Protein concentrate of African oil palm (Elaesis guineensis, Jacquin), extraction process and functional properties

A study was carried out for the purpose of obtaining and characterizing a protein concentrate obtained from defatted oil palm cake using alkaline extraction, and compare it with a commercial soy meal. The oil palm cake came from a national industry as a subproduct of the oil extraction of the palm kernels. The moisture, protein, fat, crude fiber and ash content of the oil palm was then determined. The optimum conditions for extraction and precipitation of the proteins were selected. These were the following: extraction at pH, 11.4; adding NaOH 0.06 M solvent; a meal/solvent relation of 1:20 g/ml and extraction time, 20 minutes with magnetic agitation, and precipitation at pH 5.3. The protein concentrate obtained contained: 66.50% protein; 0.07% fat, 0.90% crude fiber, and 3.20% ashes. Then the following functional properties were analyzed: solubility, according to the pH; water absorption (250); oil absorption (175); emulsion activity (27.2), and stability (13.6). The author concludes that the protein concentrate has good water and oil absorption when compared to soymeal; the emulsion, however, was found to be unstable to heat.