Pharmacopoeial Lactose Project May Require Up to €16 Million in Investments

The technology involves the deep purification of milk sugar from permeate, which is formed during the membrane separation of milk raw materials. The obtained pharmaceutical-grade lactose is used, in particular, as an inert filler in tablet production.

According to the presentation, the implementation of such a project takes from 18 to 22 months. The estimated payback period is from six to eight years, and the approximate cost of the finished product is from $1,500 to $2,500 per ton.

The high capital intensity of the project is associated with a complex purification and crystallization system. Economic efficiency depends on the volumes of available permeate, product quality requirements, equipment load, and the opportunity to enter into long-term contracts with buyers.

The presentation focused on the deep processing of milk components. The speaker noted that increasing enterprise efficiency is not limited to waste reduction; processors can separate milk raw materials into individual components and produce ingredients for the food, pharmaceutical, and other industries.

The presented investment indicators and payback periods are the company's estimates for the provided technological solutions and may vary for specific enterprises.