Patent ID: 7625588
Filing Date: 2009-12-01
Classification: A23J,C07K

Abstract:
1. A process of preparing a canola protein isolate, which comprises: (a) continuously extracting canola oil seed meal at a temperature of at least about 5° C. to cause solubilization of protein in said oil seed meal and to form an aqueous canola protein solution having a pH of about 5 to about 6.8, (b) continuously separating said aqueous canola protein solution from residual canola oil seed meal, (c) continuously conveying said aqueous canola protein solution through a selective membrane operation to increase the protein concentration of said aqueous canola protein solution to at least about 50 g/L while maintaining the ionic strength substantially constant to provide a concentrated canola protein solution, (d) continuously mixing said concentrated canola protein solution with chilled water having a temperature of below about 15° C. to cause the formation of canola protein micelles in the aqueous phase, (e) continuously flowing the resulting mixture into a settling vessel while permitting supernatant to overflow the vessel, (f) continuously permitting said canola protein micelles to settle in the settling vessel while continuing to overflow supernatant from the vessel until a desired amount of amorphous, sticky, gelatinous, gluten-like canola protein micellar mass has accumulated in said settling vessel, and (g) recovering said canola protein micellar mass from the settling vessel, said canola protein micellar mass having a protein content, on a dry weight basis, of at least about 90 wt % as determined by Kjeldahl nitrogen×6.25, wherein said supernatant is processed, on a batch, semi-continuous or continuous basis, to recover additional quantities of canola protein isolate therefrom.