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How is Casein Extracted from Milk?

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

Casein is a protein that is found in milk, and it can be extracted for use in a number of different applications. Along with use in a number of nutritional products, it can also be used as an ingredient in a number of items, including resin products. The process for extracting casein from milk will vary somewhat, depending on the reason for the extraction, but there are several elements to the extraction process that apply in just about every case.

Extracting this protein always begins with the refining process for whole milk. Just as whole milk goes through a process to separate the cream, the casein will also be separated by the use of filtering agents and various churning methods that allow the fat to rise to the top. Once the milk has been separated, the salt caseinate and calcium caseinate enzymes are retained in the skimmed milk. Removing the fat before attempting to extract the protein from the milk product greatly simplifies the process.

Casein is sold in powder form as a nutritional supplement.
Casein is sold in powder form as a nutritional supplement.

In order to remove the casein from the skimmed milk, the product goes through a process known as precipitation. Essentially, the skimmed milk is heated under strictly controlled conditions. As the heating takes place, the protein content begins to shrink and expel moisture. The result of this action is known as whey. At the same time, this process creates milk curd that is clumped with the whey.

Jug of whey.
Jug of whey.

The next step involves separating the whey from the curd. After the separation, the curd is subjected to pressure to further remove the water content. When the moisture content is reduced to an acceptable level, the curd is dried using a hot air system. Alternating heating and cooling then takes place until the substance is a combination of various size particles. These particles or grains contain the extracted milk protein.

One cup of milk supplies roughly 25% of the daily recommended calcium intake for adults.
One cup of milk supplies roughly 25% of the daily recommended calcium intake for adults.

After the particles are dried, the will be milled and sifted according to size. The casein can then be packaged and sold to different manufactures for use in a wide range of products. It is usually sold in textures that are defined as coarse, medium, and fine.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including DelightedCooking, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

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Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including DelightedCooking, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon323493

Why do we need casein?

anon265122

I want to know why you have to heat the milk to precipitate the casein and which is the optimal temperature for the process? Also, what happens if I heat too much?

anon208721

I want full information about casein production with the requirements for the necessary equipment.

anon206572

can you please tell me from 10 liters of milk how many grams of casein are obtained?

anon153172

Thanks for the information.Could you please tell me at what point of the process the casein has been extracted well enough that a biproduct is made that is casein-free and would be a nutritional option for those specifically allergic to casein. For example- would pure whey be casein free?

ashvin

What is the process and plant machinery required to manufacture edible acid casein and industrial grade casein for paint and resin.

anon120503

thanks for all the knowledge about caesin. Please help me with my project. I want to know the quantity of caesin in different samples of milk. Please reply as soon as possible. --lymi

anon85702

can you tell the process of how to study the quality in different samples of milk?

anon83659

Just saw in a shop knitting yarn that was 70 percent wool and 30 percent milk and no explanation. Now I know!

anon70526

From our experiment, 37.47 percent casein extracted from 4g milk.

anon63187

casein is harmful to the body. if you like milk, try goats milk.

anon59929

I would like to know countries that are famous for casein and where these products are used in terms of marketing these products? Which country imports casein in large quantity and for what purpose?

Thanks and regards.

anon54120

I am interested a business in the field of casien. What are the prerequisites?

mathanpalraj

How much casein extract from 100 ltrs milk (i,e percentage of casein extract from milk)?

anon19679

These are all excellent topics for articles in their own right. Please consider submitting them by choosing "Select a Topic" from the wiseGEEK Feature menu at the top of the page.

vickcee

how casein can be used in paints or i can say that what are the uses of casein in manufacturing paint or paint resins ?

arjun12

can you please tell me in detail how I can find the lab method to extract casein, and the quantity of casein present in different samples of milk?

casein

Dear sir,

we understand that in china, crude casein (dry) is again turned to like liquid milk and further curdled than dried back as casein does this process lose its original nature or is it harmful or is it good to improve the product?

Please let us the way casein can be recollected like this.

Thanks & regards,

nimesh shah

casein

dear sir,

thanks for your information of casein derived from milk.

We understand that this casein can be reprocessed to upgrade the quality can you tell us how?

Thanks & regards,

nimesh shah

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    • Casein is sold in powder form as a nutritional supplement.
      By: lculig
      Casein is sold in powder form as a nutritional supplement.
    • Jug of whey.
      Jug of whey.
    • One cup of milk supplies roughly 25% of the daily recommended calcium intake for adults.
      By: efired
      One cup of milk supplies roughly 25% of the daily recommended calcium intake for adults.
    • Some bodybuilders supplement their diets with casein protein.
      By: ArenaCreative
      Some bodybuilders supplement their diets with casein protein.