Continuous Lactose Hydrolysis in Fixed‐Bed and Expanded‐Bed Reactors Containing Catalytic Resins

Abstract

ABSTRACTKinetics studies of lactose hydrolysis in a continuous fixed‐bed column reactor containing catalytic resins showed that the reaction was first order. The Q10 value between 85 and 95°C was 4.08 and estimated activation energy was 36.9 Kcal/mole. Operational difficulties occurred when deproteinated whey was used as the substrate for the above process. Therefore, an expanded‐bed process was developed to hydrolyze deproteinated whey. Acid was also added to the deproteinated whey to enhance the functionality of catalytic resin. The modified process improved reaction rate and facilitated process operation. At 95°C, 99% of the lactose in whey was hydrolyzed within 3 hr of residence time when the substrate was acidified with concentrated nitric acid to a final acid concentration of 0.6N.