Electrical separation of protein concentrate from juice of forages. Final report
- Agricultural Research Service, Madison, WI (United States). U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center
- National Food and Energy Council, Columbia, MO (United States)
Previous research has shown that large quantities of high-quality, low-fiber protein concentrate can be separated from the juice of forage crops such as alfalfa. The value of adding such extracted protein to the diet of undernourished children in Mexico and other developing countries has been well demonstrated. In the past, protein separation has been achieved by either heat coagulation of the protein or by a pH adjustment of the juice. Both techniques have disadvantages including irreversible changes in the protein and high energy or material costs. This used electrostatic fields to manipulate the small charges found in protein molecules. Such an approach could result in an on-farm or portable protein separation system that does not require the transport of large quantities of forage. Researchers, using a dc power supply with appropriately placed electrodes to separate protein from juices, varied voltage levels to modify field strength and tried various shapes of electrodes and configurations of apparatus. The relative impact of centrifugation, use of various flocculents, and ultrafiltration in attempts to enhance dc voltage-supply test results were explored. One steady-flow system used a plastic vessel with stainless steel walls that served as electrodes. Another steady-flow ac voltage system used a trough through which juice was allowed to flow While two spinning-disk electrodes passed electricity directly through the juice. A four-step process was developed using an, ac power supply. The juice is first treated with an ac current, then held for approximately 60 minutes, after which it is centrifuged at 10,000 g. In the final phase the soluble protein is concentrated 5--10 fold by ultrafiltration using filters with a 10,000 molecular weight cutoff. This process shows potential for meeting project objectives.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Agricultural Research Service, Madison, WI (United States). U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center; Wisconsin Univ., Madison, WI (United States); National Food and Energy Council, Columbia, MO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 10171374
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-TR-100970; ON: UN94016586
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Mar 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
PROTEINS
ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION
FOOD PROCESSING
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
NUTRIENTS
ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATORS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
VEGETABLE OILS
ALFALFA
TISSUE EXTRACTS
320303
553004
EQUIPMENT AND PROCESSES
FOOD PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION