Fermentation Installation for Milk Serum Lactic Acid Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Italian dairy companies face significant challenges in disposing of milk whey and cheese effluents at low costs, and direct use in zootechnical feed is not viable for most due to geographical limitations, necessitating an alternative method for converting these effluents into valuable products like lactic acid and bio-proteins.
Innovation Solution
A process and installation that utilize milk serum from pasta filata cheese production to ferment lactose into lactic acid and produce bio-proteins, involving a thermostatically controlled, automated double-walled container for fermentation, followed by filtration and recycling, allowing for controlled production of lactic acid and reusable proteins for dairy products and animal feed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If milk whey and cheese effluents are disposed of through conventional methods, then pollution levels are reduced, but disposal costs are high and geographically limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts harmful waste effluents into valuable products (lactic acid and bio-proteins) through fermentation. The whey and cheese effluents that would otherwise be pollutants are transformed into commercially valuable substances, simultaneously reducing pollution and generating revenue, thus resolving the contradiction between pollution reduction and disposal cost
2Quantity of substance
If ultrafiltration is used to separate proteins from fermentation broth, then protein recovery is improved, but process complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter of the fermentation broth to induce natural protein precipitation and separation. By adjusting pH conditions, proteins automatically separate from the liquid phase, eliminating the need for complex ultrafiltration equipment while achieving effective protein recovery. This resolves the contradiction between protein recovery and process complexity
3Ease of manufacture
If direct use of whey in zootechnical feed is implemented, then feed production cost is reduced, but geographical viability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms whey into lactic acid and bio-proteins that can be transported and used in zootechnical feed production anywhere geographically. The fermented products have extended shelf life and can be distributed beyond local areas, making the solution universally applicable regardless of geographical proximity between cheese dairies and breeding facilities, thus resolving the contradiction between cost reduction and geographical viability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables the efficient conversion of milk serum into lactic acid and bio-proteins, reducing pollution, providing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for dairy companies, while ensuring sterility and reducing operational costs, and enabling the production of valuable products for dairy and zootechnical applications.
Implementation Method 1
the fermentation of the lactose contained in the effluents of cheese products
Implementation Method 2
a thermostatically controlled and automated double-walled steel container, where the controlled fermentation takes place
Implementation Method 3
a thermostatically controlled and automated double-walled steel container
Implementation Method 4
by the sedimentation, once fermentation has occurred, of reusable proteins
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The fermentation installation comprises a container (1) made of steel having double wall (2), where water circulates, a thermostat to control fermentation at a variable temperature of 38-45[deg] C, and an unloading device with a stainless steel tube (5) for the production and collection of lactic acid. The unloading device is drilled along a surface placed vertically in the container and activated by a temporized solenoid valve positioned on the external terminal of the tube. The container has a conical shape in the lower part to form a settler. The fermentation installation comprises a container (1) made of steel having double wall (2), where water circulates, a thermostat to control fermentation at a variable temperature of 38-45[deg] C, and an unloading device with a stainless steel tube (5) for the production and collection of lactic acid. The unloading device is drilled along a surface placed vertically in the container and activated by a temporized solenoid valve positioned on the external terminal of the tube. The container has a conical shape in the lower part to form a settler from which the sediment is formed by ferments and recoverable bioproteins through the piping and the opening of the solenoid valve. A tube (3) is present on the bottom of the cone that connects a refrigerable cylindrical condenser reservoir (4) having dimensions of 1/30 with respect to the capacity of the upper cylindrical container. A piping with the serum is connected to the piping that leaves the reservoir for joining the tip of the reactor. A positive rotary (PR) pump is used for mixing the ferments and materials accumulated in the refrigerated tank with the serum derived from the cheese fabrication at the inlet of the piping. A level sensor is positioned on the tip of the reactor to adjust the filling. A pipe provided with a ball valve is arranged for a positive displacement (PV) pump to extract air and creating vacuum inside the reactor and a solenoid valve (E4) with the filter of 0.1 micron for filtering the air at the inlet. A pipe with a solenoid valve (E6) and a ball valve allows the entry of steam at 120[deg] C for washing the reactor. An independent claim is included for a process for the fermentation of lactose contained in serum derived from fabrication of goat cheese.