Patent ID: 9540703
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: A23V,C13K

Claim:
1. A method for improving the yield of the production of crystalline alpha-lactose, comprising the steps of (a1) gradually cooling an aqueous lactose solution, as a mother liquor, to about 10° C., (a2) separating a first amount of precipitated alpha-lactose crystals from the mother liquor, (a3) adding a carbohydrate compound, without adding additional lactose, to the mother liquor, in an amount of from 0.1 to 3% by weight of the mother liquor, such that the solubility product of the residual amount of lactose still held in solution is exceeded, (a4) separating a second amount of precipitated alpha-lactose crystals from the mother liquor and (a5) combining the first and second amounts of alpha-lactose crystals.