Du Pont of Canada Limited

Richard W Oughton

John R Boocock

John Roger Brooke

Albert Bell

A process for the treatment of comminuted oats so as to effect separation of the comminuted oats into fractions differing in composition is disclosed. The process comprises admixing comminuted oats, or fractions derived therefrom, with an organic solvent for oat oil and subjecting the admixture, in the form of a slurry, to the influence of centrifugal force in, for example, a centrifuge, including continuous or semi-continuous centrifuges, and/or a hydrocyclone. In an embodiment the oats are oats that have not been subjected to a heat treatment. Examples of suitable solvents are pentane, hexane, heptane, cyclohexane and alcohols of 1-4 carbon atoms. The products obtainable include bran, oat oil, flour and protein-enriched or protein deficient flours. In particular embodiments flours having greater than 80% or less than 5% protein are obtainable. The products have a variety of uses in the food industry.

Process for the treatment of comminuted oats

A process for the separation of substantially gum-free flour from oats is disclosed. The process comprises admixing comminuted oats with a solvent for oil in the oats and separating substantially gum-free flour from the admixture. In an embodiment the admixture of oats and solvent is separated into two fractions, one being substantially gum-free flour and the other being a bran fraction. Oat oil is recoverable from the solvent. Examples of suitable solvents are pentane, hexane, heptane, cyclohexane and alcohol of 1-4 carbon atoms. The products have a variety of uses in the food industry.

A process for the separation of a comminuted oat fraction from an admixture thereof with solvent is disclosed. An admixture of the fraction and the solvent is subjected to a high voltage electric field between an anode and a cathode, thereby depositing at least part of the comminuted oat fraction on at least the anode. The solvent is either an aliphatic hydrocarbon containing from 5 to 8 carbon atoms or a normally liquid chlorofluorocarbon containing 1 or 2 carbon atoms. In a preferred embodiment the fraction is a fraction of high protein content and the deposit is only on the anode. In another embodiment the fraction is in the form of a dispersion, e.g. fines, in the solvent.

Treatment of comminuted oats under the influence of an electric field

A process for the separation of comminuted proteinaceous material from an admixture thereof with solvent is disclosed. An admixture of the material and the solvent is subjected to a high voltage electric field between an anode and a cathode, thereby depositing at least part of the material on at least the anode. The solvent is an aliphatic hydrocarbon containing from 5 to 8 carbon atoms or a normally liquid chlorofluorocarbon containing 1 or 2 carbon atoms. The proteinaceous material may be wheat, rye, barley, triticale, rice, peas, beans, soya beans, sesame seeds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, whey powder, corn, rapeseed, sorghum, flax and buckwheat. In an embodiment the fraction is in the form of a dispersion, e.g. fines, in the solvent.

Treatment of comminuted proteinaceous material under the influence of an

A process for the treatment of comminuted proteinaceous materials so as to effect separation of the comminuted proteinaceous materials into fractions differing in composition is disclosed. The process comprises admixing comminuted proteinaceous materials, or fractions derived therefrom, with an organic solvent for any oil in the proteinaceous material and separating the proteinaceous material in the admixture into fractions differing in, in particular, protein content. The separation may be effected by for example subjecting the admixture, in the form of a slurry, to the influence of centrifugal force. In embodiments, a centrifuge and/or a hydrocyclone may be used. The proteinaceous materials are selected from wheat, rye, barley, triticale, peas, beans and buckwheat. Examples of suitable solvents are pentane, hexane, heptane, cyclohexane and alcohols of 1-4 carbon atoms. A variety of products are obtainable, including protein-enriched and protein-deficient endosperm fractions. The products have a variety of uses in the food industry.

Process for the treatment of comminuted proteinaceous material

A process for the extraction of food values from oats is disclosed. Acid-soluble protein may be obtained by de-oiling comminuted groats, treating the de-oiled groats with an aqueous solution of pH 9.5-11.5, acidifying the alkaline solution after separation of insoluble material to a pH of 1.8-3.2, preferably 2.2-2.8, and separating acid-soluble protein from the acidified solution after separation of insoluble material. Each step in the process is controlled so as to minimize denaturing of acid-soluble protein. Techniques for separation of acid-soluble protein from the acidified solution are disclosed. The separation of other protein products, bran, flour and gum is also disclosed. The use of protein products as emulsifying agents is disclosed.

Extraction of protein food values from oats

A process for the extraction of oil from oats is disclosed. The process comprises extracting oil from comminuted oats with 2-propanol and separating the resultant 2-propanol solution from the de-oiled oats. Oat oil is recoverable from the 2-propanol solution. The 2-propanol may be in the form of an azeotropic mixture of 2-propanol and water. In a preferred embodiment the 2-propanol contains a minor amount e.g. 0.1- 1.0%, of hydrogen peroxide. The process is capable of producing a clear, lightly colored oil from oats. The oil is believed useful as a vegetable oil.

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Odessa, Canada

Richard W Oughton