Process for obtaining a gel-forming protein product

Claim 2

A process for preparing a gel-forming protein product from a raw material of either defatted or non-defatted oil seeds or products derived therefrom, wherein said seeds and products derived therefrom are comprised of proteins and carbohydrates including sugars and a polysaccharide fraction, said process comprising: comminuting and homogenizing the raw material in the presence of water; separating a fraction consisting essentially of polysaccharide from a protein solution in the resulting homogenized aqueous suspension by centrifugal separation or sieving; and subjecting the resulting protein solution to one or more stages of a thermal treatment in water at a temperature above 50° C. for a time sufficient to convert the proteins into a gel-forming product, one of the said stages consisting of spray drying said protein solution, the pH of the water being maintained at at least 1 pH unit above the highest isoelectric point of the proteins.

Claim 3

A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the separated polysaccharide fraction is added to the gel-forming protein after its formation by thermal treatment.

Claim 4

A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the raw material prior to comminuting and homogenizing is contacted with water to remove soluble sugars.

Claim 5

A process according to claim 1 in which the concentration of raw materials and the conditions of processing are controlled to give a protein concentration of from 10-20% by weight.

Claim 6

A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the thermal treatment is carried out between 50° and 150° C.

Claim 7

A process as claimed in claim 5 in which the separated polysaccharide fraction is added to the gel-forming protein after its formation by thermal treatment.

Claim 8

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the resulting protein solution after the removal of the polysaccharide fraction is concentrated by evaporation and this concentration constitutes a stage of the thermal treatment.

Claim 9

A process for preparing a gel-forming protein product from a raw material of either defatted or non-defatted oil seeds or products derived therefrom, wherein said seeds and products derived therefrom are comprised of proteins and carbohydrates including sugars and a polysaccharide fraction, said process comprising: comminuting and homogenizing the raw material in the presence of water; separating a fraction consisting essentially of polysaccharide from a protein solution in the resulting homogenized aqueous suspension by centrifugal separation or sieving; and subjecting the resulting protein solution to one or more stages of a thermal treatment in water at a temperature above 50° C. for a time sufficient to convert the proteins into a gel-forming product, one of the said stages consisting of a concentration by evaporation of the protein solution, the pH of the water being maintained at at least 1 pH unit above the highest isoelectric point of the proteins.

Claim 10

A process for preparing a gel-forming protein product from a raw material of either defatted or non-defatted oil seeds or products derived therefrom, wherein said seeds and products derived therefrom are comprised of proteins and carbohydrates including sugars and a polysaccharide fraction, said process comprising: comminuting and homogenizing the raw material in the presence of water; separating a fraction consisting essentially of polysaccharide from a protein solution in the resulting homogenized aqueous suspension by centrifugal separation or sieving; and subjecting the resulting protein solution to one or more stages of a thermal treatment in water at a temperature above 50° C. for a time sufficient to convert the proteins into a gel-forming product, one of the said stages consisting of a concentration by evaporation of the protein solution, the pH of the water being maintained at at least 1 pH unit above the highest isoelectric point of the proteins.

Claim 11

A process as claimed in claim 8 in which the raw material prior to comminuting and homogenizing is contacted with water to remove soluble sugars.

Claim 12

A process as claimed in claim 8 in which the separated polysaccharide fraction is added to the gel-forming protein after its formation by thermal treatment.

Claim 13

A process according to claim 8 in which the concentration of the raw materials and the conditions of processing are controlled to give a protein concentration of from 10-20% by weight.

Claim 14

A process as claimed in claim 8 in which the thermal treatment is carried out between 50° and 150° C.

Claim 15

A process as claimed in claim 12 in which the separated polysaccharide fraction is added to the gel-forming protein after its formation by thermal treatment.