Abstract: Apparatus are set forth for particularly dehydrating products such as corn syrups, fruit and vegetable extracts, dairy products, or other temperature-sensitive or hard-to-handle products. The apparatus include using a pulse combustor to generate a hot, turbulent, gaseous environment in a dehydration chamber and spraying the feedstock into the chamber. As the feedstock droplets travel through the chamber, they are dehydrated and thereafter collected by suitable devices. Temperature and feedstock residence time in the chamber are controlled to prevent product degradation. Where the dehydrated product is hygroscopic, processing aids may be added to control hygroscopicity.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for forming an animal feed block from whey. By-product whey is concentrated to form a whey concentrate having a solids content of at least about 45%. A divalent cation containing material, such as calcium phosphate, is added to the concentrate. The pH of the concentrate is then adjusted to between about 4.0 and about 6.0, and preferably between about 4.6 and about 5.0. The concentrate can then be poured into a mold, such as a cardboard box. The concentrate is dried to form a feed block having a water content of less than about 32%. Additionally, a whey feed block is disclosed which is produced by the above-described process.