Potato protein extraction apparatus and method

• Main Authors: Alison Wright, Vidyanath Gururajan
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.08.2023
• Subjects: FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BYSUBCLASSES A23B - A23J; HUMAN NECESSITIES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHOSPHATIDE COMPOSITIONS FOR FOODSTUFFS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL; PROTEIN COMPOSITIONS FOR FOODSTUFFS; SEPARATION; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OFNUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; THEIR TREATMENT, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES; TRANSPORTING; WORKING-UP PROTEINS FOR FOODSTUFFS

Apparatus 1 for extracting protein from potatoes comprising three filtration devices 10, 20, 30 and an ultrafiltration device 40; the pore sizes of the filter materials 12, 22, 32 decrease in size. It may also comprise a decanter centrifuge and/or sedimentation vessel 50. The pore sizes of the filtration devices are 10-200 microns, 0.8-10 microns and less than 0.8 microns (preferably more than 0.1 microns) consecutively. The ultrafiltration device comprises a filter membrane with a molecular weight cut-off of 5-150 kDa. Preferably, the filter material is a bag filter. The first filtration device may be a centrifugal separator (Fig 3; 14) comprising a housing (Fig 3; 140) having an inlet (Fig 3; 142) for receiving potato fruit juice and two outlets (Fig 3; 144, 146), one to receive the retentate and the other to receive the filtrate; a rotating element (Fig 3; 148) to create centrifugal forces; and filter material. The apparatus may also comprise a drying device 60. A method for extracting protein from potatoes comprising obtaining potato fruit juice and then passing it through the filtration devices is also claimed. The ultrafiltration retentate may be diafiltrated. The apparatus may help prevent fouling of the filter material during extraction.