An Integrated Fermentation-Ultrafiltration Process for the Production of Xanthan Gum from Whey Lactose

We have developed an enzyme process to produce GOS from whey lactose. GOS is a prebiotic with wide applications in human and animal foods. However, glucose and galactose are also produced in the process and must be removed from GOS because these monosaccharides do not have and can reduce the prebiotic effect. Xanthan gum is a microbial polysaccharide widely used as a suspending, stabilizing, and thickening agent in food and oil-recovery industries. This project is to develop a novel integrated fermentation-ultrafiltration process for economical production of xanthan gum from glucose and galactose present in the waste sugar stream from the GOS production process. Converting the unwanted waste sugars to high-value GOS and xanthan gum can reduce the waste from and improve the economics of whey processing, thus benefiting the dairy industry by turning the low value whey lactose ($0.2/lb or less) into highly profitable products.