BioMatNet Item: FAIR-CT95-0260 - High quality oils, protein and bioactive products for food and non-food purposes based on biorefining of cruciferous oilseed crops

FAIR-CT95-0260
High quality oils, protein and bioactive products for food and non-food purposes based on biorefining of cruciferous oilseed crops

Contacts
Further Information

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Bulk Chemicals : Enviromental Aspects : FAIR Area 1.2 - Green Chemicals and Polymers Chain : Protein/Amino Acid : Vegetable Oil/Fat

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	FAIR-CT95-0260
	Total Cost	2,336,000 ECU
	EC Contribution	1,300,000 ECU
	Start Date	01/01/1996
	Duration	48 Months

High quality oils, protein and bioactive products for food and non-food purposes based on biorefining of cruciferous oilseed crops

Objectives

Double low oilseed rape and other cruciferous crops are well suited for agricultural production of high quality vegetable oil and proteins. In addition, the seeds of these plants contain a great number of other compounds, which have a potential high value as food and for production of non-food products. However, some of these constituents in cruciferous seeds, especially glucosinolates and dietary fibres, create problems and limitations with respect to production of high quality oils and proteins by use of traditional oil mill processing, and the aim of the project is elimination or reduction of the problems and limitations.

Technical Approach

The combined objective of the project is development of advanced but relatively simple processing techniques based on aqueous "Green Chemistry" techniques, which allow separation and isolation of the various constituents in cruciferous seeds. The Bioraf process and the new high quality and added value Biorefined Oilseed Products (BOP) will be evaluated with respect to; product functionality, the commercial potentials and the combined technical and economic feasibility of the concept.

Expected Results

The expected results include production in pilot scale of new added value products by use of aqueous extraction systems and "Green Chemistry".

I. Direct results

Lipids and oil as high quality edible and technical products, as well as evaluation of natural technical oil additives.

Protein concentrates and isolates as high quality and added value products in feed, food and non-food products; emulsifiers, surfactants, protein-lipid products and protein based hydrophobic biopolymers.

Bioactives as potential biodegradable biocides against herbivores, microorganisms, weeds, as potential anti-tumour compounds and chiral intermediates for the pharmaceutical industry.

II. Indirect results

Development of applied biotechnology; chromatography, ultrafiltration, super fluid extraction and enzyme technology, which also will be applicable to non-cruciferous plants.

Development of applied methods of analyses for characterisation of starting materials, products and for production control.

Applications

The development of applied biotechnology based on aqueous extraction systems and techniques used in this project is expected to be applicable in processing of a broad spectrum of agricultural crops increasing their value and utilisation by creating new outlet in feed, food and renewable non-food products.

Preliminary results and progress

Aqueous enzymatic extraction of cruciferous oilseeds has been developed as a unique method for processing as supplement to traditional extraction and processing methods. Thereby glucosinolate degradation is avoided and the intact glucosinolates are isolated and evaluated as potential plant protection agents. In addition negative effects from these compounds in the protein, oil and lipid fractions have been avoided. Also the mild process gives a preservation of the native antioxidants, which give the oil and protein fractions pronounced resistance towards autooxidation. The Bioraf process thus produces a unique vegetable oil from the seeds, without residues of organic solvents or other unwanted constituents, including phospholipids, thus eliminating a need for degumming or other comprehensive oil refining processes. Protein concentrates, individual biologically active proteins, as well as glucosinolates and phenolics are products isolated from the process. Patent application has been submitted concerning production of high value proteins. Bioreactors with immobilised enzymes for production of biocides have been constructed. Surplus products from the process are combined in a pellet suitable for cattle feeding. The process is thus without waste products, as all parts of the seeds will be separated into usable products.

Results to Date

Production of rapeseed oil with preservation of naturally occurring antioxidants
Promising results for preparation of biodegradable films from rapeseed protein
Development of procedures for large scale isolation of myrosinase
Development of procedures for preparative isolation of individual glucosinolates
Development of procedures for production of active biocides in situ
Preliminary but positive results from test of some of the glucosinolate derived biocides
Promising economic feasibility studies of the process

The Bioraf Plant

Equipment at the Bioraf plant

Breaking area of protein casting film derived by aqueous oil extraction (Fraunhofer-IVV, 1997)

Breaking area of protein casting film based on rapeseed protein isolate (Fraunhofer-IVV, 1997)

Contacts

Coordinator

Hilmer SOERENSEN / Royal Veterinary & Agricultural University DENMARK

Participant