The use of ultrafiltration and dialysis in isolating the aqueous phase of milk and in determining the partition of milk constituents between the aqueous and disperse phases

Abstract

SummaryA description is given of various methods for the ultrafiltration and dialysis of milk and of the composition of the sera obtained. Ultrafiltrate prepared by the procedure recommended is reasonably representative of the aqueous phase of milk, but its content of lactose and citric acid, and consequently also of calcium, is determined to a slight degree by the sieving phenomenon known to occur often in ultrafiltration. The composition of diffusate obtained from milk at 20°C is not thought to be controlled to any significant extent by a Donnan effect and is regarded as identical with that of the aqueous phase of milk. The lactose content of diffusate suggests that about 2% of the water in milk is bound to protein, and allowance should be made for this when calculating the concentrations of the soluble constituents in milk from the composition of diffusate. Diffusate prepared from milk at 3°C contains slightly more total calcium, ionized calcium and phosphorus than diffusate prepared at 20°C. These differences are attributed to a change in the partition of calcium and phosphorus between the disperse and aqueous phases at the lower temperature, an explanation that is supported by the reversibility of the change. The composition of diffusate prepared by the procedure recommended indicates that about 5% of the sodium and about 6% of the potassium and citric acid in milk are in the disperse phase.