Continuous production of oligosaccharides from whey using a membrane reactor

Whey permeate (containing 14, 20 or 23% lactose) was used in the continuous production of oligosaccharides (OS) by hydrolysis from Maxilact 2000 L (Kluyveromyces lactis beta-D-galacosidase). Two types of membrane reactors were used: a laboratory scale, Amicon stirred cell, using a flat membrane (41.8 cm(2)) and a pilot plant-scale membrane reactor using a Romicon hollow fiber cartridge (0.5 m(2)). Batch experiments were run to determine the optimal reaction time (when the largest amount of OS are produced). This optimal reaction time was then used in the experiments in continuous mode as the mean residence time of the whey permeate in the reactor, which could be controlled by adjusting the rate of permeate and or the volume of the substrate in the system. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.