Modern approaches to lactose production

This chapter reviews recent improvements in the purifi cation and crystallisation of lactose from whey. The properties of lactose and traditional methods of manufacture are discussed, within this framework methods for whey and permeate pretreatments are examined including; calcium precipitation, nanofi ltration, ion exchange, electrodialysis, adsorptive decolourisation and ion exclusion chromatography. The fundamentals of lactose crystallisation are explored together with the impact of impurities on lactose crystal growth rate, purity, shape and size distribution. Innovations in lactose crystallisation and specialised pharmaceutical products are discussed including spray dried and anhydrous lactose, and dry powder inhalers. Post handling, separation, washing, milling and drying and impacts on lactose quality are described. Finally standards for hygiene and quality control of lactose manufacture, applications and functionality of lactose are covered in the last part of this chapter.