ARTICLE IN PRESS
International Dairy Journal 18 (2008) 735– 740

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

International Dairy Journal journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/idairyj

Review

Membrane processes in dairy technology—From a simple idea to worldwide panacea
Yves Pouliot Ã
´ STELA Dairy Research Center, Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods (INAF), Pavillon Paul-Comtois, Universite Laval, Qc, Canada G1K 7P4

abstract

Membrane technology has been applied in the dairy industry since the early 1970s. The applications of membrane processes are used as alternative to some unit operations, in the solving of separation issues and in the development of new dairy products. The contemporary pressure-driven membrane units include microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) and the main applications are related to dairy-based protein ingredients, pre-concentration of milk before cheese manufacture and alternative technology for extending shelf life of milk. The development of value-added products from minor milk compounds represents one of the most promising applications of membranes in dairy. Important challenges worldwide face membrane technologies in the near future. & 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Contents 1. 2. 3. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 735 Membranes and dairy technology: four decades of innovations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 736 Membrane processes at the turn of the new millenium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 737 3.1. Manufacture of dairy-based protein ingredients . . . . . . . . . . . . .