Process for solubilizing protein

• US 20040152881A1
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Texas A&M University System
• Original Assignee: Texas A&M University System
• Inventors: Kelly, Guillermo Coward, Holtzapple, Mark Thomas, Davison, Richard
• Application Number:
  US10/703,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20040152881A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 530/412
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 1/002 from animal waste materials A23J1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 1/005 from vegetable waste materials
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 1/007 from leafy vegetables, e.g. alfalfa, clover, grass
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 1/10 from hair, feathers, horn, skins, leather, bones, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 3/04 Animal proteins
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 3/14 Vegetable proteins
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 3/32 using chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/22 from fish
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/26 from waste material, e.g. feathers, bones or skin A23K10/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/30 from material of plant origin, e.g. roots, seeds or hay; from material of fungal origin, e.g. mushrooms obtained by microbiological or biochemical processes, e.g. using yeasts or enzymes, A23K10/10
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/147 Polymeric derivatives, e.g. peptides or proteins
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/10 for ruminants
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/105 Plant extracts, their artificial duplicates or their derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2200/238 Solubility improving agent
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/2124 Ginseng
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/628 Saccharose, sucrose
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/708 Vitamin C
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/712 Vitamin E

Abstract

A process for solubilization of protein including application of an alkali, such as lime, and heating. The process may also involve lime recovery and may be accomplished in a single stage or two stages to separate protein solubilized from labile and recalcitrant sources. Systems and devices for use in such process, including a continuous stirred tank reactor and a plug flow reactor are also involved.

Claims

1. A process for solubilizing protein from a biological source comprising:

applying an alkali to a biological source containing protein to form a slurry;

heating the slurry to a temperature sufficient to allow hydrolysis of protein in the biological source to obtain a liquid product; and

recovering the liquid product.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the alkali comprises lime.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the alkali comprises quick lime.

4. The process of claim 1, further comprising adding water to the slurry.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the temperature sufficient to allow hydrolysis is between 75°

C. and 100°

C.

6. The process of claim 1, further comprising recovering calcium from the liquid product.

7. The process of claim 1, further comprising drying the liquid product.

8. A process for solubilizing protein from a labile source comprising:

applying an alkali to a labile source containing labile protein to form a slurry;

heating the slurry to a temperature sufficient to allow hydrolysis of protein in the labile source to obtain a liquid product; and

recovering the liquid product.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein the alkali comprises lime.

10. The process of claim 8, wherein the lime is applied to the labile source in a ratio of 0.075.

11. The process of claim 8, wherein the labile source comprises animal tissue.

12. The process of claim 11, wherein the labile source comprises chicken offal.

13. The process of claim 11, wherein the labile source comprises shrimp heads.

14. The process of claim 8, wherein the temperature is approximately 75°

C.

15. The process of claim 8, further comprising adding water to the slurry.

16. The process of claim 15, wherein water is added to the slurry in an amount sufficient to reach a final concentration of 60-80 g labile source/L slurry.

17. The process of claim 9, further comprising recovering calcium from the liquid product.

18. The process of claim 8, further comprising drying the liquid product.

19. The process of claim 8, further comprising producing animal feed using the liquid product.

20. A process for solubilizing protein from a plant source comprising:

applying an alkali to a plant source containing protein to form a slurry;

heating the slurry to a temperature sufficient to allow hydrolysis of protein in the plant source to obtain a liquid product; and

recovering the liquid product.

21. The process of claim 20, wherein the alkali comprises lime.

22. The process of claim 20, wherein the lime is applied to the labile source in a ratio of 0.05-0.075.

23. The process of claim 20, wherein the plant source comprises soybean hay.

24. The process of claim 20, wherein the labile source comprises alfalfa.

25. The process of claim 20, wherein the temperature is approximately 100°

C.

26. The process of claim 20, further comprising adding water to the slurry.

27. The process of claim 26, wherein water is added to the slurry in an amount sufficient to reach a final concentration of 60 g plant source/L slurry.

28. The process of claim 20, further comprising recovering calcium from the liquid product.

29. The process of claim 20, further comprising drying the liquid product.

30. The process of claim 20, further comprising producing animal feed using the liquid product.

31. A process for solubilizing protein from a recalcitrant source comprising:

applying an alkali to a recalcitrant source containing recalcitrant protein to form a slurry;

heating the slurry to a temperature sufficient to allow hydrolysis of protein in the recalcitrant source to obtain a liquid product; and

recovering the liquid product.

32. The process of claim 31, wherein the alkali comprises lime.

33. The process of claim 31, wherein the lime is applied to the labile source in a ratio of 0.1 to 0.25.

34. The process of claim 31, wherein the recalcitrant source comprises a keratinous protein source.

35. The process of claim 34, wherein the recalcitrant source comprises chicken feathers.

36. The process of claim 34, wherein the recalcitrant source comprises hair.

37. The process of claim 31, wherein the temperature is approximately 100°

C.

38. The process of claim 31, further comprising adding water to the slurry.

39. The process of claim 38, wherein water is added to the slurry in an amount sufficient to reach a final concentration of 100 g recalcitrant source/L slurry.

40. The process of claim 32, further comprising recovering calcium from the liquid product.

41. The process of claim 31, further comprising drying the liquid product.

42. The process of claim 31, further comprising producing animal feed using the liquid product.

43. A single-stage system for protein solubilization, comprising:

a reactor operable to receive and react a biological source containing protein and an alkali;

a wash operable to wash unreacted biological source in the reactor with water to produce a liquid product; and

an evaporator operable to dry the liquid product, wherein the system is operable to hydrolyze protein in the biological source.

44. The system of claim 43, further comprising a countercurrent wash.

45. The system of claim 44, further comprising a cocurrent wash.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the alkali comprises lime, further comprising a calcium recovery system operable to recover calcium from the liquid product.

47. A two-stage system for protein solubilization, comprising:

a first reactor operable to receive and react a biological source containing protein and an alkali;

a first wash operable to wash unreacted biological source in the reactor with water to produce a first liquid product and solid residue;

a second reactor operable to receive the first solid residue and additional alkali;

a second wash operable to wash unreacted first solid residue with water to produce a second liquid product; and

an evaporator operable to dry the first or second liquid product,

wherein the system is operable to hydrolyze protein in the biological source and the solid residue.

48. The system of claim 47, further comprising a countercurrent first or second wash.

49. The system of claim 47, further comprising a cocurrent first or second wash.

50. The system of claim 47, wherein the alkali comprises lime, further comprising a calcium recovery system operable to recover calcium from the first or second liquid product.