Protein Isolation from Tomato Seed Meal, Extraction Optimization

Water extraction of tomato seed meal proteins was studied to find optimal conditions for protein extraction and isolation. A central composite design including temperature, pH, time and water/solids was used and second order models were employed. Optimum conditions were: 50°C, pH 11.5, 20 min and water/solids = 30/1 (v/w). Experimental values were: extraction yield (extracted protein to that in raw material) 66.1%, protein content of product 72.0%, and total protein yield (protein in isolated product to that in raw material) 43.6%. Estimated values were in good agreement with experimental values. Optimum conditions were confirmed by a larger scale experiment.