title: Contribution to the production of lactulose-rich whey by in situ electro-isomerization of lactose and effect on whey proteins after electro-activation as confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight-mass spectrometry and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
abstract: Cheese-whey, a major co-product of the dairy industry, has recently been the subject of many technological applications. We studied the bioconversion of whey into valuable bio-products such as a potential lactulose prebiotic and compounds with antioxidant properties. This paper examines efficiency, safety, and economics of electro-activation as an eco-friendly technology for a maximum valorization of whey. Thus, a bottom-up approach was therefore addressed. The effect of 4 experimental parameters--low working temperatures (0, 10, and 25 °C), current intensities (400, 600, and 800 mA), volume conditions (100, 200, and 300 mL), and feed concentrations [7, 14, and 28% (wt/vol)]--on lactose-whey isomerization to lactulose under electro-activation process were studied. Structural characteristics of whey proteins and antioxidant functionality were also investigated. The results showed a compromise to be reached between both parameters. Therefore, the maximum yield of 35% of lactulose was achieved after 40 min of reaction at the working temperature of 10 °C under 400 mA electric current field and 100-mL volume conditions with using feed solution at 7% (wt/vol). The isomerization of lactose to lactulose is accomplished by subsequent degradation to galactose, but only at a very small amount. Additionally, whey electro-activation showed significantly elevated antioxidant capacity compared with the untreated samples. The enhancement of antioxidant functionality of whey electro-activation resulted from the synergistic effect of its partial hydrolysis and the formation of antioxidant components that were able to scavenge free radicals. In conclusion, the findings of this study reveal that the whey treated by the safety electro-activation technology has both lactulose-prebiotic and antioxidant properties and could have a substantial application in the manufacture of pharmaceutical and functional foods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Université Laval, Quebec, Qc, G1V 0A6, Canada; Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF), Université Laval, Quebec, Qc, G1V 0A6, Canada.
authors.forename: Ourdia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kareb
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF), Université Laval, Quebec, Qc, G1V 0A6, Canada; Food Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 3600 Casavant, St. Hyacinthe, Qc, J2S 8E3, Canada.
authors.forename: Claude P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Champagne
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF), Université Laval, Quebec, Qc, G1V 0A6, Canada; Department of Soil Sciences and Agri-Food Engineering, Université Laval, Quebec, Qc, G1V 0A6, Canada. Electronic address: mohammed.aider@fsaa.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aïder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002611:Cheese / Q000032:analysis; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005524:Food Technology / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D005690:Galactose / Q000378:metabolism; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007536:Isomerism; D007785:Lactose / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D007792:Lactulose / Q000737:chemistry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D056692:Prebiotics; D000067796:Whey / Q000737:chemistry*; D000067816:Whey Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D056692:Prebiotics; D000067816:Whey Proteins; D007792:Lactulose; D007785:Lactose; D005690:Galactose
keywords: antioxidant capacity; electro-activation; isomerization; lactulose; prebiotic whey