Patent ID: 8889208

Claim:
A method for obtaining β-casein comprising the steps of: a) cooling first milk to a temperature of about 1-6° C. to release β-casein from the micelles containing β-casein; b) using microfiltration to form a first β-casein-enriched permeate and a first β-casein-depleted retentate; c) separating second milk using first ultrafiltration to obtain first ultrafiltered permeate; d) combining the first β-casein-depleted retentate with the first ultrafiltered permeate to form a mixture; e) cooling the mixture to a temperature of about 1-6° C. to release β-casein from the micelles containing β-casein; f) separating the mixture using first microfiltration/diafiltration to obtain a second β-casein-enriched permeate; g) combining the first β-casein-enriched permeate and the second β-casein-enriched permeate into a composite permeate fraction; h) cooling the composite permeate fraction; i) separating the cooled composite permeate fraction using ultrafiltration/diafiltration to obtain concentrated and demineralized fraction enriched in β-casein; j) increasing the temperature of the concentrated and demineralized fraction enriched in β-casein to facilitate formation of micelles containing β-casein; and k) separating β-casein from the concentrated and demineralized fraction using second microfiltration/diafiltration.