In the present study, it was aimed to optimize the process of lactose hydrolysis using free and immobilized p-galactosidase to produce glucose and galactose. Response surface methodology (RSM) by central composite design (CCD) was employed to optimize the degree of hydrolysis by varying three parameters, temperature (15-45 degrees C), solution pH (5-9) and beta-galactosidase enzyme concentration (2-8 mg/mL) for free mode of analysis and sodium alginate concentration (2-4%), calcium chloride concentration (3-6%) and enzyme concentration (2-8 mg/mL) for immobilized process. Based on plots and variance analysis, the optimum operational conditions for maximizing lactose hydrolysis were found to be temperature (35.5 degrees C), pH (6.7) and enzyme concentration (6.7 mg/mL) in free mode and sodium alginate concentration (3%), calcium chloride concentration (5.9%) and enzyme concentration (5.2 mg/mL) in immobilized mode. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.