Increase of protein extraction yield from rapeseed meal through a pretreatment with phytase

BACKGROUND: Rapeseed meal is a good source of high-quality vegetal protein but contains antinutritional compounds that limit its use for human and animal feed. The aim of this study was to develop a methodology to enhance alkaline protein extraction of rapeseed meal and to produce protein-rich products with low levels of phytic acid. Different phytase dosages and operating conditions were used for rapeseed meal pretreatment followed by alkaline extraction at different temperatures, time, pH and solid/liquid ratios (S/L). RESULTS: water. The extraction yields were higher than those previously obtained without enzymatic pretreatment. Moreover, after the pretreatment, the amount of phytic acid in the remaining rapeseed meal decreases about 25%.