Tetra Pak DAIRY PROCESSING HANDBOOK

The Dairy Processing Handbook concentrates our vast know-how and provides in-depth, yet
easy-to-understand, information on manufacturing processes. Get insights into processing
technology and the entire chain – from pasteurization, homogenization and UHT treatment to
filtration, automation, service systems, waste water treatment and many other aspects of
modern dairy processing.

CHAPTERS

1. PRIMARY PRODUCTION OF MILK 13. ANHYDROUS MILK FAT (AMF) AND

BUTTEROIL
2. THE CHEMISTRY OF MILK
14. CHEESE
3. RHEOLOGY
15. WHEY PROCESSING
4. MICROBIOLOGY
16. CONDENSED MILK
5. COLLECTION AND RECEPTION OF MILK
17. MILK AND WHEY POWDER
6. BUILDING BLOCKS OF DAIRY
PROCESSING 18. RECOMBINED MILK PRODUCTS

6.1Heat exchangers 19. ICE CREAM

6.2Centrifugal separators and 20. CASEIN

milk standardization
21. CLEANING OF DAIRY EQUIPMENT
6.3Homogenizers
22. DAIRY EFFLUENT
6.4Membrane technology

6.5Evaporators

6.6Deaerators

6.7Pumps

6.8Pipes, valves and fittings

6.9Tanks

6.10Automation

6.11Service systems

7. DESIGNING A PROCESS LINE

8. PASTEURIZED MILK PRODUCTS

9. LONG-LIFE MILK

10. CULTURES AND STARTER

MANUFACTURE

11. FERMENTED MILK PRODUCTS

12. BUTTER AND DAIRY SPREADS

CHAPTER 13

ANHYDROUS MILK FAT (AMF) AND BUTTEROIL

Anhydrous milk fat and butteroil are products consisting of more or less pure milk fat. Although they are
modern industrial products, they have ancient traditional roots in some cultures. Ghee, a milk fat
product with more protein and a more pronounced flavour than AMF, has been known in India and Arab
countries for centuries.

Defined by Codex Alimentarius standard CODEX STAN 280-1973, Anhydrous milkfat, milkfat, anhydrous
butteroil and butteroil are fatty products derived exclusively from milk and/or products obtained from
milk by means of processes which result in almost total removal of water and non-fat solids. Ghee is a
product exclusively obtained from milk, cream or butter, by means of processes which result in almost
total removal of water and non-fat solids, with an especially developed flavour and physical structure.

 Anhydrous milk fat must contain at least 99.8 % milk fat and be made from fresh cream or
butter. No additives are allowed, e.g. for neutralization of free fatty acids.

 Anhydrous butteroil must contain at least 99.8 % milk fat, but can be made from cream or butter
of different ages. Use of alkali to neutralize free fatty acids is permitted.

 Butteroil must contain 99.3 % milkfat. Raw material and processing specifications are the same
as for anhydrous butteroil.

In this chapter, the expression “AMF” will be used for all products described in the Codex standard.

AMF CHARACTERISTICS

Butter has been the traditional form of storage for milk fat, but in some cases AMF is more preferable,
because it requires less storage space.
Butter is regarded as a fresh product, although it can usually be stored at +4°C for up to six weeks. If it is
stored for a longer period of time, say up to 10 – 12 months, a storage temperature of at least –25°C is
mandatory.
AMF is typically packed in 200-litre drums nitrogen (N2) headspace, and can be stored for several
months at +4°C. AMF is liquid at temperatures above 36°C and solid below 16 – 17°C.
AMF is convenient to use in liquid form because it is easy to mix with, and meter into other products.
Thus, AMF is used for recombination of various dairy products, but it is also used in the chocolate and ice
cream manufacturing industries.
Demand for butter is decreasing, partly due to the increased use of AMF. One field of application where
the use of AMF will increase is in “blends” of different fat contents and with mixtures of butter and
vegetable oils, to make products with different functional properties.
Customized fat products for various applications can be obtained by fractionation of AMF.
PRODUCTION OF AMF

PRINCIPLES OF PRODUCTION

Production of AMF principally takes place according to two methods; continuous flow direct from cream
(milk), and from reworked butter. The block chart in Figure 13.1 visualizes the two methods.
The quality of the AMF is a result of the quality of the raw material and there should therefore be no
difference whatever method is chosen. If, for any reason, the respective qualities of cream and butter
should be considered not good enough, there are some means of improving quality by polishing
(washing) the oil or even neutralizing it, before the final evaporation step is passed. These operations are
discussed below under AMF Refining.

Zoom

Fig. 13.1

Block chart showing principle of AMF production.

MANUFACTURE OF AMF FROM CREAM

A production line for manufacture of AMF from cream is outlined in Figure 13.2.
Pasteurized or non-pasteurized cream of 35 – 40 % fat content enters the AMF plant via the balance tank
(1) and is routed via the plate heat exchanger (2) for temperature adjustment or pasteurization to the
centrifuge (4) for pre-concentration of the fat to about 75 %. The temperature at pre-concentration and
downstream to the plate heat exchanger (11) is maintained at approx. 60°C. The “light” phase is
collected in a buffer tank (6) to await further processing while the “heavy“ phase, typically called
buttermilk, can be passed through a separator (5) for recovery of fat which will then be mixed with
incoming cream (3). The skimmed buttermilk goes back to the plate heat exchanger (2) for heat recovery
and then to a storage tank.
After intermediate storage in tank (6), the cream concentrate is fed to a homogenizer (7) for phase
inversion (disruption of the fat globules to release the fat), after which it is passed through the final
concentrator (9). In this concentrator the product is separated into a light phase with 99.5 % fat and a
heavy phase, with a substantial amount of fat, which is returned to the process via balance tank (3).
As the homogenizer operates at a slightly higher capacity than the final concentrator, the surplus
product not caught by the concentrator is recirculated to the buffer tank (6). Part of the mechanical
energy used in the homogenization process is converted into heat; to avoid disturbing the temperature
cycle of the plant, this surplus heat is removed in the cooler (8).
Finally, the oil consisting of some 99.5 % fat is pre-heated to 95 – 98 °C in a plate heat exchanger (11)
and routed into a vacuum chamber (12) to obtain a moisture content not exceeding 0.1 %, after which
the oil is cooled (11) to approx. 40 °C, the typical packing temperature.
The key components of an AMF plant operating on cream are thus separators for concentration of fat
and homogenizers for phase inversion.

Zoom

Fig. 13.2

Production line for AMF from cream.

1. Balance tank

2. Plate heat exchanger for heating or pasteurization

3. Balance tank

4. Pre-concentrator

5. Separator (optional) for "buttermilk" from the pre-concentrator (4)

6. Buffer tank
 7. Homogenizer for phase inversion

8. Plate heat exchanger for cooling

9. Final concentrator

10. Balance tank

11. Plate heat exchanger for heating/cooling

12. Vacuum chamber

13. Storage tank

MANUFACTURE OF AMF FROM BUTTER

AMF is often produced from butter, especially from butter that is not expected to be used within a
reasonable period of time. There may be some difficulty in achieving a completely bright oil after the
final concentration step when freshly produced butter is the starting material; the oil tends to be
impaired by slight cloudiness. This phenomenon does not occur with butter that has been stored for two
weeks or more.
The reason for this phenomenon is not fully understood, but it is known that it takes some time (weeks)
after churning before the “body” of the butter is fully developed. It has also been noted that when
samples of butter are heated, the emulsion of fresh butter seems to be more difficult to split than that of
aged butter and that it does not look so bright either.
Sweet cream, non-salted butter is normally used as the raw material, but cultured cream, salted butter
may also be used.
Figure 13.3 shows a standard plant for production of AMF from butter. The plant is fed with butter from
boxes (25 kg) which have been stored for some period of time. The raw material may also be frozen
butter stored at –25 °C.
After having been stripped of the boxes, the butter is melted by indirect heating in equipment of various
kinds. Before the final concentration starts, the temperature of the melted butter should have reached
60 °C.
As a rule, melting by direct heating (steam injection) leads, to formation of a new type of emulsion with
small air bubbles forming a dipersed phase, which is very difficult to separate. In the subsequent
concentration, this phase is concentrated together with the oil and causes cloudiness.
After melting and heating, the hot product is pumped to a holding tank (2) where it may be held for up
to 30 min, primarily to ensure complete melting, but also to allow the protein to aggregate.
From the holding tank, the product is pumped to the final concentrator (3), after which the light phase,
containing 99.5 % fat, proceeds to a plate heat exchanger (5) for heating to 90 – 95 °C. From there is
proceeds to a vacuum vessel (6), and finally back to the plate heat exchanger (5) for cooling to the
packing temperature of approx. 40 °C.
The heavy phase can be pumped into a tank for buttermilk or into a waste-collecting tank, depending on
whether it is “pure”, or contaminated with a neutralizer.
If the butter comes direct from a continuous buttermaker, the same risk of obtaining a cloudy oil arises
as in the aforementioned case of fresh butter. However, with a final concentrator of hermetic design, it
is possible to regulate the level inside the machine to obtain a bright oil phase of 99.5 % fat at a slightly
lower volume, and a heavy phase of relatively high fat content (about 7 %) at a slightly higher volume.
The heavy phase should then be reseparated and the cream obtained should be recycled, by mixing it
with the cream fed to the continuous buttermaker.

Zoom

Fig. 13.3

Production line for AMF from butter.

1. Melter and heater for butter

2. Holding tank

3. Concentrator

4. Balance tank

5. Plate heat exchanger for heating/ cooling

6. Vacuum chamber

7. Storage tank

AMF REFINING

AMF can be refined for various purposes. Examples of refining processes are:
  Polishing

 Neutralization

 Fractionation

 Decholesterolization

POLISHING

Polishing involves washing of the oil with water to obtain a clear, shiny (bright) product. In this step, 20 –
30 % water is added to the oil coming from the final concentrator. The water temperature should be the
same as the oil temperature. After a short hold, the water is separated out again, taking water-soluble
substances (mainly protein) with it.

NEUTRALIZATION

Neutralization is performed to reduce the level of free fatty acids (FFA) present in the oil. High levels of
FFA give rise to off-flavours in the oil and the products in which it is used.
Alkali (NaOH) at a concentration of 8 – 10 % is added to oil in an amount corresponding to the level of
FFA. After a hold of around 10 seconds, water is added in the same proportion as for polishing, and the
saponified FFA is separated out together with the water phase. It is important that the oil and alkali are
well mixed, but this must be done gently to avoid re-emulsification of the fat.
The arrangement of a neutralization step is shown in Figure 13.4. The alkali solution in tank (1), at 8 – 10
% concentration and a temperature equal to that of the oil leaving the final concentrator, is dosed (2)
into the oil stream. After thorough mixing (3), the flow passes a holding section (4) for 10 seconds, after
which hot water is dosed into the stream (5) in an amount of some 30% of the flow en route to a second
concentrator (6), via a mixing unit (7).

Zoom
Fig. 13.4

Neutralization of free fatty acids (FFA) can be one of the refining processes in the production of
Anhydrous Butteroil or Butteroil.

1. Tank for alkali

2. Dosing pump

3. Mixing equipment

4. Holding cell

5. Water injection

6. Separation of saponified FFA

7. Oil/water mixer

FRACTIONATION

Fractionation is a process where the oil is separated into high-melting and low-melting fats. These
fractions have different properties and can be used in various products.
There are several methods of fractionating fat, but the most commonly used is one in which no additives
are used. The process can be briefly described as follows:
The AMF, often polished to obtain the highest possible degree of purity in the “raw oil”, is melted and
then cooled slowly to a calculated temperature at which the specified fraction crystallises out while
fractions with lower melting points remain liquid. The crystals are harvested with special filters. The
filtrate is then cooled to a lower temperature at which other fractions crystallise and are harvested, and
so on.

DECHOLESTEROLIZATION

Decholesterolization is a process in which cholesterol is removed from the AMF.

A frequently used method is to mix the oil with a modified starch, beta-cyclodextrine (BCD). The BCD
molecule surrounds the cholesterol and forms a precipitate, which can be separated out by
centrifugation.

PACKAGING

AMF is filled in containers of various sizes. For households and restaurants, containers of 1 kg to 19.5 kg
are available and for industrial uses drums of at least 185 kg are used.
Normally an inert gas, nitrogen (N2), is first injected in the container. As the N2 gas is heavier than air, it
sinks to the bottom. When filling the AMF – which is heavier than N2 – the AMF will sit underneath and
the N2 gas will create an “air-tight lid”, preventing the AMF from air-induced oxidation