Modeling Tool for Studying the Influence of Operating Conditions on the Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Milk Proteins

Systematic modeling of the enzymatic hydrolysis of milk proteins is needed to assist the study and production of partially hydrolyzed milk. The enzymatic hydrolysis of milk proteins was characterized and evaluated as a function of the temperature and protease concentration using Alcalase, Neutrase and Protamex. Modeling was based on the combination of two empirical models formed by a logarithmic and a polynomial equation to correlate the kinetic constants and the operating conditions. The logarithmic equation fitted with high accuracy to the experimental hydrolysis curves with the three proteases (R² > 0.99). The kinetic constants were correlated with the operating conditions (R² > 0.97) using polynomial equations. The temperature and protease concentration significantly affected the initial rate of hydrolysis, i.e., the kinetic constant a, while the kinetic constant b was not significantly affected. The values for the kinetic constant a were predicted according to the operating conditions and they were strongly correlated with the experimental data (R² = 0.95). The model allowed for a high-quality prediction of the hydrolysis curves of milk proteins. This modeling tool can be used in future research to test the correlation between the degree of hydrolysis and the functional properties of milk hydrolysates.