Process of aqueous protein extraction from Brassicaceae oilseeds

A process of aqueous protein extraction of Brassicaceae oilseeds to obtain a napin-rich protein extract, a cruciferin-rich protein extract, and a low-protein residue, the process comprising the steps of:

• (a) dehulling the Brassicaceae oilseeds to substantially separate Brassicaceae oilseed cotyledons from Brassicaceae oilseed hulls;
• (b) defatting the Brassicaceae oilseed cotyledons to obtain Brassicaceae oilseed meal;
• (c) performing aqueous extraction of the Brassicaceae oilseed meal at a temperature of from about 18° C. to about 50° C. using an aqueous solvent at a pH of from 2.5 to 3.5 containing a salt at a concentration of from 0.25% to 2.0% w/v of the aqueous solvent, wherein the Brassicaceae oilseed meal is mixed with the aqueous solvent at a meal-to-aqueous solvent ratio of from about 1:10 to about 1:90, to obtain:
• (i) a soluble napin-rich protein extract;
• and
• (ii) a cruciferin-rich protein residue;
• and
• (d) performing aqueous extraction of the cruciferin-rich protein residue from step (c) at a temperature of from about 18° C. to about 50° C. using an aqueous alkali solvent at a pH of from about 7.0 to about 13.0, wherein the cruciferin-rich protein residue is mixed with the aqueous alkali solvent at a residue-to-aqueous alkali solvent ratio of from about 1:10 to about 1:90, to obtain:
• (i) a soluble cruciferin-rich protein extract;
• and
• (ii) a low-protein residue,
• wherein steps (a)-(d) are performed sequentially.

A process of aqueous protein extraction from Brassicaceae oilseed meal to obtain a napin-rich protein extract, a cruciferin-rich protein fraction, and a sugar rich fraction comprising:

• (a) performing a first aqueous extraction of the Brassicaceae oilseed meal at a temperature of from about 18° C. to about 50° C. using an aqueous solvent at a pH of from 2.5 to 3.5 containing a salt at a concentration of from 0.25% to 2.0% w/v of the aqueous solvent, wherein the Brassicaceae oilseed meal is mixed with the aqueous solvent at a meal-to-aqueous solvent ratio of from about 1:10 to about 1:90, to obtain:
• (i) a soluble napin-rich protein extract;
• and
• (ii) a cruciferin-rich protein residue;
• and
• (b) performing a second aqueous extraction of the cruciferin-rich protein residue from step (a) at a temperature of from about 35° C. to about 60° C. and at a pH of from about 3.0 to about 4.5 in the presence of one or more cell wall degrading enzymes to obtain:
• (i) a soluble sugar rich extract;
• and
• (ii) a cruciferin-rich protein residue;
• and
• (c) separating the cruciferin-rich protein residue from the soluble sugar rich extract from step (b) to obtain the cruciferin-rich protein fraction and the sugar rich fraction, wherein steps (a)-(c) are performed sequentially.