Preparation of soluble edible protein from leafy green crops

US3959246A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture · US

Inventors

• Emanuel M. Bickoff · Oakland, US
• Donald DE Fremery · Orinda, US
• Richard H. Edwards · Albany, US
• Benny E. Knuckles · San Pablo, US
• George O. Kohler · Corona, US
• Raymond E. Miller · Fairview Heights, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 8, 1974
• Grant date: May 25, 1976
• Expiry date: Jul 8, 1994

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A23J1/007
• WIPO field: Food chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Juice obtained from alfalfa or other leafy green crops is processed to isolate a cream-colored protein fraction which is soluble, odorless, bland (essentially tasteless) and useful for human nutrition. The juice is first treated to remove chloroplastic proteins, chlorophyll, carotenoids, and lipids. The residual juice containing the desired cytoplasmic proteins is treated by novel procedures--e.g., acid precipitation in the cold or by membrane filtration followed by acid precipitation at ambient temperature--to isolate the soluble bland protein.