Separating crustacean polar phospholipid compositions without emulsification

Abstract

Fluorine being present in the exoskeleton of crustaceans, and especially krill represents a problem for using krill as a source for food, feed, food additives and/or feed additives. There has been developed a process for removing such fluorine from krill material by subjecting the krill to disintegration and to an enzymatic hydrolysis process prior to or simultaneously with a removal of the exoskeleton particles producing a fluorine-reduced product. Inherent in the disclosed process is the ability to process krill material with a high polar lipid content for producing superior quality, low fluorine, products suitable for the food and feed as well as the pharmaceutical, neutraceutical and cosmetic industry.

Claims

1. A method for preventing emulsification, comprising: a) providing; i) a proteinaceous crustacean material comprising polar phospholipids; ii) a horizontal decanter centrifuge comprising an extended separation path, an inlet and an outlet; b) feeding said proteinaceous crustacean material into said centrifuge; and c) separating said proteinaceous crustacean material into a plurality of fractions at a force ranging between 5,000-10,000g without said horizontal decanter centrifuge creating an emulsion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said inlet and said outlet are at opposite ends of said centrifuge.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said feeding is performed at said inlet.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of collecting said plurality of fractions from said outlet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of fractions are layered within said centrifuge during said separating.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of fractions comprises a phospholipid-protein complex fraction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of fractions comprises a lean hydrolysate fraction comprising protein.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of fractions comprises a neutral lipid fraction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said proteinaceous crustacean material is a low fluoride krill material as compared to conventional krill meal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said proteinaceous crustacean material comprises an enzymatically hydrolyzed proteinaceous krill material.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said separating substantially removes a carapace of said proteinaceous crustacean material.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said proteinaceous crustacean material is a proteinaceous krill material.

Description

EXAMPLE

(1) A fraction of 500 kg from a 10 ton catch of Antarctic krill was immediately (maximally 20 minutes after catch) shredded through a knife cutter into pieces of a particle size of 3-6 mm at a temperature of 1-2 C., and immediately thereafter added 500 liters fresh water and alkalase in an amount of 0.2% (w/w) of the krill wet weight and then heated to a temperature of 55-60 C.

(2) The enzyme was allowed to function for 45 minutes at said temperature. The material was thereafter fed to a decanter operated at the following conditions: Temperature: 90 C., gravity force at 1400 g and with a feed rate of 1.2 ton krill/water/enzyme suspension per hour causing a separation of the fluorine-containing fine particles and a liquid proteinaceous fraction exiting the decanter. The material was then heated to a temperature of 93 C. in order to terminate the enzymatic hydrolysis and denaturing/agglomerating the insoluble protein together with polar lipids for following separation. The liquid proteinaceous fraction was immediately thereafter transferred to a separation step by a specially designed decanter (sedicanter) mentioned supra, separating the solid phase containing insoluble proteins and polar lipids concentrate (PPC) from the hydrolysate.

(3) The PPC are thereafter mixed with a food-grade anti-caking agent, dried in a thin film vacuum drier and packed in air tight bags under nitrogen atmosphere. The aqueous soluble protein (hydrolysate) and neutral lipid phase are feed to a separator separating the neutral lipid phase from the hydrolysate. The oil is stored in air tight containers under nitrogen atmosphere.

(4) The hydrolysate are continuously feed into a flash evaporator for dewatering/concentration giving a concentrated hydrolysate fraction (CHF) with dry weight of 55-70% and stored in air tight containers under nitrogen atmosphere.

(5) A typical mass balance for processing of raw lean Antarctic krill is shown in table I below:

(6) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I Mass balance for processing of raw lean Antarctic krill. From 500 kg Dry weight Fraction raw krill in fraction PPC (Phospholipids/Peptide 80 kg 28% Complex) Dried PPC (with anti-caking 25 kg 97% agent) Hydrolysate 770 kg 6.1% CHF (Concentrated 78 kg 60% Hydrolysate Fraction) Fluorine-containing fine 45 kg 40% particles (shell and carapace fragments) Neutrals oils <5 kg 100%

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(7) FIG. 1. A specially designed decanter with an extended separation path. This example is a FLOTTWEG SEDICANTER horizontal decanter centrifuge.