-Carbonyl analysis was used in order to follow the main reactions involved in the process of deterioration of milk powders. This method was applied after the milk had been processed using microfiltration and ultrafiltration, freeze-drying or spray-drying. The milk powders were then stored at a temperature of 45 o C and aw ranging from 0.7, 0.11, 0.23 and 0.33 to 0.5 for a period of twenty days. Water adsorption was influenced by powder composition on one hand, with a maximum water adsorption of whey proteins at 0.20 aw, and by the physical state of molecules on the other hand. At certain conditions such as 45 o C and 0.33 aw, amorphous lactose released the water molecules and turned into crystallised lactose. All powders studied exhibited a minimum deterioration, except those rich in lactose, at 0.20 ± 0.5 aw. For the products rich in lactose this minimal deterioration was observed at two aw values: 0.10 and 0.30. The determination of the monolayer moisture was carried out either theoretically with the BET model or experimentally so as to predict the most favourable degree of dehydration of dehydrated products.Carbonyl / powder stability / sorption isotherm / water activity / monolayer value Résumé -L'utilisation du dosage des carbonyles pour suivre les principales réactions intervenant dans la détérioration des produits laitiers déshydratés : prédiction du degré de déshydra-tation le plus favorable. Un dosage des carbonyles a été utilisé afin de suivre les principales réactions intervenant dans la détérioration des poudres de lait. Cette méthode a été appliquée à des Carbonyle / stabilité des poudres / isotherme de sorption / activité de l'eau / couche monomoléculaire d'eau