EXTRACTING ENZYMES FROM RAW MATERIALS

1 . A method for extracting enzymes from an enzyme-containing raw material, the method comprising:

grinding the raw material to produce a ground raw material;

adjusting the pH of the ground raw material to a pH>7; and

expanding the ground raw material in order to extract the enzymes.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the pH of the ground raw material further comprises:

adjusting the pH of the ground raw material to a pH that is suitable for initiating the activation of serine proteases contained in the raw material.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , the method further comprising:

adjusting the temperature of the ground raw material to a temperature that is suitable for speeding up the activation of serine proteases contained in the raw material.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , the method further comprising:

separating the enzymes, after the expanding;

optionally concentrating the enzymes; and

optionally drying the enzymes.

5 . A method for producing a protein hydrolysate from a protein-containing raw material, the method comprising:

grinding the raw material to produce a ground raw material;

adjusting the pH of the ground raw material to a pH>7;

expanding the ground raw material and/or adding the enzyme composition obtainable by a method according to claim 1;

agitating the raw material for a time period and at a temperature that is sufficient to achieve a protein hydrolysate.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , the method further comprising:

periodically or continuously separating a first oil/fat product from the ground raw material.

7 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the adjusting the pH of the ground raw material further comprises:

adjusting the pH of the ground raw material to a pH that is suitable for initiating the activation of the serine proteases.

8 . The method according to claim 5 , the method further comprising:

adjusting the temperature of the ground raw material to a temperature that is suitable for speeding up activation of the serine proteases.

9 . The method according to claim 5 , the method further comprising one or more of:

adding water with a similar temperature and pH value to that which is optimal for the hydrolyzing the protein; or

adding water and adjusting the temperature and pH value of the resulting mixture to that which is optimal for the hydrolyzing the protein.

10 . The method according to claim 5 , the method further comprising:

adding a pH-regulating agent to the hydrolysate.

11 . The method according to claim 5 , the method further comprising:

separating solid particles and residual proteins from the hydrolysate; and, optionally,

recycling the residual proteins back to the agitating step for further hydrolysis.

12 . The method according to claim 5 , the method further comprising:

periodically or continuously separating a second oil/fat product from the hydrolysate.

13 . The method according to claim 5 , the method further comprising:

treating the raw material, the ground raw material, the hydrolysate and/or the enzyme composition against the growth of micro organisms.

14 . The method according to claim 5 , the method further comprising:

separating the desired molecular weight fraction of peptides/amino acids by way of membrane filtering; and, optionally

recycling those parts of the hydrolysate which do not penetrate the membrane filter back to the agitating step.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , the method further comprising:

concentrating the permeate from the separating step, and, optionally

drying the concentrated peptide/amino acid product from the separating step.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , the method further comprising:

completely or partly recycling the permeate from the concentrating step to the permeate side of the membrane, or optionally back to the agitation step.

17 . A method for producing a protein hydrolysate from a protein-containing raw material, the method comprising:

a) grinding the raw material;

b) adjusting the pH of the ground raw material to a pH>7;

c) expanding the ground raw material and/or adding the enzyme composition obtainable by the method according to claim 1;

d) optionally, periodically or continuously separating a first oil/fat product from the ground raw material;

e) optionally, adjusting the pH and the temperature of the ground raw material to a pH and a temperature that is suitable for initiating the activation of the serine proteases;

f) adding water with similar temperature and pH value to that which is optimal for the hydrolysation process, or adding water and adjusting the temperature and pH value of the resulting mixture to that which is optimal for the hydrolysation process;

g) agitating the raw material for a time period and at a temperature that is sufficient to achieve a protein hydrolysate;

h) optionally, adding a pH-regulating agent to the hydrolysate;

i) separating solid particles and residual proteins from the hydrolysate and optionally recycle said residual proteins back to step h) for further hydrolysis;

j) periodically or continuously separating a second oil/fat product from the hydrolysate;

k) treating the raw material, the ground raw material, the hydrolysate and/or the enzyme composition against the growth of micro organisms;

l) separating the desired molecular weight fraction of peptides/amino acids by way of membrane filtering and optionally recycling those parts of the hydrolysate which do not penetrate the membrane filter back to the step of separating solid particles and residual proteins;

m) concentrating the permeate from step l);

n) optionally, completely or partly recycling the permeate from step m) to the permeate side of the membrane in step l) or back to step h); and

o) optionally, drying the concentrated peptide/amino acid product from step n).

18 . An enzyme composition obtainable by the method of claim 1 .

19 . A method of hydrolysing a protein, the method comprising:

applying the enzyme composition of claim 18 to the protein.

20 . A food supplement comprising the enzyme composition according to claim 18.