Lactose
A versatile carbohydrate derived from milk, essential in various industrial applications.
What is? Where we use?
Lactose, commonly known as milk sugar, is a disaccharide composed of glucose and galactose. It is a natural byproduct of milk processing and plays a crucial role in multiple industries due to its functional properties. In the food industry, lactose enhances sweetness, improves texture, and acts as a carrier for flavors and vitamins. Its mild sweetness makes it an excellent ingredient in dairy products, baked goods, and confectionery. In the pharmaceutical sector, lactose serves as a reliable filler in tablets and capsules, ensuring consistent dosage and stability. Additionally, lactose is a valuable energy source in animal feed formulations, promoting livestock health and productivity. In the fermentation industry, it provides essential carbohydrates for yeast and probiotic cultures, facilitating efficient fermentation processes. Lactose’s versatility and functional benefits make it an indispensable ingredient across diverse industrial applications.
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Pharmaceutical Industry
Serves as a reliable filler in tablets and capsules, ensuring consistent dosage and stability of pharmaceutical formulations.
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Food Industry
Enhances sweetness, improves texture, and acts as a carrier for flavors and vitamins in products like chocolate, confectionery, bakery items, infant formulas, milk powder, ice cream, yogurt, and cheese.
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Fermentation Industry
Acts as a carbohydrate source for yeast and probiotic production, facilitating efficient fermentation processes.
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Animal Feed
Provides an energy source as a feed additive, promoting livestock health and productivity in animal nutrition.
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Textile and Paper Industry
Utilized in protein-based adhesives and binders, enhancing the functionality and performance of textile and paper products.
Chemical & Physical Properties
| Specifications | Typical Values | Method | Principle |
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Moisture, m/m | max 0.5 % | 0.4 % | IDF Standard 26:1964 | Gravimetry, drying; 103±2 0C |
Protein, m/m (Nx6,38) | max 0.4 % | 0.3 % | IDF Standard 20B: 1993 | Kjeldahl, titrimetry |
Ash, m/m | max 0.2 % | 0.05 % | IDF Standard 90:1986 | Furnace; 825±25 0C |
Lactose, m/m | min 99 % | 99.25 % | NADRG: 1978 | Subsidence, (Cu2O) |
pH (in 10 % solution) | min 5.50 – 7.00 | May.70 | TS 11860 | pH metre |
Solubility index, ml | max 1 | 0.25 | IDF: 1964 | Centrifugation |
Scorched Particles | Disk A/B | A | ADMI: 1971 | Visual comparasion with standard disks |
Microbiological Properties
| Specifications | Typical Values | Method | Principle |
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Total plate count, cfu/g | max 5.000 | 2.500 | TS 1019 | Plate Count Agar |
Coliform, cfu/0.1 g | negative | negative | FDA: 1998 | Fluorocult VRB Agar |
E.coli, cfu/g | negative | negative | FDA: 1998 | Fluorocult VRB Agar |
Staph.aureus, cfu/g | negative | negative | Anon., 1998 (38) | Baird-Parker Agar |
Salmonella, cfu/25g | negative | negative | TS 8907 | Selenit-Cystin Broth & Bismut-Sülfite Agar |
Yeast & Mould, cfu/0.1 g | max 10 | negative | Pitt&Hocking, 1997 (86) | YGC Agar |