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Extraction of protein
The raw material is ground to a fine flour but often, a flour with a higher protein content is desired than the raw material naturally gives. The method of protein extraction depends on the product to be manufactured, the desired protein content or the function of the protein. RISE has expertise, methods and equipment to produce bulk protein but also to produce isolates of individual proteins as enzymes for use in the pharmaceutical industry.
Air fractionation – provides protein flour for food
In air fractionation, a spin air sieve is used, in which air passes through the flour and it is separated due to different components having different densities. For example, protein can be separated from starch. RISE has, among other things, worked with air fractionation of field beans, oats and peas. Our test show that with air fractionation we can increase the protein content of a flour from about 30 percent to about 50 percent.
RISE has expertise, method and equipment to perform both small and large assignments on air fractionation of protein from all types of protein raw materials.
Wet extraction – cleanses and increases protein content
By means of various wet chemical processes the protein can be purified from a raw material into a concentrate or even isolate with protein content of >85 percent. By varying the pH or addition of salt in combination with different pre-treatments such as milling or de-fatting, the extraction can be designed to a desired result.
Wet extraction is also a powerful tool in order to tailor the properties of the protein, for example to reduce off-flavours or to get desired structure and texture. Through wet extraction, a higher protein content as well as improvement of the function and usability of the protein can be obtained.
Enzyme treatment – for more efficient recovery of protein
Protein extraction from plant-based materials can be improved by biotechnological means of specific and selective enzymatic treatments in different steps of the process. Pre-treatments with common hydrolytic enzymes, such as cellulases, proteases, xylanases, pectinases or amylases can be used for cell disruption in order to enhance the recovery of the proteins and other intracellular components.
Moreover, enzymatic treatments can be used as post-treatments for carrying out controlled hydrolysis of protein isolates in order to tune the techno-functional properties of the proteins with respect to the target food formulation. For example, we can control solubility, emulsifying, foaming, water‐ and/or oil‐holding capacity for the protein.
Chromatography – refined process for drugs
RISE has the expertise and instrumentation to be able to move from analytical to process scale in chromatography, a refined separation process. Chromatography is used to produce a pure protein fraction. It can also be used to obtain precise properties of the protein or even to separate out a single protein species. This is common in the manufacture of, for example, medicines and medical devices.
Please contact us for more information on how RISE can help your company with extraction of protein.