Expanded Bed Absorption for Pea Protein Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processes for isolating pea protein fractions, particularly vicilin-rich fractions, face challenges due to contamination from convicilin, which is difficult to avoid, especially in large-scale isolation processes.
Innovation Solution
A separation process using an expanded bed absorption method with adsorbent resins selectively adsorbing pea proteins, featuring ligands with aromatic or heteroaromatic rings and alkylamine or alkylarylamine moieties, to isolate specific pea protein types, thereby reducing contamination and achieving purer protein compositions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If salt fractionation is used to isolate vicilin-rich fractions, then vicilin can be obtained, but convicilin contamination occurs and is difficult to avoid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful convicilin component from the protein mixture using expanded bed absorption chromatography. The adsorbent resin selectively binds convicilin while allowing vicilin to pass through in the flow-through fraction, effectively separating the desired protein from the contaminant.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance - the adsorbent resin with specific ligands (aromatic carboxylic acids, phenols, or heteroaromatic compounds) - that mediates the separation between vicilin and convicilin. This intermediary selectively interacts with convicilin through π-π stacking and other molecular interactions, enabling purification without direct manipulation of the protein components.
2Manufacturing precision
If legumin fractionation is performed, then legumin can be isolated, but convicilin contamination is difficult to avoid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful convicilin component from the protein mixture using expanded bed absorption chromatography. The adsorbent resin selectively binds convicilin while allowing legumin to pass through in the flow-through fraction, effectively separating the desired protein from the contaminant.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance - the adsorbent resin with specific ligands (aromatic carboxylic acids, phenols, or heteroaromatic compounds) - that mediates the separation between legumin and convicilin. This intermediary selectively interacts with convicilin through π-π stacking and other molecular interactions, enabling purification without direct manipulation of the protein components.
3Productivity
If traditional precipitation methods are used, then protein isolation can be achieved, but separation efficiency and purity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical precipitation methods with a chemical separation approach using expanded bed absorption chromatography. Instead of relying on physical precipitation based on solubility differences, the method uses specific chemical interactions between the adsorbent resin ligands and convicilin molecules, achieving superior separation efficiency and purity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the separation parameter from physical precipitation conditions (pH, temperature, salt concentration) to chemical affinity parameters. By selecting specific ligands with appropriate molecular structures (aromatic rings, heteroaromatic systems), the method exploits differences in molecular interactions to achieve selective separation, fundamentally changing how the separation process operates.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This process effectively separates and purifies pea proteins, reducing contamination and enabling the production of high-quality pea protein compositions with improved purity and yield, suitable for commercial-scale production.
Implementation Method 1
contacting said aqueous extract or solution of pea protein with at least one adsorbent resin which selectively adsorbs at least a first type of pea protein to provide a non-bound protein fraction and a bound protein fraction
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a process for the separation of pea protein. The process begins with an aqueous extract or solution of pea protein, which is passed through at least one expanded bed absorption (EBA) process. The EBA process comprises contacting the aqueous extract or solution of pea protein with at least one adsorbent resin, said adsorbent resin comprising at least one ligand (L1 or L2), having particular chemical structures. Proteins of interest are isolated by eluting them from said adsorbent resin. The invention also provides various protein compositions obtainable via the method of the invention.