Preparation of white leaf protein concentrate using a polyanionic flocculant

Juice was extracted from lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L. var. Alta) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. var. Melle). The removal of pigmented material from the juice, by the destabilisation of the colloidally suspended chloroplastic particles, using a number of flocculants in combination with pH adjustment, was studied. Although the addition of calcium and magnesium ions partially precipitated pigmented material, Superfloc A150, a polyanionic polyacrylamide flocculant, was more effective. pH adjustments, both before and after the addition of this flocculant, led to two possible methods for precipitating completely pigmented material, a one‐stage process where one pH adjustment and centrifugation was used, and a two‐stage process where two pH adjustments and centrifugations were made. These processes allowed the recovery of a ‘white ’protein suitable for use in human food formulations.