Beta-glucan compositions and process therefore
AssigneeGeneral Mills, Inc.
InventorsBernhard H. Van Lengerich, Olaf Gruess, Friedrich P. Meuser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An efficient method for producing high quality beta glucan enriched soluble dietary fiber products is described. An aqueous extraction slurry of beta glucan-containing grain material is homogenized, acidified and enzymatically digested to reduce viscosity and optimize separation of insolubles from the aqueous extract solution. The resulting extract is heat processed to precipitate denatured protein components and subsequently dried or otherwise processed to provide the products for use as food additives or dietary supplements.
Claims30
A process for isolating soluble dietary fiber comprising beta glucan from grain, said process comprising the steps of
- forming an aqueous slurry of a comminuted grain material, said slurry comprising water insoluble components of the grain material suspended in an aqueous solution comprising water soluble dietary fiber and protein components of the grain material;
- acidifying the aqueous slurry;
- adding an enzyme preparation comprising an enzyme selected from the group consisting of cellulase, hemicellulase, xylanase and pentosanase in an amount effective to hydrolyze at least a portion of the soluble components and thereby reduce solution viscosity;
- separating the water insoluble components from the aqueous solution;
- heating the aqueous solution to denature at least a portion of the soluble protein components to form a precipitate and a beta glucan product solution containing beta glucan and non beta glucan components;
- and
- removing at least a portion of the water from the resulting product solution.
A process for isolating soluble fiber comprising beta glucan from grain, said process comprising the steps of
- forming an aqueous slurry of a comminuted grain material, said slurry comprising water insoluble components of the grain material suspended in an aqueous solution comprising water soluble fiber and protein components of the grain material;
- acidifying the aqueous slurry to a pH of about 3.8 to about 5.5;
- adding an enzyme preparation in an amount effective to hydrolyze at least a portion of the soluble components and thereby reduce solution viscosity;
- separating the water insoluble components from the aqueous solution;
- heating the aqueous solution to denature at least a portion of the soluble protein components;
- separating denatured protein components from the aqueous solution to form a beta glucan product solution containing beta glucan and non beta glucan components;
- and
- removing at least a portion of the water from the product solution.
The process of claim II further comprising the step of contacting the beta glucan product solution with an enzyme capable of digesting at least a portion of the non beta glucan components.
A process for isolating soluble dietary fiber comprising beta glucan from grain, said process comprising the steps of
- forming an aqueous slurry of a comminuted grain material, said slurry comprising water insoluble components of the grain material suspended in an aqueous solution comprising water soluble dietary fiber and protein components of the grain material;
- acidifying the aqueous slurry;
- adding to the slurry an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing at least a portion of the soluble polysaccharide components and reducing the viscosity of the slurry;
- adjusting the pH of the slurry to about 4.2 and separating the water insoluble components from the aqueous solution;
- heating the aqueous solution to denature at least a portion of the soluble protein components;
- separating denatured protein components from the aqueous solution to form a beta glucan product solution containing beta glucan and non beta glucan components;
- and
- removing at least a portion of the water from the product solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.