Methods of Separating Fat From Non-Soy Plant Materials and Compositions Produced Therefrom

Abstract

Disclosed are methods for separating non-soy plant materials to produce a fat-enriched fraction, a reduced-fat plant extract, reduced-fat plant protein compositions, a crude oil, plant gums, a degummed oil and a protein-fat sediment. Also disclosed are food products containing or prepared from the reduced-fat extracts, fat-enriched fraction, gums, oils, protein-fat sediments and reduced-fat protein compositions.

1 . A method of processing a non-soy plant material, comprising:
 a) aqueously extracting the non-soy plant material to produce first extract; and   b) centrifugally separating the first extract at a temperature between about 120° F. and 180° F. produce a fat-enriched fraction and a reduced-fat plant extract having a protein to fat ratio of at least 2:1.   
     
     
         2 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous extraction is performed using an aqueous solution having an ionic strength of about 0.10 N or less. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the aqueous solution is substantially free of demulsifiers. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first extract has a pH in the range of about 6.0 to about 10.5. 
     
     
         8 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first extract is prepared by extracting at a temperature in the range of about 32° F. to about 200° F. 
     
     
         11 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-soy plant material is a substantially full fat material or a partially defatted plant material. 
     
     
         14 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-soy plant material is milled prior to aqueous extraction. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-soy plant material is selected from the group consisting of canola (rapeseed), castor bean, cottonseed, flaxseed, palm kernel, linseed, candlenut, sesame seed, peanut, coconut, corn, corn germ, sunflower, safflower, oats, chia, kukui, pumpkin, walnut, grape, primrose, rice bran, almond, olive, avocado, beech, brazil, pecan, pistachio, hickory, filbert, macadamia, cashew, neem, hemp, lupin, coffee, poppy, red pepper, mustard seed, wheat and wheat germ. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first extract comprises fat capable of being centrifugally separated from the extract without requiring the addition of demulsifiers. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the reduced-fat extract has a protein to fat ratio of at least about 4 to 1. 
     
     
         24 - 58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the aqueous solution has an ionic strength of about 0.05 N or less. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the aqueous solution has an ionic strength of about 0.02 N or less. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the non-soy plant material is milled using a hammer mill, roller mill or screw-type mill. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the reduced-fat plant extract has a protein to fat ratio of at least 2:1. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the non-soy plant material is milled prior to aqueous extraction. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the non-soy plant material is milled using a hammer mill, roller mill or screw-type mill. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the first extract is centrifugally separated without chilling. 
     
     
         66 . A method of processing a non-soy plant material, comprising:
 a) aqueously extracting the non-soy plant material at a temperature between about 80° F. and 200° F. to produce a first extract; and   b) centrifugally separating the first extract without chilling to produce a fat-enriched fraction and a reduced-fat plant extract having a protein to fat ratio of at least 2:1.   
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the non-soy plant material is milled prior to aqueous extraction. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the aqueous extraction comprises adding an aqueous solution having an ionic strength of about 0.05 N or less to the non-soy plant material.