| abstract |
A process for the treatment of comminuted proteinaceous materials so as to effect separation of the comminuted proteinaceous materials into fractions differing in composition is disclosed. The process comprises admixing comminuted proteinaceous materials, or fractions derived therefrom, with an organic solvent for any oil in the proteinaceous material and separating the proteinaceous material in the admixture into fractions differing in, in particular, protein content. The separation may be effected by for example subjecting the admixture, in the form of a slurry, to the influence of centrifugal force. In embodiments, a centrifuge and/or a hydrocyclone may be used. The proteinaceous materials are selected from wheat, rye, barley, triticale, peas, beans and buckwheat. Examples of suitable solvents are pentane, hexane, heptane, cyclohexane and alcohols of 1-4 carbon atoms. A variety of products are obtainable, including protein-enriched and protein-deficient endosperm fractions. The products have a variety of uses in the food industry. |