Process for drying high-lactose aqueous fluids

1. A process for drying concentrated whey permeate, the process comprising the steps of

providing whey permeate that comprises at least about 78% total solids, including at least about 50% lactose with an equilibrium of lactose in solution and lactose in crystallized form;

providing a dryer for drying particles in a gravitational environment, the dryer including: an enclosed chamber having a top and a bottom; wherein a gravitational force is placed upon particles in the enclosed chamber when the spray dryer is standing upright in the gravitational environment such that particles in the enclosed chamber will move from an area proximate the top in a generally downward direction toward the bottom when no other force is placed upon the particles; and wherein movement from an area proximate the bottom toward the top is movement in an upward direction; the enclosed chamber having an intermediate section having diverging sidewalls and an increasing horizontal cross-sectional area as the enclosed chamber extends upward in a direction away from the bottom;

a pressurized particle feed opening arranged and constructed within the enclosed chamber to spray particle containing aqueous fluid upward into the enclosed chamber;

a gas feed opening arranged and constructed within the enclosed chamber to direct a pressurized flow of a gas fluid upward into the enclosed chamber in a direction generally the same as the direction of particles sprayed by the pressurized particle feed;

simultaneously, spraying the whey permeate upward into the enclosed chamber through the particle feed opening and feeding hot air upward into the enclosed chamber through the gas feed opening at a temperature of from about 100 to about 250 degrees Celsius (.degree. C.).

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the concentrated whey permeate includes crystalline alpha-lactose monohydrate.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the concentrated whey permeate includes between about 78% to about 88% solids.