RECOVERY OF LACTOSE FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS: PRECIPITATION IN THE PRESENCE OF CALCIUM HYDROXIDE AND AMMONIUM CHLORIDE ADDITIONS

The use of calcium hydroxide instead of calcium oxide for recovery of lactose from solutions was studied. With lactose concentrations of less than 10%, recovery was unsatisfactory. Addition of NH4Cl increases the solubility of calcium hydroxide, and at an adequate concentration of NH4Cl it is possible to solubilize part of the Ca(OH)2 without decreasing the amount of lactose in the precipitate. Then, NaOH addition improved lactose recovery markedly, precipitating more than 90% of total lactose. Acetone addition also proved effective.