PLANT BASED PROTEIN EXTRACTION METHOD AND SYSTEM

1 . A method for generating a protein concentrate, the method comprising:

generating an initial alkalized slurry by combining flour, water and a base;

generating a solubilized rich protein stream by separating the initial alkalized slurry;

generating a de-oiled solubilized rich protein stream by separating the solubilized protein rich stream;

generating a protein precipitate including an acid curd by mixing the de-oiled solubilized rich protein stream with an acid and separating the acid curd from the protein precipitate;

washing the first protein curd using a wash station to generate a second protein curd;

generating a neutral hydrolyzed protein slurry by mixing the second protein curd with a base and water;

generating a homogenized protein slurry from the protein slurry;

generating a cooled protein slurry by pasteurizing the homogenized protein slurry; and

extracting the protein concentrate from the cooled protein slurry.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

separating the solubilized rich protein stream and a starch precipitate from the initial alkalized slurry

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the separation of the initial alkalized slurry is performed using a decanter centrifuge.

4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

using a low-sheer pump to transport at least one of: the initial alkalized slurry and the solubilized protein rich stream.

5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

separating the solubilized protein rich stream using a disk-stack centrifuge; and

removing a cream fraction from the solubilized protein rich stream.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein precipitate includes the acid curd and a serum, the method further comprising:

separating the serum from the protein precipitate using a low-shear pump and a decanter centrifuge; and

extracting the serum protein.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the washing the first protein curd further comprises:

hydrating the first protein curd in a wash mixer to generate a washed protein slurry; and

separating moisture from the washed protein slurry to generate the second protein curd.

8 . The method of claim 7 further comprising:

passing the first protein curd through multiple washing operations prior to outputting the second protein curd.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixing the second protein curd with a base and water further includes mixing a protease solution.

10 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

using a high pressure homogenizer to generate the homogenized protein slurry.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein extracting the protein concentrate from the cooled protein slurry further comprises:

drying the cooled protein slurry.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the flour includes chickpea flour.

13 . A system for generating a protein concentrate comprising:

a first mixer generating an initial alkalized slurry by combining flour, water and a base;

a first separator generating a solubilized rich protein stream by separating the initial alkalized slurry;

a second separator generating a de-oiled solubilized rich protein stream by separating the solubilized protein rich stream;

a second mixer generating a protein precipitate including an acid curd by mixing the de-oiled solubilized rich protein stream with an acid;

a third separator separating the acid curd from the protein precipitate;

a washing station operative to wash the first protein curd and generate a second protein curd;

a third mixer generating a neutral hydrolyzed protein slurry by mixing the second protein curd with a base and water;

a homogenizer generating a homogenized protein slurry by homogenizing the protein slurry;

a pasteurizer generating a cooled protein slurry by pasteurizing the homogenized protein slurry; and

an extractor for extracting the protein concentrate from the cooled protein slurry.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first separator separates a starch precipitate from the initial alkalized slurry

15 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first separator is a decanter centrifuge.

16 . The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a low-sheer pump operative to transport at least one of: the initial alkalized slurry and the solubilized protein rich stream.

17 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the second separator is a disk-stack centrifuge operative to remove a cream fraction from the solubilized protein rich stream.

18 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the protein precipitate includes the acid curd and a serum, the apparatus further comprising:

the third separator is a decanter centrifuge using a low-shear pump, the third separator separating the serum protein.

19 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the washing station comprises:

a wash mixer to generate a washed protein slurry; and

a wash separator for separating moisture from the washed protein slurry to generate the second protein curd.

20 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the mixing the second protein curd with a base and water further includes mixing a protease solution.

21 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the homogenizer is a high pressure homogenizer.

22 . The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a drier for drying the cooled protein slurry and extracting the protein concentrate therefrom.

23 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the flour includes chickpea flour.

24 . A chickpea concentrate made by a process comprising:

generating an initial alkalized slurry by combining flour, water and a base;

generating a solubilized rich protein stream by separating the initial alkalized slurry;

generating a de-oiled solubilized rich protein stream by separating the solubilized protein rich stream;

generating a protein precipitate including an acid curd by mixing the de-oiled solubilized rich protein stream with an acid and separating the acid curd from the protein precipitate;

washing the first protein curd using a wash station to generate a second protein curd;

generating a neutral hydrolyzed protein slurry by mixing the second protein curd with a base and water;

generating a homogenized protein slurry from the protein slurry;

generating a cooled protein slurry by pasteurizing the homogenized protein slurry; and

extracting the protein concentrate from the cooled protein slurry.