Innovative lactose derivatives for natural food preservation and industrial coatings
Transform surplus lactose into high-value derivatives for natural food preservation and industrial coatings. Using enzymatic and green chemical processes, these compounds offer antimicrobial, antioxidant, and film-forming properties, supporting sustainable practices.
Overview
The proposed solution focuses on converting excess lactose and its byproducts into valuable derivatives suitable for natural food preservation and industrial coatings. By employing enzymatic and green chemical processes, lactose is transformed into lactobionic acid and lactose-based polymers, which possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, and film-forming properties. These high-value compounds can extend the shelf life of food products and enhance the performance of industrial coatings, offering a sustainable and economically viable approach to utilizing surplus lactose.
Technical specifications
The core technology involves transforming lactose into lactobionic acid and lactose-based polymers through environmentally friendly processes. Key features include:
- Bioactive compounds: These derivatives exhibit strong antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, ideal for clean-label food preservation.
- Functional additives: Lactose-based polymers provide excellent film-forming capabilities, useful for barrier and coating applications.
- Scalability: The process can be scaled to utilize over 13,000 tonnes of lactose annually, supporting circular economy goals by leveraging underused dairy streams.
Technology readiness level
The technology is currently at TRL 4, indicating that it has been validated in a laboratory environment. Future steps include lab-scale validation of functional properties and pilot-scale production to assess scalability and regulatory compliance.
About Government College University Faisalabad
Government College University Faisalabad is a comprehensive public university situated in one of Pakistan’s most industrialized regions, combining broad academic breadth with applied research capacity. Its location within Faisalabad’s manufacturing corridor gives companies convenient access to faculty expertise, instrumentation, and workforce pipelines. Industry partners engage through an institutional liaison function for sponsored research, consultancy, analytical testing, and custom training, with facilities suitable for applied projects and pilot evaluations. Research is supported by national bodies such as the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and the Pakistan Science Foundation, alongside competitive international funding. A dedicated office for research, innovation and commercialization provides IP support, licensing, and startup incubation for market translation.
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