Ultrafiltration Case Study: Lower-Cost Whey Production At Brewster Dairy

Whey, once an environmentally-troublesome waste product of the cheese making process, has become a significant revenue stream for U.S. cheese producers. Whey protein concentrate is dried and sold for use in many products, including nutritional beverages, baked goods, processed foods, and animal feed. The lactose that is removed from the whey can also be dried into powder and sold for use in infant formula and pharmaceutical applications.

At Brewster Dairy, Inc., the country's largest manufacturer of all-natural Swiss cheese, whey products contribute 25 percent to the company's bottom line. Swiss cheese is made from curds, and the whey by-product is processed through a membrane ultrafiltration (UF) system.

Using UF membranes to separate and concentrate whey protein is a process that requires daily cleaning of the membranes with chlorine, which degrades them. Long mem¬brane life is essential to controlling costs and maintaining performance.