Crystallization of Powders of Spray-Dried Lactose, Skim Milk and Lactose-Salt Mixtures

Crystallization of spray-dried amorphous skim milk, lactose and lactose-salt mixtures at different relative humidities and storage times was studied by moisture sorption and X-ray diffraction tests. The results from the moisture sorption tests indicated that the time for 95% crystallization of skim milk powders at 75% and 89% relative humidities are 155 and 80 hours, respectively. For lactose, the 95% crystallization times at 51% and 75% relative humidities are 55 and 7 hours, respectively. A significant result is that salt delayed lactose crystallization, with lactose-salt mixtures (5:1 by weight) at 51% and 75% relative humidities having 95% crystallization times of 70 and 20 hours, respectively. Crystallization was also observed from increasing peak intensities in X-ray diffraction patterns. The rate of crystallization increased with increasing moisture content.