초록 ▼

Apparatus and method for separation of milk and milk products, e.g., involving sequential separation of milk, clostrum, and whey components by cross-flow filtration. The apparatus and method in a preferred aspect employ cross-flow filtration, chromatography and fermentation to separate and fully uti

Apparatus and method for separation of milk and milk products, e.g., involving sequential separation of milk, clostrum, and whey components by cross-flow filtration. The apparatus and method in a preferred aspect employ cross-flow filtration, chromatography and fermentation to separate and fully utilize the components of milk, clostrum, and whey to generate numerous individual components, minimize waste, lower adverse environmental issues and provide enhanced economic benefits to dairy producers. A wide variety of consumer and nutraceutical products can be produced from the fractions and/or sub-fractions of milk products obtained from such separation. The invention further contemplates a methodology for selecting optimum membrane, device, and operating conditions to achieve a desired separation.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus system for separating milk components and capturing a lactose rich fraction, comprising: a milk source; one or more cross-flow filtration modules communicatively connected to said milk source, for generating one or more filtration fractions wherein the cross-flow

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus system for separating milk components and capturing a lactose rich fraction, comprising: a milk source; one or more cross-flow filtration modules communicatively connected to said milk source, for generating one or more filtration fractions wherein the cross-flow filtration modules comprise a feed inlet, a retentate outlet, a permeate outlet, a multiplicity of filter sheets in an operative stacked arrangement, wherein the filter sheets alternate with permeate and retentate sheets, wherein the retentate sheet comprises multiple fluid-flow channels each extending between the feed inlet and retentate outlet, wherein the fluid flow channels are of equal length to one another as measured between the inlet and the outlet, and wherein as a liquid to be filtered flows across the filter sheets, solids or high-molecular-weight species of diameter larger than the filter sheet's pore size, are retained in the retentate flow, and the liquid along with any permeate species diffuse through the filter sheets and enter the permeate sheet to the permeate outlet; wherein the system for capturing a lactose rich fraction comprises the following cross-flow filtration modules and fluid collection conduits: an optional first cross-flow filtration module downstream of the milk source and communicatively connected thereto for filtering out all or at least a portion of bacteria contained in the milk; a second cross-flow filtration module, downstream of the first cross-flow filtration module if the first cross flow filtration module is provided and communicatively connected thereto, or if the first cross flow filtration module is not the provided, then the second cross-flow filtration module is communicatively connected directly to the milk source, which separates the milk into a casein-rich fraction and a casein-depleted fraction; a first fluid collection conduit connected to said second cross-flow filtration module for capturing the casein-rich fraction; a third cross-flow filtration module downstream of the second cross-flow filtration module and communicatively connected thereto, which receives the casein-depleted fraction and further separates it into a fraction that is enriched with albumin and immunoglobulins and a fraction that is depleted of albumin and immunoglobulins; a second fluid collection conduit connected to said third cross-flow filtration module for capturing the fraction that is enriched with albumin and immunoglobulins; a fourth cross-flow filtration module downstream of the third cross-flow filtration module and communicatively connected thereto, which receives the fraction that is depleted of albumin and immunoglobulins and further separates it into a β-lactoglobulin-rich fraction and a β-lactoglobulin-depleted fraction; a third fluid collection conduit connected to said fourth cross-flow filtration module for capturing the β-lactoglobulin-rich fraction; a fifth cross-flow filtration module downstream of the fourth cross-flow filtration module and communicatively connected thereto, which receives the β-lactoglobulin-depleted fraction and further separates it into a α-lactalbumin-rich fraction and a α-lactalbumin-depleted fraction; a fourth fluid collection conduit connected to said fifth cross-flow filtration module for capturing the α-lactalbumin-rich fraction; a sixth cross-flow filtration module downstream of the fifth cross-flow filtration module and communicatively connected thereto, which receives the α-lactalbumin-depleted fraction and further separates it into a complex carbohydrates rich fraction and a complex carbohydrates depleted fraction; a fifth fluid collection conduit connected to said sixth cross-flow filtration module for capturing the complex carbohydrates rich fraction; a seventh cross-flow filtration module downstream of the sixth cross-flow filtration module and communicatively connected thereto, which receives the complex carbohydrates depleted fraction and further separates it into a lactose-rich fraction and a lactose-depleted fraction; and a sixth fluid collection conduit connected to said seventh cross-flow filtration module for capturing the lactose-rich fraction; a discharge conduit for discharging and/or recycling the lactose-depleted fraction. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pasteurizer upstream and/or downstream of any of the cross-flow filtration modules for pasteurizing the milk source or any one or more filtration fractions generated by the cross-flow filtration modules. 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a cream separator upstream of said cross-flow filtration modules for removing all or at least a portion of fatty component from the milk. 4. An apparatus system for separating milk components and capturing an α-lactalbumin-depleted fraction comprising: a milk source; one or more cross-flow filtration modules communicatively connected to said milk source for generating one or more filtration fractions wherein the cross-flow filtration modules comprise a feed inlet connected to a fluid delivery conduit, a retentate outlet, a permeate outlet, a multiplicity of filter sheets in an operative stacked arrangement, wherein the filter sheets alternate with permeate and retentate sheets, wherein the retentate sheet comprises multiple fluid-flow channels each extending between the feed inlet and retentate outlet, wherein the fluid flow channels are of equal length to one another as measured between the inlet and the outlet, and wherein as a liquid to be filtered flows across the filter sheets, solids or high-molecular-weight species of diameter larger than the filter sheet's pore size, are retained in the retentate flow, and the liquid along with any permeate species diffuse through the filter sheets and enter the permeate sheet to the permeate outlet; wherein the system for capturing an α-lactalbumin-depleted fraction comprises the following cross-flow filtration modules and fluid collection conduits: a first cross-flow filtration module downstream of the milk source and communicatively connected thereto for filtering out all or at least a portion of bacteria contained in the milk; a second cross-flow filtration module downstream of said first cross-flow filtration module or the milk source and communicatively connected to said first cross-flow filtration or the milk source, which separates the milk into a casein-rich fraction and a casein-depleted fraction; a first fluid collection conduit connected to said second cross-flow filtration module for capturing the casein-rich fraction; a third cross-flow filtration module downstream of the second cross-flow filtration module and communicatively connected thereto, which receives the casein-depleted fraction and further separates it into a β-lactoglobulin-rich fraction and a β-lactoglobulin-depleted fraction; a second fluid collection conduit connected to said third cross-flow filtration module for capturing the β-lactoglobulin-rich fraction; a fourth cross-flow filtration module downstream of the third cross-flow filtration module and communicatively connected thereto, which receives the β-lactoglobulin-depleted fraction and further separates it into a α-lactalbumin-rich fraction and a α-lactalbumin-depleted fraction; a third fluid collection conduit connected to said fourth cross-flow filtration module for capturing the α-lactalbumin-rich fraction; and a fourth fluid collection conduit connected to said fourth cross-flow filtration module for capturing the α-lactalbumin-depleted fraction for subsequent processing selected from the group consisting of cross-flow filtration, lactose recovery, discharging, recycling, capturing, further processing and recycling. 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a pasteurizer upstream and/or downstream of any of the cross-flow filtration modules for pasteurizing the milk source or any one or more filtration fractions generated by the cross-flow filtration modules. 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising temperature controller or monitor for controlling and monitoring temperature of said milk and/or filtration fractions generated by the cross-flow filtration modules. 7. An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a cream separator upstream of said cross-flow filtration modules for removing all or at least a portion of fatty component from the milk. 8. An apparatus for separating milk components and capturing an α-lactalbumin-rich fraction, comprising: a milk source; one or more cross-flow filtration modules communicatively connected to said milk source for generating one or more filtration fractions wherein the cross-flow filtration modules comprise a feed inlet connected to a fluid delivery conduit, a retentate outlet, a permeate outlet, a multiplicity of filter sheets in an operative stacked arrangement, wherein the filter sheets alternate with permeate and retentate sheets, wherein the retentate sheet comprises multiple fluid-flow channels each extending between the feed inlet and retentate outlet, wherein the fluid flow channels are of equal length to one another as measured between the inlet and the outlet, and wherein as a liquid to be filtered flows across the filter sheets, solids or high-molecular-weight species of diameter larger than the filter sheet's pore size, are retained in the retentate flow, and the liquid along with any permeate species diffuse through the filter sheets and enter the permeate sheet to the permeate outlet; wherein the apparatus for capturing an α-lactalbumin-depleted fraction comprises the following cross-flow filtration modules and fluid collection conduits: an optional first cross-flow filtration module downstream of the milk source and communicatively connected thereto by a fluid delivery conduit wherein the first cross-flow filtration module is used for filtering out all or at least a portion of bacteria contained in the milk; a second cross-flow filtration module, downstream of the first cross-flow filtration module if the first cross flow filtration module is in the system and communicatively connected thereto, or in the alternative if the first cross flow filtration module is not provided, then the second cross-flow filtration module is communicatively connected directly to the milk source, which separates the milk into a casein-rich fraction and a casein-depleted fraction; a first fluid collection conduit connected to said second cross-flow filtration module for capturing the casein-rich fraction; a third cross-flow filtration module downstream of the second cross-flow filtration module and communicatively connected thereto, which receives the casein-depleted fraction and further separates it into a fraction that is enriched with albumin and immunoglobulins and a fraction that is depleted of albumin and immunoglobulins; a second fluid collection conduit connected to said third cross-flow filtration module for capturing the fraction that is enriched with albumin and immunoglobulins; a fourth cross-flow filtration module downstream of the third cross-flow filtration module and communicatively connected thereto, which receives the fraction that is depleted of albumin and immunoglobulins and further separates it into a β-lactoglobulin-rich fraction and a β-lactoglobulin-depleted fraction; a third fluid collection conduit connected to said fourth cross-flow filtration module for capturing the β-lactoglobulin-rich fraction; a fifth cross-flow filtration module downstream of the fourth cross-flow filtration module and communicatively connected thereto, which receives the β-lactoglobulin-depleted fraction and further separates it into a α-lactalbumin-rich fraction and a α-lactalbumin-depleted fraction; a fourth fluid collection conduit connected to said fifth cross-flow filtration module for capturing the α-lactalbumin-rich fraction; a fifth fluid collection conduit connected to said fifth cross-flow filtration module for capturing the α-lactalbumin-depleted fraction for subsequent processing selected from the group consisting of cross-flow filtration, lactose recovery, discharging, recycling, capturing, further processing and recycling. 9. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a pasteurizer upstream and/or downstream of any of the cross-flow filtration modules for pasteurizing the milk source or any one or more filtration fractions generated by the cross-flow filtration modules. 10. An apparatus according to claim 8, comprising multiple fluid delivery conduits arranged in a manner that each cross-flow filtration module is connected to at least one fluid delivery conduit, said fluid delivery conduits functioning to effectuate a flow of the milk or a fraction of the milk through each cross-flow filtration module. 11. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising temperature controller or monitor for controlling and monitoring temperature of said milk and/or filtration fractions generated by the cross-flow filtration modules. 12. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a cream separator upstream of said cross-flow filtration modules for removing all or at least a portion of fatty component from the milk. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the milk source comprises a transgenic or hyper-immunized mammal. 14. A system for sequentially fractionating milk, comprising: (a) a source of milk; (b) a first cross-flow filtration module in fluid communication with said source of milk for separating the milk into a casein-rich retentate fraction and a casein-depleted permeate fraction; (c) a first fluid collection conduit connected to said first cross-flow filtration module for capturing the casein-rich retentate fraction; (d) a second cross-flow filtration module in fluid communication with said first cross-flow filtration module for separating the casein-depleted permeate fraction into a protein concentrate fraction and a protein-depleted permeate fraction; (e) a second fluid collection conduit connected to said second cross-flow filtration module for capturing or discharging the protein-depleted permeate fraction; (f) a third cross-flow filtration module in fluid communication with said second cross-flow filtration module for separating the protein concentrate fraction into a β-lactoglobulin-rich fraction and a β-lactoglobulin-depleted permeate fraction; (g) a third fluid collection conduit connected to said third cross-flow filtration module for capturing the β-lactoglobulin-rich fraction; (h) a fourth cross-flow filtration module in fluid communication with said third cross-flow filtration module for separating the β-lactoglobulin-depleted fraction into an α-lactalbumin-rich fraction and an α-lactalbumin-depleted permeate fraction; (i) a fourth fluid collection conduit connected to said fourth cross-flow filtration module for capturing the α-lactalbumin-rich fraction; and (j) a fifth fluid collection conduit connected to said fourth cross-flow filtration module for capturing or discharging the α-lactalbumin-depleted permeate fraction.