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Avda. da fábrica da Luz S/n.

27004 Lugo.

Tfno 34 982 252231 (ext.21307)

Fax 34 982 251611

TECHNICAL RESSOURCES OF THE CENTRO TECNOLÓXICO LÁCTEO DE

GALICIA

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1 INTRODUCTION

The pilot plant of dairy industries is located in the ground floor of the building

of the Centro Tecnolóxico Lácteo de Galicia. It takes up an area of 575 m2

that are distributed in the following way:

Production area = 350 m2.

Laboratories = 50 m2.

Management area = 12 m2.

Engine room = 46 m2.

Changing rooms and toilets = 24 m2.

Approaches and corridors = 93 m2.

The facilities and technical means the pilot plant has, allow to reproduce, at a

small scale, the most representative processes of the Dairy Industry.

Raw milk reception, milk thermization and standardization, both in fat

content and in proteins and dry matter.

Milk and dairy products pasteurization and homogenization.

Cheeses production.

o Fresh pastes.

o Soft pastes.

o Pressed pastes.

o Cooked pressed pastes.

o Processed cheese

Fermented milk production:

o Firm, stirred and liquid yoghurts.

o Other fermented milks.

UHT dairy products production.

o Liquid products.

o Semi-solid products (Desserts).

Implementation of selective filtration processes in tangential flow,

either in the dairy products preparation or in the coproducts

assessment.

Generally, any unit operation or process that needs the technical means that

are detailed next.

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2 FACILITIES DESCRIPTION

2.1 RECEPTION AND PRETREATMENTS AREA

In this area, milk unloading process is carried out. From a tank, we can

receive a maximum of 2,000 L. Once the milk is in our facilities, this area

allows us to carry out the thermization, clarification and standardization of fat

content in the manufacture milk. Normalized milk can be sent to other

processing areas, where ingredients and additives can be incorporated,

and/or it can be pasteurized - homogenized.

This room is fitted with the following equipment:

1 Isothermal reception tank of 2,000 L with agitator.

2 Isothermal storage tanks of 1,000 L with agitator.

1 Plate heat exchanger (Thermizer) with variable flow: 500 – 1,000

L/h.

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Centrifugal separator of 1,000 L/h. (connected to the thermizer at the

ascending stage).

2 Refrigeration tanks with a

capacity of 250 L, with a system

for incorporating ingredients.

1 Plate heat exchanger

(Pasteurizer) with variable flow:

500 - 1.000 L/h, equipped with two

maintenance sections with

different length.

Two-stage homogenizer with a flow

of 500 L/h. Maximum pressure:

300 bar (connected to the

pasteurizer at the ascending

stage).

Control panel for automation

system by remote control of the

reception, pre-treatment and CIP operations.

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ALMIX equipment for ingredients incorporation and mixing, fitted with

hoppers for solids incorporation, systems of agitation and mixing with

regulation of speed, system of direct or indirect heating and indirect

cooling, vacuum pump and mixing tank of 140 litres.

CIP area (Cleaning in place)

o Tank of 500 L of recovery water.

o Tank of 500 L of one-step cleaning product, with a system for

heating the cleaning product and a system for the adjustment

and automatic dosage of the detergent.

o Tank of 500 L of osmotized water for specific uses.

o Connection to mains water for final rinse.

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2.2 CHEESE-MAKING AREA

In this area the operations of transformation of milk in cheese can be

carried out, either from raw milk or previously pasteurized and standardized

milk in the pretreatments area. Different cheese productions can be carried

out: fresh pastes, soft pastes, pressed pastes and cooked pressed pastes.

There are 2 processing lines, a manual one and an automated one.

The equipment we have is the following:

Static cheese brine of 1 level of 3,000 litres, automatic temperature

control by internal coil.

Diatomaceous earths filter for the rejuvenation of the brine.

Automatic moulds washing machine, with a system for heating the

detergent solution by steam injection and recirculation of the cleaning

solution

Drying, ripening and refrigeration chambers with temperature and

relative humidity control.

Discontinuous butter churn for manufacturing butter.

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“Traditional process” line

o Open Dutch-type cheese vat with

a capacity of 200 L.

o Horizontal pneumatic press with

two-heights pistons.

“Industrial process ” line

o Close Closed Double O cheese vat

with a capacity of 500 L.

o Moulds filling column with a

prepressing system, automatic

curd dosing and a mechanism for

regulating the height of the curd

block.

o Tunnel press, for microperforated

moulds with programmable

pressure control.

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2.3 TANGENTIAL FILTRATION AREA

The filtration technologies are not grouped together in one room. There

is the necessary equipment to carry out the 4 filtration techniques:

microfiltration (MF)

ultrafiltration (UF)

nanofiltration (NF)

reverse osmosis (RO)

These technologies allow us to carry out:

microbiological purification of dairy fluids (milk, whey and cheese

brine) using MF

fractionation of whey proteins using UF

dairy fluids concentration (whey, milk, filtrate) using RO

dairy fluids (milk and whey) concentration and demineralization

draining of whey from latic pastes using UF

milk concentration for cheese-making (protein standardization or MMV

process), ...

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The equipments are:

Tangential microfiltration equipment “Bactocatch” system with multi-

channel cartridge mineral membranes. Membrane surface: 0.24m2.

Ultrafiltration equipment with multi-channel cartridge mineral

membranes. Membrane surface: 1.2 m2 (possibility of choosing the

membrane pore size, 20nm, 50 nm and 100nm are available).

Mixed ultrafiltration equipment, of organic membranes in plate-and-

frame or multi-channel cartridge mineral membranes.

Versatile filtration equipment with organic membranes in spiral-wound

system. Its design and construction allow to carry out filtration

operations in the range of 100nm to 0.001 nm, this is to say UF, NF

and RO. It uses membrane modules with 3838 sizes.

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2.4 FERMENTED MILK MANUFACTURE AREA

In this department we have all the equipment necessary for the

production of fermented milks. From additivated, pasteurized/homogenized

milk we can carry out the process of obtaining:

solid products (in-package fermentation)

semisolids (tank fermentation and subsequent packaging)

liquids (tank fermentation and subsequent mechanical treatment

before packaging)

We have the following equipment:

1 lacto-fermentation tank with a capacity of 150L, equipped with

agitation system with adjustable speed control, jacket, steam

heating system and water and ice water cooling system.

1 lacto-fermentation tank with a capacity of 250L equipped with

steam heating system, mains water cooling system, and

agitation.

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Automatic rotary filling machine in ultraclean conditions with

laminar flow cabin for dairy fluid products even with particles, in

pre-formed little cups of 125 mL and thermosealed aluminium lid.

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2.5 MINI-CHEESE FACTORY AREA

This laboratory has the necessary equipment for manufacturing dairy

products, mainly cheeses, at a laboratory scale.

Thermomix: Equipment with a capacity of 2 litres that allows to carry

out simultaneous or independent operations of discontinuous thermal

treatment, reincorporation of powdered products, chopping and

weighing.

4 open Dutch-type cheese vats of 10 L.

4 press-heaters with temperature control and variable pressure. Two

pistons.

Centrifugal separator of 100 L/h.

Homogenizer that allows the treatment both of liquid and solid

products (lactic curds). Capacity of 50-100 L/h.

Double stage homogenizer APV-2000 for high pressure operation (0 -

2000 bar) that allows the treatment of both liquid and solid products

(dairy curds). Capacity of 11 L/h.

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Pneumatically-operated manual thermosealer for plastic containers. It

is equipped with a regulator of the temperature of the resistors, of the

duration of the sealing process and of the pressure exercised.

Polyvalent STEPHAN machine for the development of processed

cheeses (melted), sauces, baby-foods etc. Capacity of the bowl = 2.5

L, maximum temperature = 95ºC.

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2.6 BAKERY PRODUCTS AREA

Kneading-mixing machine with 2 independent bowls for 15 kg of dough

in the kneader and 35 L in the mixer.

Double oven for 18 cans with fermentation chamber.

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2.7 STERILE PRODUCTS AREA

We have an installation that allows the thermal treatment at ultra-high

temperature (UHT) and the subsequent aseptic packing of liquid dairy

products with a moderate viscosity. The equipments design allows to carry

out an indirect or direct thermal treatment using steam injection, the

versatility of the facilities includes very large temperature cycles and applied

times, the homogenization can be done before or after the thermal

treatment.

As for the packing there are two possibilities:

Hygienic packing in laminar flow cabin, using auto-hammered glass

bottles.

Aseptic packing in tetra-slim of 200ml and packing in cardboard box of 24

units.

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These operations can be carried out due to the following equipment:

Pilot plant for thermal treatment TETRA THERM ASEPTIC PILOT 300T:

o Nominal flow 300L/h, (with homogenizer 225 L/h).

o Indirect heating by means of a flat tubular exchanger.

o Direct heating by means of steam injection with expansion

chamber.

o Two-stage pilot homogenizer, Tetra Alex S05.

o Laminar flow hood for hygienic samples collection: Tetra Alcab.

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"Tetra aldose" aseptic dosing unit. This technology allows to dose in

the aseptic production lines those liquids whose high thermal

sensitivity would make it difficult to resist the traditional sterilization

processes.

Aseptic tank for storing fluids prior to their aseptic canning. Capacity of

500 L.

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Aseptic filling machine TETRA BRIK ASEPTIC 9 (TBA-9) packing with

multi-layer paper in "slim" format of 200 ml. Packing capacity = 4500

packs / hour.

Tetra CARDBOARD PACKER 50, packing in cardboard box of 8 x 3

units.

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2.8 PROCESS CONTROL AREA

The laboratory of the pilot plant is equipped with:

pH meter and acidimeter.

Gerber equipment for determining the percentage of fat in dairy

products.

Autoclave.

Heater for determining the Dry matter.

Milkoscan (FOSS electric).

Precision scales with infrared lamp for rapid desiccation of samples.

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2.9 ENGINE ROOM

In this area, there is all the equipment destined to produce the auxiliary

fluids necessary for the working of the equipments of the manufacturing

areas: steam, quality water, ice water and compressed air.

Pirotubular, horizontal, automatic boiler for producing 200 kg/h of

steam.

Equipment to produce ice water with a well of 5,000 L and cooling

equipment.

Compact equipment of reverse osmosis for producing quality water.

Flow of 3 m3 /h and storage in a polyester tank.

2 compressors for producing compressed air refrigeration dryer.

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3 FACILITIES DESCRIPTION

3.1 MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY

In this laboratory diverse microbiological analysis are carried out: total

and fecal coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria spp., Salmonella spp.,

moulds and yeasts, total count of microorganisms in dairy products and in all

kinds of food products.

It is formed, among others, of the following equipments:

Laminar flux cabin, in order to ensure the sterilization of the working

area.

Autoclave, to sterilize both the material and the culture mediums.

Diverse heaters at different temperatures to carry out the incubations.

Masticator, to homogenize the samples.

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3.2 LABORATORY OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS

In this laboratory the analysis of fat, dry matter, pH and proteins of

diverse dairy products, as well as the milk content in lactose, lactulose and

calcium, are carried out.

The available equipments are:

2050 Soxtec Avanti Auomatic System: It carries out the extraction of

the fat of the dairy products by means of a completely automatic

system in which the extraction of the solvent in the extraction unit is

carried out in two stages.

Kjeltec System 1002 Distilling Unit: This device is used for the

determination of protein in the dairy products according to the Kjeldahl

Method. It allows to do macro distillations by steam dragging rapidly.

Digestor System 6 1007: It allows the digestion of the sample to then

proceed to the distillation process.

Centrifuge, Heraeus Sepatech Labofuge: It has capacity for 16

samples and reaches 5000 r.p.m.

Muffle: It is used for the total calcination of samples since it can reach

temperatures up to 1200ºC.

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3.3 INSTRUMENTAL LABORATORY

In this laboratory different components of food products are analyzed by

means of computer-supported analysis devices.

Among other devices:

H.P.L.C (High performance liquid-chromatography): It is used for the

determination of cheese-making whey in powdered milk.

NIR: With this device we can analyze the majority components of

different types of samples without any previous treatment, by means

of the light transmitted through the sample or the light reflected by its

surface.

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3.4 SENSORY ANALYSIS ROOM

Since October, 1993, the Centro Tecnolóxico Lácteo de Galicia has a

tasting panel specialized in the sensory evaluation of dairy products. Thanks

to this panel it can offer solutions to situations such as:

Determination of the sensory differences between a product and its

competitor.

Determination of the sensory incidence of the use of new ingredients

and different technologies.

Accomplishment and comparison of the sensory profiles of one or

more products.

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3.5 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES ANALYSIS LABORATORY (APF)

Since September, 2005, the Centro Tecnolóxico Lácteo de Galicia has

had a Research area devoted to the Study of Physical Properties. The work

field includes any type of material and tries to give support to the industrial

and even university areas which need to know and to improve their products

to a greater extent.

Stress controlled Rheometer AR-G2:

Rheometry is the technique which provides viscosity values and

elastic and viscous modules of the torque by means of magnetic

bearings substituting the classic air bearing, it provides microeffort

capacities. It is ideal for liquid samples with very low viscosity. The

mechanical properties of liquids and semisolids are very interesting

for different industrial sectors as those devoted to the manufacture

of paint, varnishes, coverings, polymers, cosmetic products,

pharmaceutical products, food, petroleum or derivative materials...

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Texture analyzer. TA.XT. Plus:

Rheology is a science which studies the mechanical response of the

materials in general. Nevertheless, when we want our tests to

resemble the real world as much as possible, a textures analyzer is

used. A textures analyzer subjects the material to different efforts,

deformations and deformation speeds and it allows, from the

measures carried out, to obtain parameters like Hardness, Fragility,

Fracturability, Stickability, Chewability, Gumminess, Resilience,

Elasticity, Bloom Resistance, etc on an extensive range of products

among which stand out food, pharmaceutical, adhesive, cosmetic

products...

Optigraph Coagulometer:

The Optigraph coagulometer is a system (equipment and software)

which allows to characterize the capacity of milk to coagulate by

using optical measures in the region of the near-infrared. This

equipment can calculate in real time all the parameters needed for

processing cheese: coagulation time, firmness of the curd, speed of

aggregation... These parameters are obtained thanks to the optical

information acquired in real time...

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Brookfield DV-II + viscometer.

Turbiscan Lab:

It is an optical instrument that characterizes concentrated

emulsions and dispersions. This experimental equipment can

provide different magnitudes, such as: transmitted and reflected

light, particles migration speed, volume fraction (concentration) in

the flotation layer, evolution of the average diameter of particle

according to time, etc. All these magnitudes are therefore used to

characterize dispersions, suspensions or emulsions and to obtain

information about

sedimentation, creaming,

flocculation and

coalescence.

MASTERSIZER 2000 by MALVERN INSTRUMENTS:

This is an instrument for measuring the size of particles. It can

characterize the above mentioned sizes in a range from 0.02

micrometers up to 2000 micrometers. It uses laser diffraction

technology and can measure both liquid and powdered samples.

Most of the properties of dispersions, emulsions or suspensions are

related to the particle size of the dispersed phase, so it is

fundamental to have the capacity to obtain this information.

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MDSC (MODULATED DIFERENTIAL SCANNING CALORIMETER)

Q1000 by TA Instruments:

This equipment is a differential scanning calorimeter with heat flow

technology. It measures endothermic or exothermic transitions or

changes of calorific capacity. Therefore it can obtain information

about crystallizations, fusions, denaturalizations, vitreous

transitions, gelatinizations as well as Cp absolute values. It has

devices capable of scanning in temperatures from -90ºC up to

600ºC. It also has an automatic sampler with 50 positions and 5

references which allows to work in great comfort.

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COLORIMETER:

The colorimetric equipment we have is a ColorFlex

spectrocolorimeter by Hunterlab. It is used to measure the colour of

both liquid and solid samples. The software can represent the

different scales of colour and it can use different illuminants. It has

3 different models, 45º/0º, diffuse/8º (sphere) and diffuse VSAV

(very small area of vision). Given its versatility, it is possible to

realize measurements of foods, paints, textiles...