Dry fractionation for plant based protein extraction

1. A method for generating a protein concentrate product from a plant-based flour, the method comprising:

milling the plant-based flour to generate milled flour;

generating a first protein concentrate from the milled flour using a first air classifier;

generating a first starch concentrate from the air classifier;

recycling the first starch concentrate back to the first air classifier;

processing the first protein concentrate to generate a protein rich curd;

generating a neutral hydrolyzed protein slurry by mixing the protein rich curd with a base, an enzymatic cocktail and water;

generating a homogenized protein slurry from the neutral hydrolyzed protein slurry;

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

extracting the protein concentrate product from the cooled protein slurry.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a second protein concentrate using the first starch concentrate with a second air classifier; and

generating the protein rich curd using the second protein concentrate.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

generating a second starch concentrate using the second air classifier.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the milling the plant-based flour is performed using a jet mill.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the protein rich curd comprises:

mixing the first protein concentrate with water to generate a protein concentrate mixture;

separating the protein concentrate mixture to extract the protein rich curd therefrom.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

additionally mixing the protein concentrate mixture with an enzyme mixture and an acid; and

separating sugar and water from the protein concentrate mixture.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

additionally mixing the protein concentrate mixture with a base;

separating the protein concentrate mixture having the base therein, to extract a solubilized protein rich stream;

mixing the solubilized protein rich stream with an acid; and

extracting the protein curd from the solubilized protein rich stream having the acid mixed therewith.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

additionally mixing the protein concentrate with a first acid;

separating the protein concentrate mixture having the acid therein, to extract an intermediate protein rich curd;

mixing the intermediate protein rich curd with a second acid; and

extracting the protein rich curd from the intermediate protein rich curd having the acid mixed therewith.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plant-based flour is de-oiled prior to milling.

10. A system for generating a protein concentrate product from a plant-based flour, the system comprising:

a mill generating milled flour from the plant-based flour;

a first air classifier generating a first protein concentrate and a first starch concentrate from the milled flour, the first starch concentrate being recycled as an input to the first air classifier;

a processor generating a protein rich curd from the first protein concentrate;

a mixer generating a neutral hydrolyzed protein slurry from the protein curd, a base, an enzymatic cocktail and water;

a homogenizer generating a homogenized protein slurry from the neutral hydrolyzed protein slurry;

a pasteurizer generating a cooled protein slurry from the homogenized protein slurry; and

an extraction device for extracting the protein concentrate from the cooled protein slurry.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

a second air classifier generating a second protein concentrate using the first starch concentrate; and

the processor generating the protein rich curd using the second protein concentrate.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the mill is a jet mill.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor further comprises:

a first mixer to mix the first protein concentrate with water to generate a protein concentrate mixture; and

a first separator to separate the protein concentrate mixture and extract the protein rich curd therefrom.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

the first mixer further mixing the protein concentrate mixture with an enzyme mixture and an acid; and

the first separator separating sugar and water from the protein concentrate mixture.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

the first mixer further mixing the protein concentrate mixture with a base;

the first separator separating the protein concentrate mixture having the base therein, to extract a solubilized protein rich stream;

a second mixer mixing the solubilized protein rich stream with an acid; and

a second separator extracting the protein curd from the solubilized protein rich stream having the acid mixed therewith.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

the first mixer further mixing the protein concentrate with a first acid;

the first separator separating the protein concentrate mixture having the acid therein, to extract an intermediate protein rich curd;

a second mixer mixing the intermediate protein rich curd with a second acid; and

a second extractor extracting the protein rich curd from the intermediate protein rich curd having the acid mixed therewith.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the plant-based flour is de-oiled prior to milling.

18. A method for generating a protein concentrate product from a plant-based flour, the method comprising:

decorticating a plant-based source material, the source material having a protein and an oil content therein;

creating a flour from the source material having the cortex removed therefrom;

removing at least a portion of the oil content from the flour by generating an ethanol mixture by mixing the flour with ethanol;

extracting a de-oiled flour from the ethanol mixture;

milling the de-oiled flour to generate milled flour;

generating a first protein concentrate from the milled flour using a first air classifier;

processing the first protein concentrate to generate a protein rich curd;

generating a neutral hydrolyzed protein slurry by mixing the protein rich curd with a base, an enzymatic cocktail and water;

generating a homogenized protein slurry from the neutral hydrolyzed protein slurry;

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

extracting the protein concentrate product from the cooled protein slurry.

19. A system for generating a protein concentrate product from a plant-based flour, the system comprising:

a decortication device removing cortex from plant-based source material, the source material having a protein and an oil content therein;

a milling device milling the source material having the cortex removed therefrom to create a flour;

an oil removal device removing at least a portion of the oil content from the flour by mixing the flour with ethanol to form an ethanol mixture and extracting a de-oiled flour

a mill generating milled flour from the flour;

a first air classifier generating a first protein concentrate from the milled flour;

a processor generating a protein rich curd from the first protein concentrate;

a mixer generating a neutral hydrolyzed protein slurry from the protein rich curd, a base, an enzymatic cocktail and water;

a homogenizer generating a homogenized protein slurry from the neutral hydrolyzed protein slurry;

a pasteurizer generating a cooled protein slurry from the homogenized protein slurry; and

an extraction device for extracting the protein concentrate from the cooled protein slurry.