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EP-4739134-A1 - SUNFLOWER SEED PROTEIN CONCENTRATE AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION

EP4739134A1EP 4739134 A1EP4739134 A1EP 4739134A1EP-4739134-A1

Abstract

Provided herein are Sunflower Seed Protein Concentrates with novel characteristics, processes for producing Sunflower Seed Protein Concentrates and methods of using the Sunflower Seed Protein Concentrates disclosed.

Inventors

  • SASIDHARAN PILLAI, Prasanth Kumar
  • KUMAR, MANOJ

Assignees

  • LOUIS DREYFUS COMPANY PLANT PROTEINS LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240801

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A sunflower seed protein concentrate process comprising: a. extracting in 30-70% ethanol in water (by volume) from de-oiled, desolvated sunflower seed flour having <3% oil, the extraction comprising the parameters of: i) maintaining a temperature of 30-62 °C, ii) at a pH range of pH 4-7. b. removing the ethanol from the sunflower protein concentrate and water; c. optionally washing the sunflower protein concentrate with water at pH 4-6, then diluting the sunflower protein concentrate with water at pH 7 to create a slurry and homogenizing said slurry, d. optionally sterilizing and/or pasteurizing the wet sunflower protein concentrate, and e. drying the wet sunflower protein concentrate to a moisture range of 4- 10%.
  2. 2. The process of Claim 1 , wherein the extraction is performed in a Nutsche filter.
  3. 3. The process of and any of Claims 1-2, wherein the de-oiled, desolvented sunflower seed flour contains <2% oil.
  4. 4. The process of any of Claims 1 -3, wherein the sunflower seed flour contains <500 ppm hexane.
  5. 5. The process of any of Claims 1 -4, wherein the de-oiled, desolvented sunflower seed oil contains <100 ppm hexane. The process of Claim 1 , wherein the protein content of the dried de-oiled sunflower seed flour is 45-55% protein (Nx6.25), on a dry basis.
  6. 6. The process of any of Claims 1 -5, wherein steps a. is carried out at 50-60 °C.
  7. 7. The process of any of Claims 1 -6, wherein step a. is carried out at pH 4-5.
  8. 8. The process of any of Claims 1 -7, wherein step a. is carried out for 15-30 minutes.
  9. 9. The process of any of Claims 1 -8, wherein steps b., c. and e. are carried out at about <60 °C.
  10. 10. A sunflower protein concentrate produced by the process of any of Claims 1 -9.
  11. 11 . The sunflower protein concentrate of Claim 10 having a protein content of 50- 75% protein.
  12. 12. The sunflower protein concentrate of any of Claims 1-11 having a protein content of 55-70% protein.
  13. 13 The sunflower protein concentrate of any of Claims 10-12 comprising in its protein component 50-90% 11 S helianthin and 10-40% 2S albumin and oleosin proteins.
  14. 14. The sunflower protein concentrate of any of Claims 10-13 comprising in its protein component 55-75% 11 S helianthin and 15-30% 2S albumin and oleosin proteins
  15. 15. The sunflower protein concentrate of any of Claims 10-14 comprising: a. 1 -3% oil, b. 30-40% carbohydrates, c. 4-6% ash, d. 0.1-2% chlorogenic acid.
  16. 16. The sunflower protein concentrate of any of Claims 10-15, wherein the protein is substantially in its native form.
  17. 17. The sunflower protein concentrate of any of Claims 10-16 having a foaming expansion capacity of >180% at >4% (w/w) sunflower protein concentrate in water.
  18. 18. The sunflower protein concentrate of any of Claims 1-17 having a foaming expansion capacity of 180-300% at >4% (w/w) sunflower protein concentrate.
  19. 19. The sunflower protein concentrate of any of Claims 10-18 having a foaming stability of >60% at >4% (w/w) sunflower protein concentrate after 1 hour.
  20. 20. The sunflower protein concentrate of any of Claims 10-19 having a foaming stability of 60-90% at >4% (w/w) sunflower protein concentrate after 1 hour.

Description

SUNFLOWER SEED PROTEIN CONCENTRATE AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION CROSS-REFERENCE This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/532,330 filed August 11 , 2023, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKG OUND OF THE INVENTION Oil seeds, such as sunflower seeds, are an emerging source of proteins for culinary applications. Recent trends toward the use of vegetable proteins to replace animal-derived protein has created a significant demand for the production of plant protein products with unique and desirable qualities, particularly for use in foods meant to replace animal-based products. Oil seed-derived proteins have become a coveted source for producing nutritionally-enhanced products and meat and dairy substitutes with preferred textural appeal and varied functionalities. Therefore, protein concentrates from seeds that are both economical and have desirable physical properties for use in plant-based foods and products is needed. The production of protein concentrate from sunflower seed has been actively pursued. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,728,542 describes production of sunflower seed protein preparations involving pressing, supercritical CO2 and/or superheated hexane. Various Other disclosures employ heat to provide sunflower protein concentrates, such as U.S. Pat. No. 10,645,950. Other procedures involving selective membrane techniques and/or diafiltration are described in U.S. published application No. 2022- 0053791 A1 . Production of novel sunflower protein compositions with unique functionality by procedures that are technologically and economically viable are in constant demand. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a process for producing a sunflower protein concentrate (SFPC) from de-oiled sunflower seed flour that is economical and produces sunflower protein concentrate that has unique composition and functionality. The process involves use of low temperatures, below where denaturation of proteins occurs, to produce a sunflower protein concentrate with a protein content of about 55-70wt% (Nx6.25) on a dry basis while maintaining the native form of the proteins in the concentrate. The process also does not require membrane filter-based separation. The sunflower protein concentrate has highly desirable foaming, gelation and emulsion attributes, making it applicable to many plant-based food and beverage uses. In one aspect of the invention, a process is provided for extracting a sunflower protein concentrate comprising, stepwise, extracting in 30-70% ethanol in water (by volume) dehulled, milled, de-oiled, desolvated sunflower seed flour having <3% oil, the extraction performed at a maintained temperature of 30-62 °C and a pH range of 4-7, then removing the ethanol from the sunflower protein concentrate and water and drying the sunflower seed protein concentrate to a moisture range of 4-10%. In certain embodiments, one or more of the alcohol extraction, solvent removal and washing of the canola protein concentrate are performed using a Nutsche filter. In certain embodiments, the de-oiled sun flour seed flour contains <2% oil. In some embodiments, the sunflower seed flour contains <1 % oil. In certain embodiments, the de-oiled, desolvented sunflower seed flour contains <500 ppm hexane. In some embodiments, the de-oiled, desolvented sunflower seed flour contains <100 ppm hexane. In some embodiments, the protein content of the de-oiled, desolvated sunflower seed flour is 45- 55% protein (Nx6.25), on a dry basis. In certain embodiments, the extraction step is carried out at 50-60 °C. In some embodiments, the extraction step is carried out at pH 4-5. In certain embodiments, the extraction step is carried out for 15-60 minutes. In some embodiments, all steps other than sterilizing and/or pasteurizing are performed at about <60 °C. In another aspect of the invention, a sunflower protein concentrate is provided. In certain embodiments, the sunflower protein concentrate produced by the above process is provided. In certain embodiments, the sunflower protein concentrate has a protein content of 55-75% by weight (Nx6.25) on a dry basis. In certain embodiments, the sunflower protein concentrate has a protein content of 55-70% by weight (Nx6.25) on a dry basis. In certain embodiments, the sunflower protein concentrate protein component comprises 50-90% 11 S helianthin proteins and 10-40% 2S albumin proteins. In some embodiments, the sunflower protein concentrate protein component comprises 55-75% 11 S helianthin proteins and 15-30% 2S albumin proteins and/or a mixture of 2S albumin and oleosin proteins. In certain embodiments, the sunflower protein concentrate comprises <3% oil, 30-40% carbohydrates, 4-6% ash and 0.1-2% chlorogenic acid. In some embodiments, the protein in the sunflower protein concentrate is substantially maintained in its native form. In certain embodiments, the sunflower protein concentrate has a foaming expa