Patent ID: 7662418
Filing Date: 2010-02-16
Classification: C08B,C12P

Abstract:
1. The method of concentrating beta-glucans (BG) from a plant material flour comprising the steps of: a) mixing and incubating a plant material flour with a solution of ethanol and water wherein the ethanol is at a concentration of 40-95% (v/v) in the water to form a flour/ethanol slurry without beta-glucan being solubilized within the flour/ethanol slurry; b) separating some protein and starch from the flour/ethanol slurry to create a fiber residue having a reduced starch and protein content from the flour/ethanol slurry, wherein the fiber residue has a higher BG content than the plant material flour; c) subjecting the fiber residue from step b) to at least one additional treatment step, the additional treatment step including mixing the fiber residue from step b) with a solution of ethanol and water wherein the ethanol is at a concentration of 40-95% (v/v) in the water to form a fiber residue/ethanol slurry and subjecting the fiber residue/ethanol slurry to a sonication, protease or amylase treatment step or a combination of a sonication, protease or amylase treatment step without beta-glucan being solubilized within the flour/ethanol slurry and thereafter separating a final fiber residue from the fiber residue/ethanol slurry wherein the final fiber residue has a higher beta-glucan content than the fiber residue from step b).