A review of various protein separation techniques and valorization of cheese whey and buttermilk

Abstract

Abstract The dairy industry generates large quantities of nutrient-rich by-products, particularly cheese whey, and buttermilk, which are valuable sources of bioactive proteins and phospholipids. Whey proteins exhibit notable therapeutic potential, offering various health benefits such as antihypertensive effects, immune modulation, and opioid antagonism. Similarly, buttermilk-derived phospholipids demonstrate bioactive properties, including cholesterol reduction, anti-inflammatory activity, and neuroprotective effects. This review critically assesses recent advances in protein separation techniques, comparing conventional thermal methods, known to potentially compromise protein functionality, with emerging non-thermal approaches such as high-pressure processing and membrane filtration, whi