Composition and Properties of Whey Protein Concentrates from Ultrafiltration

Chemical and nutrient composition and functional properties of whey protein concentrates from ultrafiltration of sweet and acid wheys were studied for potential food uses. Vitamins passed readily through the membrane; thus, vitamin content was slightly higher than in whey. Amino acid values were considerably higher, increasing in direct proportion to increases in protein. Lysine availability was not significantly affected by fractionation or by subsequent heat treatment. Since this process results in substantial removal of minerals along with the permeate, the protein to ash ratio of the protein concentrate increased. Unlike most other methods of recovering protein from whey, solubility was not adversely affected by ultrafiltration. However, protein concentrates were susceptible to heat; normal pasteurization temperatures resulted in approximately 20% denaturation. Whey protein exhibited excellent water retention. Addition of 1.5% protein to skim milk followed by heating formed a custard-like gel with sufficient body to stand alone without leakage. Approximately twice as much egg albumin was recluired to achieve comparable results. Whipping properties were very good when butterfat content was less than 2%. Excellent stable whips could be produced by a combination of heat and pH adjustment.