Electrodialysis Demineralization System

Transform by-products with high ash or acidity content into premium ingredients, reaching demineralization rates of up to 90% to access the most demanding markets such as infant nutrition, with a lower operating cost than traditional ion exchange.

The system operates through the application of a direct current electric field across a stack of selective membranes (cationic and anionic). As whey or permeate circulates through the compartments, mineral ions (salts) selectively migrate toward a concentrate stream (brine), leaving a 'diluted' or purified product. This technology enables precise control over the final composition, removing ash without thermally affecting proteins, which is essential for preserving biological functionality in the production of WPC (Whey Protein Concentrate) and pharmaceutical-grade lactose. Native whey and permeates typically have a mineral content (ash) and acidity that limits their use in human nutrition, restricting them to low-return animal feed applications. Electrodialysis resolves this by removing the salts that affect flavor and stability, and in the case of acid whey, enables deacidification (lactate removal), converting a problematic by-product into a recoverable source of lactose and solids.

Request Quote Contact Us

Click to view gallery

Electrodialysis system — installed ion-exchange membrane stack

•Adjustable Demineralization (D40 – D90): Ability to modulate the salt removal level according to the desired end product. Benefit: Full flexibility to produce from standard ingredients (D40/D50) to high-margin formula bases (D70/D90) with the same equipment.
•Acid Whey Deacidification: Selective removal of organic acids and lactates. Benefit: Enables processing of acid cheese or yogurt whey, improving its flavor profile and facilitating spray drying, avoiding stickiness in the drying tower.
•WPC Softening (Calcium and Magnesium Removal): Specific extraction of divalent ions prior to concentration and drying. Benefit: Increases protein thermal stability, prevents fouling in evaporators, and improves final powder solubility.
•Operational Efficiency vs. Ion Exchange: The process does not require continuous chemical regeneration of resins for the main salt load. Benefit: Significant reduction in chemical consumption, lower generation of contaminating effluents, and lower operating costs per kilogram of produced solids.
•Modular Stack Design: Scalable membrane configuration. Benefit: Allows increasing production capacity by adding modules without replacing the entire existing infrastructure.

ELECTRODIALYSIS IN THE DAIRY INDUSTRY

SEVEN VIABLE PRODUCTION LINES

ACID WHEY VS SWEET WHEY

Although the dairy industry already processes sweet whey at large scale — used in a wide variety of products such as infant foods, sports nutrition, and others — acid whey represents a greater challenge for many cheese producers.

Although both are composed of 94% water, acid whey has a proportionally lower protein content, a higher concentration of minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, organic acids, and salts that cause problems and reduce the viability of downstream processing.

Electrodialysis demineralization reduces the amount of these compounds, presenting highly profitable new opportunities for the utilization of acid whey.

Electrodialysis unit — compact whey demineralization module

TITRATABLE ACIDITY REDUCTION

The chart shows that titratable acidity decreases according to the demineralization rate. For whey to be suitable for spray drying, a demineralization rate of at least D90 must be achieved. The titratable acidity of demineralized whey corresponds to that of natural sweet whey, or is even better when demineralization exceeds D90. Possible applications include fermented dairy products, whey-based beverages, yogurt, cottage cheese, cream and processed cheese, dressings, drinks and desserts.

Back to Electrodialysis Demineralization

Request Quote Contact Us