Rapid Estimation of Total Solids Content of Reverse Osmosis Retentates Using a Cryoscope

Abstract

Rapid, simple, accurate and cost-effective analytical methods are always needed for quality control in the dairy industry. Application of reverse osmosis for concentration of milk will create a need for a method to rapidly estimate the total solids content of milk retentates. A milk cryoscope can be used for this purpose. An excellent correlation (.99) exists between observed freezing point of skim milk retentates and their total solids content. As a result, it would be possible to have a production worker actually do this total solids monitoring using a milk cryoscope while operating a reverse osmosis unit.