Unit 3800: Dairy Plant Technology

1. Overview of Dairy Plant Technology

• Introduction to dairy plant technology
• Milk reception: receiving, testing, and storage
• Milk processing: separation, standardization, and treatment
• Packaging: materials and methods
• Quality control throughout the process

2. Milk Composition and Properties

• Composition of milk
  • Water, fat, proteins, lactose, minerals, vitamins
• Physical properties
  • Color, viscosity, density, freezing point
• Chemical properties
  • pH, acidity, enzymatic activity
• Variations in composition
  • Factors affecting composition (breed, feed, lactation stage)
  • Impact on processing and product quality

3. Dairy Processing Equipment

• Pasteurizers
  • Types (batch, continuous)
  • Function and operation
• Homogenizers
  • Principle of homogenization
  • Equipment types
• Separators
  • Cream separation and clarification
• Packaging Machines
  • Filling, sealing, labeling
• Maintenance and safety considerations

4. Pasteurization and Homogenization

• Pasteurization
  • Objectives and significance
  • Methods: Low-Temperature Long Time (LTLT), High-Temperature Short Time (HTST), Ultra-High Temperature (UHT)
  • Effect on pathogens and enzymes
• Homogenization
  • Purpose: fat globule size reduction
  • Process details and equipment
  • Impact on texture and shelf-life

5. Dairy Product Manufacturing

• Milk
  • Standardization and fortification
• Cheese
  • Types of cheese
  • Manufacturing steps: coagulation, cutting, cooking, pressing, ripening
• Yogurt
  • Starter cultures
  • Fermentation process
• Butter
  • Cream churning
  • Salt addition and packaging
• Ice Cream
  • Ingredients and mix preparation
  • Freezing and aeration

6. Quality Control in Dairy Plants

• Hygiene practices
  • Personal hygiene, equipment sanitation
• Testing procedures
  • Microbiological testing
  • Chemical and physical tests
• Regulatory requirements
  • National and international standards
  • Documentation and traceability

7. Packaging and Distribution of Dairy Products

• Packaging materials
  • Plastic, glass, cartons, foil
• Packaging techniques
  • Aseptic, vacuum, modified atmosphere packaging
• Distribution channels
  • Cold chain logistics
• Storage requirements
  • Temperature and humidity control

8. Waste Management in Dairy Plants

• Environmental impact of dairy operations
• Types of waste
  • Solid, liquid, gaseous wastes
• Waste management strategies
  • Treatment of effluents
  • Recycling and reuse
• Sustainable practices
  • Energy efficiency
  • Waste minimization