Purified lactase
The present invention relates to a lactase solution comprising a lactase solution comprising less than 10 g/kg of poly and oligosaccharides, a process for the production of such a lactase solution from an untreated lactase solution, a sterilized lactase, whereby such lactose is filter sterilized in-line with the milk production process.
1. A lactase solution comprising Kluyveromyces lactase and a stabilizing solvent,
wherein the solution comprises less than 10 g/kg of poly and oligosaccharides, and
wherein the stabilizing solvent is sorbitol or glycerol.
2. The lactase solution according to claim 1 which is storage stable for at least 15 days.
3. The lactase solution according to claim 1 , which is an aqueous solution.
4. The lactase solution according to claim 1 further comprising at least one stabilizing additive.
5. The lactase solution according to claim 4 , wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of hydrolysed lactose, glucose, mannitol and salt buffers.
6. The lactase solution according to claim 1 , wherein lactase is contained in an amount of from 10 to 100,000 NLU/g.
7. The lactase solution of claim 1 , wherein the Kluyveromyces lactase is a K. lactis lactase or a K. fragilis lactase.
8. The lactase solution of claim 1 comprising from 10 to 70 w/w % glycerol and having a viscosity of less than 80 mPa·s.
9. The lactase solution of claim 1 , wherein the lactase solution is used to breakdown lactose present in milk.
10. A process for the production of the lactase solution according to claim 1 , comprising:
providing an untreated solution of lactase;
separating poly and oligosaccharides from the lactase solution; and
adding a stabilizing solvent to the separated lactase solution.
11. The process according to claim 10 , wherein the separating step is accomplished by using only one chromatographic step.
12. A sterilized lactase solution, produced by a process comprising sterilizing the lactase solution of claim 1 on a sterile filter.
13. A dairy product comprising the sterilized lactase solution according to claim 12 .
14. A process for producing sterilized lactase, comprising:
providing the lactase solution according to claim 1 ; and
sterilizing said lactase solution with a sterile filter.
15. A process for producing lactase-containing milk, comprising: sterilizing the lactase solution according to claim 1 ; and adding said lactase solution to milk.
16. The process according to claim 15 , wherein the sterilization is carried out on at least one filter positioned in line with the milk production process.
17. The process according to claim 15 , whereby the milk is pasteurised or sterilized milk.