| abstract |
This invention relates to a process for the recovery of α-lactalbumin and/or β-lactoglobulin enriched whey protein concentrate from a whey protein product. The process comprises the following steps:n a) incubating a solution comprising said whey protein product with a calcium-binding ionic exchange resin in its acid form to initiate the instabilization of α-lactalbumin, b) adjusting the pH of the treated protein product solution to a value between 4.3 and 4.8, after separation of said resin, c) incubating said protein product solution at a temperature between 10 and 50°C to promote the flocculation of α-lactalbumin, d) fractionating the proteins in said protein product solution at pH 4.3-4.8, providing an α-lactalbumin enriched fraction and a β-lactoglobulin enriched fraction, e) raising the pH of the α-lactalbumin enriched fraction sufficiently to solubilize the α-lactalbumin fraction, and f) optionally raising the pH of the β-lactoglobulin enriched fraction sufficiently to neutralize the β-lactoglobulin fraction. |