Effect of powder source and processing conditions on the solubility of milk protein concentrates 80

Two milk protein concentrates powders with 80% protein content (MPC80) were reconstituted with either water or permeate at 4C or 37C to contain 3.5% protein content. Samples were homogenized at 0 or 13800 kPa. The objective of this research was to determine how different solubility measures such as solubility index, soluble solids and particle size were affected by powder source, reconstitution solvent type, temperature of reconstitution and homogenization. A separate analysis of variance was run with each solubility measure as a response. The relationship between treatment effects on the results for solubility index and mean particle size were the most similar. A combination of solvent type, temperature, and homogenization affected both the solubility index and mean particle size significantly. Powder source also affected solubility and particle size and the effect of powder source was not modified by any other factors. These studies indicate that the reconstitution temperature and homogenization can be exploited to improve MPC80 solubility. In this study, reconstituting MPC80 at a temperature of 37C followed by homogenization at 13800 kPa resulted in highest solubility of MPC80.