Impact assessment of the leaf protein concentrate (Pro-Xan) from alfalfa process. Draft final report
Wet fractionation to reduce the energy requirements of alfalfa dehydration is being examined as an alternative to the dehydration of freshly harvested alfalfa. The fractionation operation is part of an overall process to produce leaf protein concentrate (LPC) as a co-product of pelletized alfalfa. The LPC process conserves energy by mechanically grinding and then pressing out approximately half of the moisture contained in the fresh green-chop prior to dehydration, thereby allowing significant reduction of the evaporation load of the rotary dryer. The green juice extracted from the raw alfalfa at the presses is processed into LPC (also called Pro-Xan by the developers of the process) by a series of process steps including heat coagulation, curd separation and extrusion, and dehydration. Another energy conserving method now widely practiced by the alfalfa dehydrating industry involves the cutting and field drying of raw alfalfa for four to six hours prior to harvesting. In this study, three models were developed representing conventional, wilting, and LPC processing plants. These models were used to compare the potential energy use, environmental emissions, and costs involved with implementation of each process. In each model, the complete dehydration operation was examined from the harvesting of raw material to the marketing of end products.
- Research Organization:
- Hittman Associates, Inc., Columbia, MD (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC01-78CS40033
- OSTI ID:
- 5565779
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/CS/40033-T1; H-C-0193/700-79-783D; ON: DE84000142
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Wet fractionation of forage to reduce energy requirements of dehydration. Final technical report, August 12, 1978-April 30, 1982
Commercial scale production of alfalfa leaf protein concentrate
Related Subjects
320303* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
ALFALFA
CAPITALIZED COST
COMMERCIALIZATION
COST
DEHYDRATION
DRYING
ECONOMICS
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
HARVESTING
LEAVES
LEGUMINOSAE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
PROCESSING
PROTEINS
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
TRANSPORT