# US 10,863,755 B2 · High solubility pea protein composition and method of preparing same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,863,755 B2 - Document ID: US10863755B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/340,824 - Filed: 2017-10-18 - Published: 2019-08-29 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-18 - Assignees: Cargill, Incorporated - Applicants: Cargill, Incorporated - Inventors: Yifang Zhang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10863755B2 ## CPC - A23J 3/14: Vegetable proteins - A23J 3/34: using enzymes - A23L 33/18: Peptides; Protein hydrolysates - A23L 33/185: Vegetable proteins - A23L 33/19: Dairy proteins - A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs - A23V 2250/548: Vegetable protein - A23V 2300/10: Drying, dehydrating - A23V 2300/26: Homogenisation - A23J: PROTEIN COMPOSITIONS FOR FOODSTUFFS; WORKING-UP PROTEINS FOR FOODSTUFFS; PHOSPHATIDE COMPOSITIONS FOR FOODSTUFFS - A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B) - A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION ## Abstract The present invention relates to the field of processing pea protein compositions. The present invention particularly relates to a method for preparing a high solubility pea protein composition and a product prepared thereby. The method of the present invention includes a step of subjecting a pea protein composition to high pressure homogenization. The method of the present invention significantly improves the solubility of pea protein compositions. The present invention further provides a pea protein composition prepared by the method, the pea protein composition having better solubility. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising subjecting a pea protein composition to high pressure homogenization to obtain a homogenized pea protein composition, wherein the homogenized pea protein composition has a nitrogen solubility index that is greater than or equal to 88.0%, and wherein subjecting the pea protein composition to high pressure homogenization comprises subjecting an aqueous fluid containing the pea protein composition to high pressure homogenization, wherein the fluid has a pH value from 7.0 to 10.0. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the high pressure homogenization is from 5 MPa to 200 MPa. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the high pressure homogenization is from 15 MPa to 200 MPa. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid has a pH value from 7.2 to 10.0. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein subjecting the pea protein composition to high pressure homogenization comprises subjecting a fluid containing the pea protein composition to high pressure homogenization, and the method further comprises flashing the fluid containing the pea protein composition, wherein the high pressure homogenization is carried out before or after the flashing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the high pressure homogenization is carried out at a temperature from 10 to 70° C. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises drying the pea protein composition treated according to the method. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the drying comprises freeze drying or spray drying. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the nitrogen solubility index is greater than or equal to 92.0%. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the pea protein composition is a composition containing 30 wt % to 100 wt % of pea protein based on the dry weight of the composition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid containing the pea protein composition is an aqueous liquid containing the pea protein composition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the pea protein composition has a particle diameter of less than 40 μm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the pea protein composition has a particle diameter ranging from 12 μm-40 μm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A pea protein composition obtained by the method according to claim 1. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The pea protein composition according to claim 14, wherein the pea protein composition has a nitrogen solubility index that is greater than or equal to 92.0%. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the nitrogen solubility index is greater than or equal to 97.0%. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure of the high pressure homogenization is from 20 MPa to 200 MPa.