Bioconversion and separation of milk carbohydrates on nanomembranes

• Author / Creator

  Pikus, Wojciech

• Cost-effective processing of dairy whey permeates is important to the environment and economics of the agriculture industry in Canada. Bioconversion of whey permeates is an attractive means of obtaining value-added adjuncts with improved nutritional and functional properties. In the past, cost-effective technologies to recover additional value from whey permeates at a low cost were lacking. Currently, such a technological platform is now feasible with the introduction of new modern bioconversion technologies that incorporate batch or continuous bioreactors, and use ultra- and nano-filtration membranes for the separation of whey permeate components.
  In this dissertation, a novel processing methodology is described. This methodology, which is a desirable configuration for food manufacturers includes a stirred batch nanomembrane bioreactor equipped with a crossflow nanomembrane and offers lactose bioconversion with an immobilized biocatalyst, product separation, and biocatalyst recovery in a batch operation.
  The major focus of this research was on: a) the development of a new analytical methodology for carbohydrate measurement during the lactose bioconversion process, b) the selection, testing and integration of highly selective nanomembranes to separate the desired substrates, whey permeate carbohydrates, from the reaction mixture, and c) the production of a stable and highly active and specific immobilized biocatalyst. Noticeably, this methodology was designed, developed and tested for the bioconversion of lactose, but could also be used for the bioconversion of other carbohydrate feedstocks.

  The food industry in Canada needs an integrated approach to achieve complete lactose reclamation and use. This research project offers such a solution. The research described in this dissertation presents an integrated model of a stirred batch bioreactor that may support not only current, but also future research, and may economically impact the development and bioconversion of whey permeates containing lactose. This may lead to the development of a continuous processing methodology for low cost recovery of lactose from whey permeates and simultaneous conversion to value-added products.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Biocatalyst
  • Lactose
  • Nano-filtration
  • Nanomembranes
  • Whey
  • Bioconversion
  • Glucose
  • Galactose

• Graduation date

  Spring 2010

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Doctor of Philosophy

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R31W51

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.