Patent · US Active

Tagatose production using simulated moving bed separation

US8802843B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
22References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 22, 2012
Grant dateAug 12, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 6, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC13K1/00
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Disclosed is a process for the production of d-tagatose from lactose after acid hydrolysis to provide a hydrolysate having 1 equiv of d-glucose and 1 equiv of d-galactose for each unit of lactose converted. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for the isomerization of d-galactose to d-tagatose and the use of a simplified separation scheme based on simulated moving bed (SMB) separation. The isomerization of d-galactose to d-tagatose is carried out in the presence of calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. The process is useful for providing a simplified processing route to providing pure d-tagatose and glucose as two products from lactose hydrolysate. In an alternate embodiment, a process is disclosed for the production of d-tagatose from fermented lactose hydrolysate to provide a crystallized d-tagatose product. D-tagatose is useful as a food additive, as a sweetener, as a texturizer, as a stabilizer, or as a humectant.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.