Project WheyNot explores high-value applications for whey waste
In an innovative step toward circular dairy production, the WheyNot project investigates how whey permeate — a residual byproduct of milk processing — can be upgraded into a valuable biobased feedstock for the chemical industry.
Whey is a well-known byproduct of the dairy sector, already widely used in food and animal feed. However, after these applications, large volumes of whey permeate remain — a liquid with low nutritional value, currently used mainly as a filler in animal feed. The significant quantities produced annually across Europe call for a more sustainable and higher-value alternative.
Electrodialysis
That’s why WheyNot focuses on the potential of whey permeate as a biobased raw material for the chemical industry. To make this possible, the permeate must be purified by removing minerals such as calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), potassium (K⁺), phosphate (PO₄³⁻), and chloride (Cl⁻). The project is investigating whether electrodialysis (ED) is an effective method for this purification.
In addition, the project examines whether the mineral-rich stream that results from the electrodialysis process could serve as a sustainable fertilizer in agriculture.
WheyNot is a strong example of how residual streams from the food industry can be transformed into valuable resources, benefiting both the economy and the environment.
Samenwerking
The WheyNot project is funded by KIEM GoChem and is a collaboration between MNEXT, LOOOP and Water Future.
Together we are #MovingCircularityForward
