Extraction of cricket protein using nonthermal technologies

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  • Presentation type: Pôster
  • Track: Process Engineering and Emerging Technologies (ET)
  • Keywords: Ultrasound; high pressure; Pulsed Electric Fields;
  • 1 Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Rondônia
  • 2 Universidade Estadual de Campinas
  • 3 Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bio-economy

Extraction of cricket protein using nonthermal technologies

Antonio Rocha Bisconsin-Junior

Federal Institute of Rondônia

Abstract

Edible insects are receiving global attention as an alternative protein food source. However, their protein extraction is time and chemical consuming, besides insects from Orthoptera order have shown low extraction yields. To overcome this issue, nonthermal technologies were used on cricket (Gryllus assimilis) to produce protein concentrates. Initially, in mild alkaline conditions, extractions assisted by ultrasound (US), pulsed electric fields (PEF), and high pressure (HP) were optimized. Then, the extraction time, chemicals, and yield, as well as the protein concentrate composition and color were determined and compared to a control alkaline extraction (Control). The optimal processing conditions, which resulted in the highest protein solubility, were: 200 W, pulse mode 30 s on/off, during 14 min for US; 2.2 kV/cm, 800 pulses of 18 µs for PEF; and 200 MPa, 9 min for HP. US was the most effective to increase the protein solubility (maximum of 51%), while PEF increased up to 14% and HP had a peak of 18%. However, US required a longer treatment time (14 min) than HP (9 min) and PEF (14 ms; 800 pulses of 18 µs). The Control consumed twice the chemicals used for the nonthermal assisted extractions. US and Control concentrates showed similar protein extraction levels (64% of total cricket protein), PEF had the lowest yield (50%) while HP got intermediate values (54%). For the protein concentrate compositions, HP presented the highest protein content (62%) and US, the lowest (55%). Possibly, US treatment favored the solubility of other compounds in addition to protein. Also, US concentrate had the highest total color difference from Control (ΔE = 5), exhibiting a brown color with more lightness than the other concentrates. Thus, US was the most effective nonthermal technology for assisting cricket protein extraction.

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