Enzyme-based protein separation and enrichment from soy meal, wheat meal, and other protein-rich materials derived from plant seeds, fruits and other biomass

An enzyme based method of separating protein from a protein-containing material derived from soy beans comprising the steps of:

• A. producing a liquid enzyme medium comprising at least one cellulase, at least one hemicellulase, and at least one pectinase by submerged fungal fermentation of a soy hull substrate using a fungus selected from the group consisting of Aspergillus niger NRRL 322, Aspergillus niger NRRL 341, Aspergillus niger NRRL 348, Aspergillus niger NRRL 2270, Aspergillus niger NRRL 13201, Aspergillus niger NRRL 13219, and combinations thereof;
• B. combining said protein-containing material derived from soy beans with said liquid enzyme medium;
• C. agitating the combination of step B, wherein said liquid enzyme medium hydrolyzes the polysaccharides and oligosaccharides contained in said protein-containing material derived from soy beans into saccharides that are soluble in said liquid enzyme medium to provide a mixture comprising a saccharide-containing liquid and a solid protein material;
• and
• D. separating and collecting the solid protein material from the saccharide containing liquid of the mixture of step C.