The Utilization of the Mineral-Ion Exchange Principle in Stabilizing Evaporated Milk

Abstract

The possibility of correcting the salt relationships in milk prior to concn. and sterilization was investigated. The use of cation exchangers having a high degree of specificity for Ca and Mg ions was found to be a satisfactory and practical means for making these adjustments in milk. Amberlite IR-100, a resinous type of exchanger, operating in the Na cycle, was found applicable to milk and was used in these expts. Under avg. conditions where a product requires 2-6 oz. of Na2HPO4 [center dot] H2O per 1000 lbs. of concentrated milk (26.2% total solids) to prevent coagulation during sterilization, the same correction can be effected by treating from 0.5 to 2% of the original milk by the mineral-ion exchange process. The addition of the treated milk at the hot well before forewarming resulted in greater efficiency of stabilization than addition later. The treated milk can be employed as a fluid, concentrate or powder with almost equal effectiveness. The somewhat elevated pH of the treated milk contributed little to the stabilizing efficiency of the process and the amt. of treatment required, had an insignificant effect on the Ca and ash content of the finished evaporated milk. This process appears to have possibilities for the manufacture of evaporated milk containing higher-than-normal total solids.[long dash].