Patent ID: 8486675

Claim:
A process for the production of one or more protein concentrates from defatted or milled macroalgae, microalgae or a combination thereof comprising the steps of: i) mixing the macroalgae, microalgae or a combination thereof with a first blending solvent to form a mixture; ii) optionally treating the mixture with phytase at a temperature and a pH suitable for phytase activity; iii) optionally adjusting the pH of the mixture to solubilize proteins in the mixture; iv) subjecting the mixture to a g-force sufficient to separate the mixture to form: a) a fiber fraction, and b) a protein fraction comprising; (i) an insoluble protein fraction, and (ii) a soluble protein fraction; v) separating the fiber fraction from the protein fraction and mixing the fiber fraction with a second blending solvent to form a fiber mixture; vi) treating the fiber mixture with a protease at a temperature and a pH suitable for protease activity; vii) subjecting the fiber mixture to a g-force sufficient to separate the fiber mixture to form: a) a second fiber fraction, and b) a hydrolyzed protein fraction, comprising (i) an insoluble protein fraction comprising partially hydrolyzed and un-hydrolyzed protein, and (ii) a soluble hydrolyzed protein fraction; optionally adjusting the pH of the protein fraction from step iv(b) to a pH suitable to precipitate proteins; viii) separating the precipitated proteins from the protein fraction, said separated precipitated protein comprising a first protein concentrate; and ix) optionally combining the first protein concentrate and the hydrolyzed protein fraction to form a second protein concentrate.