greatly throughout the year, due largely to the effects of the diet of the cow and the stage of lactation. Whilst such variations go unremarked with bottled and cartoned milk, they are of major importance to manufacturers who use milk as a raw material. The most obvious example is when the yield of a dairy product is affected, e.g. in Scotland, the volume of milk required to produce 1 kg butter varies between 21.1 and 23.3 1 at different times of the year.

In addition, however, some of the more subtle changes in milk composition either affect product quality, e.g. the ease with which butter may be spread, or cause processing difficulties, e.g. instability during heating processes. This paper reviews some of our current knowledge on the relationship between milk composition and the properties of some dairy products — butter, whipping cream, Cheddar cheese, ultra-heat treated milk and full-cream evaporated milk. The aim is to identify those milk components that affect each product or process and then enquire how milk composition may be altered to effect improvements — whether at the farm by dietary manipulation or at the creamery by technological adjustment.

It is believed that all the evidence indicates that, despite difficulties due to restrictive legislation, the answer must lie at the creamery. The farmer should concentrate on producing desirable milk solids at the lowest possible cost and leave the technologist to do the fine tuning that leads to improved products.

Note: The Effect of Silo Milk Composition Parameters on Heat Stability of Whole Milk Powder

The aim of this work was to study silo raw milk (SRM) compositional parameters that affect the heat stability of whole milk powder (WMP). Seasonal changes of heat stability from SRM and WMP were also characterised. Silo raw milk samples and the corresponding WMP samples were collected twice a month from a local factory from April 2000 to April 2001. Silo raw milk heat coagulation time (HCT), urea and lactose concentrations were found to contribute to milk powder HCT statistical model (R2 = 0.72). High HCT values during summer and low ones during spring were detected for both SRM and WMP samples. Heat coagulation time values of SRM were always higher than those measured in their powders, due to the effects of processing conditions on heat stability

The heat stability of milk and concentrated milk containing added aldehydes and sugars

The addition of simple aldehydes brought about large increases in the heat stability of both skim-milk and concentrated skim-milk over a comparatively wide milk–pH range. The coagulation time–pH minima of type A milks were completely removed by aldehyde treatment. Some sugars, which react readily as aldehydes on heating, were also shown to stabilize concentrated milk to prolonged heat treatment at 120 °C.

Heat stability of milk: synergic action of urea and carbonyl compounds

Urea stabilizes milk to heat only in the presence of a carbonyl compound, such as a reducing sugar. Low molecular weight carbonyl compounds can increase stability in the absence of urea whereas larger molecules, e.g. hexoses and reducing disaccharides, cannot. However, the efficacy of all carbonyl compounds is increased considerably in the presence of urea. Aldehydes and ketones of similar molecular weights appear to be equally effective stabilizers. The optimum concentration of lactose in milk for stability was approximately 1% irrespective of urea concentration within the range 5–20 mM. However, modifying the lactose content of concentrated milks (approximately 8.5% protein) had little effect on heat stability.

Effect of seasonal variation, urea addition and ultrafiltration on the heat stability of skim-milk powder

The heat stability of skim-milk powder varied throughout the season, but was highest during the period April–August. Addition of urea increased heat coagulation times during March–August, but the extent of increase was dependent upon urea addition either before or after preheating for 30 min at 90 °C during manufacture. During March–June, higher heat stabilities were recorded when urea was added after preheating, while in July–August urea added before preheating was more effective. Partial ultrafiltration before dehydration decreased the heat stability of reconstituted milks due to a loss of natural urea in the permeate together with a disruption in the salt balance.

Heat stability of recombined milk: influence of lecithins on the heat coagulation time-pH profile

Two types of lecithin, namely egg and soya lecithin, were investigated as potential stabilizers of recombined milk. They were incorporated into recombined milk both before and after homogenization (20·7 MPa; 60 °C). Their presence at homogenization changed neither mineral equilibria nor homogenization efficiency. However, heat stability varied significantly irrespective of batch of low-heat skim milk powder used in recombined milk. The variation in heat stability depended on type of lecithin. Soya lecithin proved to be a very effective stabilizer. It improved heat stability over a wide pH range (6·3–7·1) and the effect occurred even when the lecithin was added after homogenization. In contrast, egg lecithin destabilized the system to heat at pH < 6·7 by converting a Type A into a Type B heat coagulation time-pH profile if it was incorporated before homogenization; after homogenization it had no effect. The effects of both egg and soya lecithin on the heat stability of recombined milk strongly suggest that interactions occur between phospholipids and milk protein.

The effect of preheat temperature and urea addition on the seasonal variation in the heat stability of skim-milk powder

The manufacture of skim-milk powder with heat stable characteristics was investigated commercially during the course of 8 trials carried out over a 12-month period. Skim-milk was preheated to temperatures ranging from 110 to 130 °C with a 2-min holding time prior to evaporation and drying. The effect of added urea was also examined during each trial run. Heat coagulation times at 120 °C were determined upon reconstitution of the powders to 20% total solids. From February to April the heat stability of the skim-milk powders increased, with the more heat stable samples being obtained at the higher preheating temperatures. Addition of urea increased the heat stability, particularly so in those milks which had been preheated to 130 °C. The presence of added urea during preheating was not found to be necessary as an equal effect on heat stability was observed when urea was introduced at the concentrate stage before drying. Later in the season optimum heat coagulation times were obtained by maintaining preheating temperatures at 118–120 °C.

The synergic effect of urea and aldehydes on the heat stability of concentrated skim-milk

When urea is added to concentrated skim-milk (22·5% total solids) no increase in heat stability is observed. However, a similar addition of urea to concentrate stabilized with aldehyde brought about a significant further increase in heat stability. Urea can further stabilize concentrated skim-milk only when aldehyde addition has brought about a change in coagulation mechanism from the normal 2-stage process to a single-stage coagulation. These results can be related to the 2 coagulation mechanisms observed in unconcentrated milks.

Effects of milk protein genetic variants and composition on heat stability of milk

Skim milk samples from 126 Friesian and 147 Jersey cows in eight commercial herds were preheated at 85 °C for 30 min and concentrated to 200 g l−1total solids. A heat coagulation time–pH curve was determined at 120 °C for each treated sample. Heat coagulation times ranged from 1 to 50 min at the non-adjusted pH and 1 to 60 min at the pH of maximum stability. The following statistically significant effects were found. Maximum heat stability was affected by genetic variants of κ-casein (B > AB > A;P< 0·001) and β-lactoglobulin (B, AB>A;P< 0·05) whereas natural heat stability was affected only by κ-casein genetic variants (B > AB > A;P< 0·001). Maximum and natural heat stability were corre-lated positively with β-casein and κ-casein concentrations and were negatively correlated with αs1-casein and β-lactoglobulin concentrations. Milk from Jersey cows had greater maximum and natural heat stability than milk from Friesian cows. Differences were found between herds within breed for natural heat stability, but not for maximum heat stability. Maximum heat stability declined with age of the cow. The heat stability of skim milk samples taken from 40 Jersey cows in one of the herds was determined at 140 °C. A considerable variation was found in the coagulation time–pH curves. There was a difference in natural heat stability between κ-casein variants (B > AB;P< 0°05). Natural and maximum heat stability were correlated positively with urea concentration. No relationship was found between the heat stability of preheated concentrated skim milk and the heat stability of the original skim milk. The pH of skim milk samples was associated with αs1-casein genetic variant, age of cow, stage of lactation and concentration of γ-casein.

Effect of concentration by ultrafiltration on the heat stability of skim-milk

An examination has been made of the heat stability characteristics of skim-milk concentrate prepared by ultrafiltration (UF). Concentrate prepared by UF was found to be more stable than that prepared by conventional evaporation. In contrast to conventional concentrate, the heat stability of UF concentrate was not appreciably affected by forewarming or addition of permitted stabilizers, but the effect of addition of urea was generally the same for both UF and conventional concentrates; an increase in heat stability was obtained if the milk total solids level was less than 14%. As with conventional concentrate, addition of simple aldehydes induced large increases in the heat stability of UF concentrate. It is suggested that a novel range of sterile milk products could be prepared from UF concentrates. Because of the high protein and low lactose contents of these concentrates, the products might be nutritionally more attractive than those prepared from conventional concentrates.

Products of the heat-promoted reaction between urea and the protein fraction of bovine milk

Enzymic digests of samples of heated skimmed milk were found to contain small amounts of S-carbamyl-L-cysteine. This material was concluded to have arisen from reaction of a cysteinyl residue in βlactoglobulin (β-lg) with cyanate derived from the native urea of bovine milk. After heating at 75 or 90 °C for 20 min skimmed milk contained 0·009 and 0·029 μmol/ml respectively of protein-bound S-carbamyl-cysteine. Evaporated milk contained 0·058 μmol/ml. The S-carbamylcysteine contents of samples of β-lg heated under similar conditions in equimolar 0·17 mM-KCNO at pH 6·6 were 0·016 and 0·062 μmol/ml respectively. At 60 °C no formation of S-carbamyl-cysteine was detected. Samples of evaporated milk and skimmed milk which had been heated for 20 min at 60, 75 or 90 °C were examined, after acid hydrolysis, for the presence of homocitrulline. None was found. Similarly αs1- and β-caseins heated at 60 and 75 °C in 4 mM-urea at pH 6·6 yielded no homocitrulline, but after treatment at 90 °C for 20 min αs1-casein contained 68 μg/g and β-casein contained 73 μg/g protein-bound homocitrulline. This was concluded to have been the product of reaction of cyanate and ε-amino groupings of lysyl residues of the caseins. The relative importance of carbamylation involving ε-amino groups or sulphydryl groups in milk is discussed.

Effect of homogenization on the heat stability of milk

The effect of homogenization on the heat stability characteristics of milk was examined. The heat stability of homogenized milk, as determined by the time taken for protein clots to form when heated at 140 °C, was reduced with increasing pressure in the range 3·5–34·5 MPa. The heat stability of homogenized milks was greater for samples obtained in the summer months than for those obtained in the winter. The general destabilizing effect of homogenization could be partly offset by 2-stage homogenization (20·7 MPa followed by 3·5 MPa), addition of phosphate stabilizers (0·08% w/v) or homogenization at a high temperature (65 °C). Whilst homogenized and unhomogenized milks reacted similarly to the addition of Ca, phosphate stabilizers, sulphydryl-blocking and oxidizing agents, the effects of season, addition of urea or formaldehyde were different for homogenized milk.

Seasonal changes in the heat stability of milk from creamery silos in south-west Scotland

The heat stability of the milk supply to manufacturing creameries in south-west Scotland was examined over 15 months from Nov. 1975 to Jan. 1977. For all but 2 months of this period the heat stability of the milk was very highly significantly correlated with the naturally occurring level of urea. Between 72 and 90% of the variation of coagulation time (CT), measured at the natural milk pH, was accounted for by changes in milk urea alone. For a short period, in May and June, the CT of the milk at natural pH fell within the minimum of the CT–pH profile, but insufficient data were available to allow the occurrence of this phenomenon to be related to changes in milk composition.

Effect of selected amides on heat-induced changes in milk

The effect of 15 amides and related compounds on the heat stability of milk was investigated; of these urea, biuret, triuret, methyl urea and ethyl urea had a similar stabilizing effect. These 5 compounds reacted with lysine to form a ninhydrin-positive compound, possibly homocitrulline, and with lactose produced Maillard-type browning, but some of the other compounds studied were also capable of participating in one or both of these reactions. The only effect which the 5 stabilizing amides had in common and which the other compounds did not share was a significant pH-buffering capacity in synthetic systems and in milk. It is suggested that urea exercises its stabilizing influence in milk principally through its ability to buffer the pH of the system during heating.

Studies on the heat stability of milk: II. Association and dissociation of particles and the effect of added urea

The sizes of the casein particles in milk heated at 130°C were measured as functions of heating time and of initial pH. The effect of adding 10 mM-urea to the milks was also studied. Turbidities of the milks before and after dispersing the caseinate particles in 8 m-urea/EDTA/β-mercaptoethanol were measured, the latter measurement giving an indication of the extent of covalent cross-linking. Urea was found to modify the behaviour of the milk: diameters of the caseinate particles were considerably altered, and the extent of covalent cross-linking was diminished. These results agree with the observation that more protein is solubilized from the casein micelles when urea is present, indicating that a competitive reaction scheme involving cross-linking in opposition to micellar dissociation may be responsible for the ultimate precipitation of milk by heat.

Heat stability of milk: influence of dilution and dialysis against water

The marked precipitation of Ca phosphate found to occur at ~ pH 6·8 when milk is heated to high temperatures may account for the minimum in the heat coagulation time (HCT)–pH curve at ~ pH 6·8. Dialysis of milk against water for about 3 h converted a normal type A milk to one with type B heat stability characteristics by reducing stability in the region of the HCT maximum while increasing stability in the region of the minimum. Reduction of the concentration of urea, lactose, Na or chloride did not cause these changes and gross micelle structure appeared to be intact following short dialysis as indicated by turbidity and sedimentability. Dilution of milk with water increased stability at the minimum without significantly affecting stability at the maximum. Pre-heating at 80°C for 10 min precluded the effect of dilution but not of dialysis.

Effect of urea on the heat coagulation of the caseinate complex in skim-milk

Additions of urea progressively increased the heat stability of milk outside of its coagulation time (CT)–pH minimum. In the region of the CT–pH minimum larger amounts of urea were required before an increase in heat stability occurred. The effect of urea was observed over the temperature range 125–140 °Cfornaturalmilk, milk which had been dialysed against synthetic sera, and milk to which a sulphydrylblocking agent had been added. Urea additions did not affect the activation energy of the heat coagulation reaction or the stability of milk to rennet or ethanol.

Physico-chemical characteristics of casein micelles in dilute aqueous media

The heat stability and rennet coagulation time (second stage) of milk were reduced by brief dialysis against water. Destabilization appears to arise from a developed imbalance between Ca and phosphate plus citrate due to the very slow diffusion of Ca on dialysis. Average micelle size as indicated by permeation chromatography in porous glass CPG 10 was slightly reduced by dialysis for 24 h. Direct addition of low levels (10–100 mM) of NaCl to milk markedly reduced heat stability at pH > 7·0 (normal minimum) possibly due to dissociation of κ-casein, but increased rennet coagulation times; higher levels of NaCl decreased heat stability throughout the pH range 6·4–7·4.

The effect of concentration on the heat stability of skim-milk

A progressive change takes place in the heat stability of skim-milk during concentration. At the maximum in the coagulation time (CT)–pH profile of milk concentrated to over 20% of total solids (TS) the total N depletion curve changed from single- to 2-stage and CT became insensitive to the addition of urea. Furthermore, addition of β-lactoglobulin to skim-milk concentrates destabilized the heated milk whilst the opposite effect was observed in the presence of sulphydryl-group blocking agents. As a result of these observations, it has been suggested that the mechanism of coagulation in concentrated milk is similar to that which occurs within the minimum of the CT–pH profile of skim-milk at normal levels of TS.

Protein-lipid interactions in concentrated infant formula

Radiolabeled milk proteins ([carbon-14] beta-lactoglobulin or [carbon-14] kappa-casein) were added to raw skim milk used to prepare concentrated humanized infant formula. Ultracentrifugation of the sterilized product allowed separation of three fractions: lipids and the proteins associated with them; free casein micelles and other dense particles; and the fluid phase. Distribution of radiolabeled tracer proteins or of protein measured by chemical methods among these three phases varied significantly with differences in processing conditions (time and temperature of sterilization) or amount of certain additives (potassium hydroxide or urea). In the range of 0 to 8 meq/L of potassium hydroxide added to the formula after homogenization but before sterilization, the lipid layer content of carbon-14 from [carbon-14] kappa-casein in the sterilized product decreased by 4.7% for each 1 meq/L of added potassium hydroxide. Lipid layer content of protein decreased by 2 g/L (of a total of 32 g/L) for each 1 meq/L potassium hydroxide. Such differences in the structure of the product, related to interactions of protein with lipid, protein, or calcium phosphate, may correlate with physical properties and stability of milk-based lipid-rich products.

Effects of adding potassium iodate to milk before UHT treatment. I. Reduction in the amount of deposit on the heated surfaces

Additions of potassium iodate to milk at 0.05 and 0.1 mM (10 and 20 ppm) before UHT treatment markedly reduced the rate at which pressure built up during processing. This permitted the use of longer processing times before unacceptable pressures were reached in the heat exchangers. Iodate reduced the amount of protein deposited, particularly in the higher temperature sections of the plant, but had no effect on the deposition of minerals. The more compact nature of the highly mineral deposits offered less resistance to the flow path. Reduction in the amount of protein deposited is likely to be caused by increased denaturation of beta-lactoglobulin and oxidation of heat activated sulphydryl groups by the iodate, thus reducing the formation of high molecular weight polymers of sulphur-containing proteins at the heated surfaces. Increasing the level of sulphydryl groups in the milk through the addition of L-cysteine-HCl caused an increase in the amount of deposit formed during UHT treatment. Whilst little detrimental effect on the quality of milk resulted from additions of iodate at 0.05 mM, milks with 0.1 mM-iodate became bitter during subsequent aseptic storage. Bitterness was a result of iodate-induced proteolysis of casein.

Stability of buffalo casein micelles

Buffalo skim-milk is less heat stable than cow skim-milk. Interchanging ultracentrifugal whey (UCW) and milk diffusate with micellar casein caused significant changes in the heat stability of buffalo casein micelles (BCM) and cow casein micelles (CCM). Buffalo UCW dramatically destabilized CCM, whereas buffalo diffusate with CCM exhibited the highest heat stability. Cow kappa-casein stabilizes alphas-casein against precipitation by Ca better than buffalo kappa-casein. About 90% of alphas-casein could be stabilized by kappa:alphas ratios of 0.20 and 0.231 for cow and buffalo, respectively. Sialic acid release from micellar kappa-casein by rennet was higher than from acid kappa-casein in both buffalo and cow caseins, the release being slower in buffalo. The released macropeptide from buffalo kappa-casein was smaller than that from cow kappa-casein as revealed by Sephadex gel filtration. Sub-units of BCM have less sialic acid (1.57 mg/g) than whole micelles (2.70 mg/g). On rennet action, 47% of bound sialic acid was released from sub-units as against 85% from whole micelles. The sub-micelles are less heat stable than whole micelles. Among ions tested, added Ca reduced heat stability more dramatically in whole micelles, whereas added phosphate improved the stability of micelles and, more strikingly, of sub-micelles. Citrate also improved the heat stability of sub-micelles but not of whole micelles.

Heat stability in concentrated and non-concentrated milks--the effect of urea and beta-lactoglobulin levels and the influence of preheating

Heat stability as a function of pH has been studied in concentrated and non-concentrated milk systems. The influence of preheating has also been examined. The concentration of beta-lactoglobulin has been shown to affect markedly the heat stability behaviour in both systems but with different characteristics. Increasing the level of urea resulted in increased heat stability in non-concentrated milks, but corresponding concentrated milks showed a small decrease in maximum heat stability. It has not been possible to extrapolate heat stability data from non-concentrated to concentrated milks.