Immobilization of Aspergillus oryzae β-Galactosidase on Cellulose Acetate-Polymethylmethacrylate Membrane and Its Application in Hydrolysis of Lactose from Milk and Whey

A catalytic membrane approach as a way to obtain sweet and unsweet lactose-free milk

The growing need in the current market for innovative solutions to obtain lactose-free (L-F) milk is caused by the annual increase in the prevalence of lactose intolerance inside as well as the newborn, children, and adults. Various configurations of enzymes can yield two distinct L-F products: sweet (β-galactosidase) and unsweet (β-galactosidase and glucose oxidase) L-F milk. In addition, the reduction of sweetness through glucose decomposition should be performed in a one-pot mode with catalase to eliminate product inhibition caused by H2O2. Both L-F products enjoy popularity among a rapidly expanding group of consumers. Although enzyme immobilization techniques are well known in industrial processes, new carriers and economic strategies are still being searched. Polymeric carriers, due to the variety of functional groups and non-toxicity, are attractive propositions for individual and co-immobilization of food enzymes. In the presented work, two strategies (with free and immobilized enzymes; β-galactosidase NOLA, glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger, and catalase from Serratia sp.) for obtaining sweet and unsweet L-F milk under low-temperature conditions were proposed. For free enzymes, achieving the critical assumption, lactose hydrolysis and glucose decomposition occurred after 1 and 4.3 h, respectively. The tested catalytic membranes were created on regenerated cellulose and polyamide. In both cases, the time required for lactose and glucose bioconversion was extended compared to free enzymes. However, these preparations could be reused for up to five (β-galactosidase) and ten cycles (glucose oxidase with catalase).

Encapsulated NOLA™ Fit 5500 Lactase—An Economically Beneficial Way to Obtain Lactose-Free Milk at Low Temperature

The current requirements of industrial biocatalysis are related to economically beneficial and environmentally friendly processes. Such a strategy engages low-temperature reactions. The presented approach is essential, especially in food processes, where temperature affects the quality and nutritional value foodstuffs. The subject of the study is the hydrolysis of lactose with the commercial lactase NOLA™ Fit 5500 (NOLA). The complete decomposition of lactose into two monosaccharides gives a sweeter product, recommended for lactose intolerant people and those controlling a product’s caloric content. The hydrolysis reaction was performed at 15 °C, which is related to milk transportation and storage temperature. The enzyme showed activity over the entire range of substrate concentrations (up to 55 g/L lactose). For reusability and easy isolation, the enzyme was encapsulated in a sodium alginate network. Its stability allows carrying out six cycles of the complete hydrolysis of lactose to monosaccharides, lasting from two to four hours. During the study, the kinetic description of native and encapsulated NOLA was conducted. As a result, the model of competitive galactose inhibition and glucose mixed influence (competitive inhibition and activation) was proposed. The capsule size does not influence the reaction rate; thus, the substrate diffusion into capsules can be omitted from the process description. The prepared 4 mm capsules are easy to separate between cycles, e.g., using sieves.

Understanding the Effects of Lactose Hydrolysis Modeling on the Main Oligosaccharides in Goat Milk Whey Permeate

Enzymatic hydrolysis of lactose is a crucial step to improve the efficiency and selectivity of membrane-based separations toward the recovery of milk oligosaccharides free from simple sugars. Response surface methodology was used to investigate the effects temperature (25.9 to 54.1 °C) and amount of enzyme (0.17 to 0.32% w/w) at 1, 2, and 4 h of reaction on the efficiency of lactose hydrolysis by Aspergillus oryzae β-galactosidase, preservation of major goat whey oligosaccharides, and on the de-novo formation of oligosaccharides. Lactose hydrolysis above 99% was achieved at 1, 2, and 4 h, not being significantly affected by temperature and amount of enzyme within the tested conditions. Formation of 4 Hexose (Hex) and 4 Hex 1 Hex and an increased de-novo formation of 2 Hex 1 N-Acetyl-Neuraminic Acid (NeuAc) and 2 Hex 1 N-Glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc) was observed in all treatments. Overall, processing conditions using temperatures ≤40 °C and enzyme concentration ≤0.25% resulted in higher preservation/formation of goat whey oligosaccharides.

Enzymes and Dairy Products

The use of enzymes in food production, including dairy products, is below expected due the high costs associated with their production and purification. Microbial enzymes have great potential for industrial applications since they can be produced via large-scale fermentation and they are easily expressed by cloning in well-known cultivated microorganisms. The combination of different procedures such as over-expression techniques and the use of low costs induction sources has resulted in the production of enzymes to be used in high added-value dairy products. The addition of glucose oxidase to probiotic yogurts has been indicated as an alternative to the maintenance of probiotic functionality. Bile salt hydrolase contributes to prevention of hypercholesterolemia which is interesting to produce new functional dairy products. This chapter discusses enzyme sources and their relevance in dairy products, the production of enzymes using cloning and super-expression techniques, as well as enzymes related to functional dairy products.