Ultrafiltration Case Study: Cold Filtering Skim Milk Concentrate

California Dairies, Inc., the state’s largest dairy cooperative, processes milk with a unique On-Farm® Concentration ultrafiltration (UF) system. The process removes water and selected non-protein components from milk at the cooperative’s plant so that concentrated milk solids can be transported to cheese producers at significantly reduced freight and storage costs.

Commercial milk protein concentrate typically is made using a recirculating hot process, but California Dairies uses a single-pass cold milk process that produces a non-pasteurized, non-denatured raw product with higher functionality and significantly less whey disposal.

While this cold process is extremely efficient for whole milk, skim milk presented a serious challenge. “Our existing UF membrane could process whole milk, but simply could not handle skim milk. We were not recovering proteins or solids, which are very costly to lose,” explained Steven Cooper, Vice president of Operations for the Tipton and Artesia, California facilities.