SOLVENT-FREE APPROACH FOR SEPARATION OF CONSTITUENT FRACTIONS OF PULSES, GRAINS, OILSEEDS, AND DRIED FRUITS

摘要

The present invention relates to a novel solvent-free process for the production of protein-, starch- and fiber-enriched fractions or fractions rich in specific compounds from pulses, grains, oilseeds, and dried fruits. Unlike conventional wet processes, this dry process preserves the natural configuration and structure of separated components. This process employs a tribo-electrostatic technique to selectively charge proteins, carbohydrates, fibers, and other components in pulses, grains, oilseeds, and dried fruits and separates them based on the magnitude and type of their charge. The invention also relates to the protein-, starch-, and fiber-enriched fractions or fractions rich in specific compounds obtained using the process of this invention, and to the use of these fractions in a variety of applications that include the food industries, in particular gluten-free market, in the production of high functional protein concentrates and isolates, in particular soy protein concentrate and isolate, as pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical agents, and in the production of bio-based materials.

主权项

1. A solvent-free process for separating proteins, starches, and fibers from natural particles, said natural particles selected from the groups consisting of pulses, grains, oilseeds and dried fruits, said process producing a protein-enriched powder, a starch-enriched powder, and a fiber-enriched powder, said process comprising steps of:
a. milling the natural particles to produce a natural powder and to reduce the size of the particles, said natural powder having loosen bonds between the molecule of proteins, starches, and fibers; b. fractionating the natural powder according to the particle size; c. re-milling a desirable fraction to further reduce the particle size and to enhance the disaggregation of starch-protein particles; d. drying/heating the natural powder to reduce the moisture content of the fraction; e. tribo-charging the natural powder by using a contact material or in a gas stream, or by contact the natural powder on itself; and f. separating the natural powder into a protein-enriched powder fraction, a starch-enriched powder fraction, and a fiber-enriched powder fraction, by allowing the natural powder to fall through an electric field into a plurality of bins.