Low-Lipid Oat Protein Composition Without Solvent Residues
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oat protein processing methods face challenges such as the use of organic solvents leading to explosion risks, residual lipids, and superfine particle sizes causing dust formation and operational difficulties, which are not addressed by current commercial processes.
Innovation Solution
A process that uses amylases and polysorbate to produce an oat protein composition with low lipid content and a mean particle size greater than 10 microns, avoiding organic solvents and utilizing centrifugation for separation, resulting in a composition with specific molecular weight distributions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If organic solvents like hexane or ethanol are used for de-oiling, then lipid removal efficiency is improved, but explosion risks and residual solvent contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful organic solvents from the de-oiling process entirely, replacing them with water-based extraction methods. This eliminates explosion risks and solvent residues while maintaining effective lipid removal through controlled extraction conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the extraction medium from organic solvents to aqueous solutions, fundamentally altering the chemical environment to eliminate harmful effects while achieving the same lipid separation objective through modified extraction parameters
2Quantity of substance
If supercritical CO2 processing is used to achieve high de-oiling, then lipid content is reduced, but particle size becomes below 10 microns causing dust formation and handling difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the processing parameters to control particle size distribution, specifically avoiding the ultra-fine particle generation associated with supercritical CO2. By adjusting extraction conditions and using alternative separation methods, the patent achieves low lipid content while maintaining particles above 10 microns for easier handling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive and complex supercritical CO2 equipment with simpler, more economical extraction and separation equipment that produces manageable particle sizes, eliminating the need for specialized dust control systems
3Ease of manufacture
If oats are not de-oiled prior to milling, then processing is simplified, but rancidity develops during storage due to lipid content in flour and protein
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary de-oiling extraction before milling, removing lipids in advance to prevent subsequent rancidity during storage. This preliminary action ensures storage stability while maintaining relatively simple processing through water-based extraction methods
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
The process achieves a low lipid content below 10% by weight and a desirable particle size, enhancing safety and handling in industrial settings while maintaining protein functionality.
Implementation Method 1
Adjunction of an amylase enzyme to the protein rich suspension of step 3 thereby hydrolyzing the protein rich suspension
Implementation Method 2
Adjunction of polysorbate to the hydrolyzed protein rich suspension of step 4 or optionally to the light layer comprising proteins of step 5
Implementation Method 3
separating by centrifugation the hydrolyzed protein rich suspension of step 4 until obtaining a heavy layer comprising fibers and a light layer comprising proteins
Data Source
AI summary
The invention pertains to the field of oat protein compositions and production method thereof. In particular, the present invention is directed to an oat protein composition having low lipid content and which does not contain traces of organic solvent and to the production method thereof.