The use of solvents to decolorise leaf protein concentrate

This study concerns the effectiveness of various solvents and solvent mixtures in removing pigments from the moist curd leaf protein concentrate prepared from lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), and at the same time produce a hot air‐dried product which was neither black nor had a hard texture. Sixteen solvent systems representing polar, non‐polar and mixed (1:1 v/v), as well as the usual lipid solvents 2:1 v/v chloroform:methanol and 3:1 v/v ethanol : diethyl ether were evaluated. Acetone, ethanol, propan‐2‐ol and butan‐1‐ol were found to be most effective. In further tests to optimise the conditions of use, propan‐2‐ol and butan‐1‐ol emerged as the most promising solvents for large‐scale extraction. This was concluded from their ability to remove the pigment from leaf protein concentrates (LPC) in extractions at room temperature and using recycled solvent.