Hydrolysis and large scale ultrafiltration study of alfalfa protein concentrate enzymatic hydrolysate

Batch enzymatic hydrolysis of insoluble Alfalfa Protein Concentrate by Delvolase was carried out at laboratory and at pilot-plant scale coupled to an ultrafiltration reactor with a mineral tubular membrane. Parametric studies were carried out on the batch system to determine the biochemical and hydrodynamical optimum conditions. The hydrolysis conditions selected were 40°C, pH 9.5, initial substrate level 3 g protein/100 g and the enzyme substrate ratio 152 U/g protein. After 5 h of hydrolysis, 96% of the total amount of initial nitrogen was solubilized. The ultrafiltration conditions selected were a 10 000 Nominal Molecular Weight Cut-Off, a transmembrane pressure of 1.5 bar, a flux velocity of 0.8 m/s. Fifty percent of the initial nitrogen appeared in the permeate.