Continuous protein and lipid recovery from food animal processing byproducts

• US 7,763,717 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: West Virginia University Research Corporation (West Virginia University)
• Original Assignee: West Virginia University Research Corporation of West Virginia University
• Inventors: Jaczynski, Jacek
• Primary Examiner(s): Desai; Anand U
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIU, SAMUEL W
• Application Number:
  US11/369,331
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 530/412
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 1/002 from animal waste materials A23J1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 1/04 from fish or other sea animals
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 1/10 from hair, feathers, horn, skins, leather, bones, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2300/40 Precipitation

Abstract

A process and system for recovering protein and lipid from food animal byproducts, and the products thereof, involves homogenizing animal byproducts with water to form a homogenate, solubilizing the homogenate by adjusting the pH of the homogenate to form a first pH adjusted composition, separating the first pH adjusted composition forming a light fraction containing lipids (oil), a medium fraction containing protein in solution, and a heavy fraction containing fat-free impurities, separation by first centrifugation, adjusting the pH of the medium fraction to about the isoelectric point of the proteins thereby precipitating the medium fraction forming a second pH adjusted composition, and separating the second pH adjusted composition forming a light fraction containing water and a heavy fraction containing precipitated proteins. The water may then be recycled and used in the homogenization of further byproducts.

Claims

1. A process for recovering protein and lipid from animal byproducts or krill comprising:

a. homogenizing animal byproducts or krill with water to form a homogenate;

b. solubilizing the homogenate by adjusting the pH of the homogenate to form a first pH adjusted composition;

wherein, antifoam agents are added to the first pH adjusted composition;

c. separating the first pH adjusted composition forming a light fraction containing lipids, a medium fraction containing protein in solution, and a heavy fraction containing fat-free impurities;

d. adjusting the pH of the medium fraction to about the isoelectric point of the proteins thereby precipitating the medium fraction forming a second pH adjusted composition;

wherein, antifoam agents are added to the second pH adjusted composition wherein the proteins have been precipitated; and

e. separating the second pH adjusted composition forming a light fraction containing water and a heavy fraction containing precipitated proteins;

wherein the byproducts include skin, bone, scales, fin, heads, frames, or viscera.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein:

the homogenate contains about one part byproducts to about six part water.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein:

separating the first and second pH adjusted composition involves first and second centrifugation occurring at from about 3000 to about 3500×

g for about 1 to about 3 minutes.

4. The process of claim 2, wherein:

krill is used.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein:

the solubilizing of the homogenate occurs from about pH 10.5 to about pH 13 or from about pH 2 to about pH 3.5.

6. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

g. recovering the lipids.

7. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

h. forming a food product from the precipitated proteins.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein:

the isoelectric point ranges from about pH 3.5 to about 7.5.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein:

the process is carried out under controlled temperature conditions wherein the temperature is from about 0°

C. to about 9°

C.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein:

emulsion breakers are added to the homogenate.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein:

a flocculent may be added to the medium fraction.

12. The process of claim 1, wherein:

separating the first and second pH adjusted compositions involves first and second centrifugation occurring at from about 8,000 to about 10,000×

g for about 10 minutes.

13. The process of claim 1, wherein:

krill is used.

17. The process of claim 2, wherein:

krill is used.

14. A protein containing solid composition recovered from an animal, the protein containing solid composition being formed by the process of:

a. homogenizing animal byproducts or krill with water to form a homogenate;

b. solubilizing the homogenate by adjusting the pH of the homogenate to form a first pH adjusted composition;

wherein, antifoam agents are added to the first pH adjusted composition;

c. separating the first pH adjusted composition forming a light fraction containing lipids (oil), a medium fraction containing protein in solution, and a heavy fraction containing fat-free impurities;

d. adjusting the pH of the medium fraction to about the isoelectric point of the proteins thereby precipitating the medium fraction forming a second pH adjusted composition;

wherein, antifoam agents are added to the second pH adjusted composition wherein the proteins have been precipitated; and

e. separating the second pH adjusted composition forming a light fraction containing water and a heavy fraction containing precipitated proteins;

wherein the byproducts include skin, bone, scales, fin, heads, frames, or viscera.

15. The protein of claim 14, wherein:

the homogenate contains about one part byproducts to about six part water.

16. The process of claim 15, wherein:

separating the first and second pH adjusted composition involves first and second centrifugation occurring at from about 3000 to about 3500×

g for about 1 to about 3 minutes.

18. The protein of claim 14, wherein:

the solubilizing of the homogenate occurs from about pH 10.5 to about pH 13 or from about pH 2 to about pH 3.5.

19. The protein of claim 14, further comprising:

g. recovering the lipids.

20. The protein of claim 14, further comprising:

h. forming a food product from the precipitated proteins.

21. The protein of claim 14, wherein:

the isoelectric point ranges from about pH 3.5 to about 7.5.

22. The protein of claim 14, wherein:

the process is carried out under controlled temperature conditions wherein the temperature is from about 0°

C. to about 9°

C.

23. The protein of claim 14, wherein:

emulsion breakers are added to the homogenate.

24. The protein of claim 14, wherein:

a flocculent is added to the medium fraction.

25. The process of claim 14, wherein:

separating the first and second pH adjusted compositions involves first and second centrifugation occurring at from about 8,000 to about 10,000×

g for about 10 minutes.

26. The process of claim 14, wherein:

krill is used.

27. A process for recovering protein and lipid from animal byproducts or hill, consisting of the steps:

a. homogenizing animal byproducts or krill with water to form a homogenate;

b. solubilizing the homogenate by adjusting the pH of the homogenate to form a first pH adjusted composition;

c. separating the first pH adjusted composition forming a light fraction containing lipids, a medium fraction containing protein in solution, and a heavy fraction containing fat-free impurities;

d. adjusting the pH of the medium fraction to about the isoelectric point of the proteins thereby precipitating the medium fraction forming a second pH adjusted composition; and

e. separating the second pH adjusted composition forming a light fraction containing water and a heavy fraction containing precipitated proteins;

wherein the byproducts include skin, bone, scales, fin, heads, frames, or viscera.

28. The process of claim 27, further consisting of the step:

g. recovering the lipids.

29. The process of claim 28, wherein:

separating the first and second pH adjusted composition involves first and second centrifugation occurring at from about 3000 to about 3500×

g for about 1 to about 3 minutes.

30. The process of claim 28, wherein:

krill is used.

31. The process of claim 27, further consisting of the step:

h. forming a food product from the precipitated proteins.

32. The process of claim 27, wherein:

the isoelectric point ranges from about pH 3.5 to about 7.5;

the homogenate contains about one part byproducts to about six part water;

the process is carried out under controlled temperature conditions wherein the temperature is from about 0°

C. to about 9°

C.;

emulsion breakers are added to the homogenate;

a flocculent is added to the medium fraction;

antifoam agents are added to the first pH adjusted composition;

antifoam agents are added to the second pH adjusted composition;

separating the first and second pH adjusted compositions involves first and second centrifugation occurring at from about 8,000 to about 10,000×

g for about 10 minutes;

the solubilizing of the homogenate occurs from about pH 10.5 to about pH 13 or from about pH 2 to about pH 3.5;

separating the first and second pH adjusted composition involves first and second centrifugation occurring at from about 3000 to about 3500×

g for about 1 to about 3 minutes;

or krill is used;

or combinations thereof.