Galactooligosaccharides desalination by MEGA electrodialysis

Galactooligosaccharides and their benefits

Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) have many beneficial effects on the human body. In addition to being prebiotic, GOS have proven to be effective in protecting against intestinal pathogens. This is due to their anti-adhesive activity against these pathogens on the surface of gastrointestinal epithelial cells

GOS also improve the digestibility of dairy products by increasing lactose tolerance and lowering serum cholesterol levels.

A positive effect of taking prebiotics has been observed in domestic animals. The use of indigestible oligosaccharides is also increasing in the production of livestock feed.

Why purify galactooligosaccharides

The purpose of GOS purification is to remove mono and disaccharides. These treatments lead to improved prebiotic activity while reducing the product's caloric value and lactose content. In addition, purified oligosaccharides show increased viscosity and cause a reduced Maillard reaction during heat treatment.

Since a high degree of desalination is required in the food industry, the most suitable application for GOS purification is the use of electrodialysis.

Using MEGA electrodialysis, you get the final product quality suitable for use in baby food.

Why choose MEGA electrodialysis

The MEGA electrodialysis is a very efficient technology for desalinating food solutions with low energy and chemical consumption. The feed solution is often a mixture of organic product, mineral waste – salt, acid or base and organic waste – by-product and raw chemicals.

The electrodialysis application by MEGA fits into your current or future downstream process train.

We have designed and manufactured complete industrial electrodialysis units with their independent control system for automatic operation, that can be easily integrated into your technological process. Most efficient for such application is to operate in a batch mode for a high degree of product desalination.

The fundamental advantage is in the flexibility of the process control, allowing obtaining desired product quality and the accurate balance of the process.

Electrodialysis in the Galactooligosaccharides purification process

The electrodialysis is an electrochemical separation process in which ions from the treated liquid are transferred through ion-exchange membranes from one solution (feed/diluate) to another solution (brine/concentrate) under the influence of DC voltage. Charged components are attracted to the cathode or anode and collected in the concentrate stream. Product - organic non-ionic compounds are retained in the diluate stream.

Salts such as inorganic salts, weak organic acids, and inorganic acids are transported from diluate to concentrate. Sugars are retained in the diluate loop (high recovery).

Thus, the undesirable by-products of chemical and/or enzymatic conversion can be easily removed.

Moreover, removed components could be often recovered and fed back into the reaction stage as required reactant or catalyst or pH controlling agent.