Proteins from Crambe abyssinica oilseed.: I.: Isolation procedure

Crambe abyssinica is a promising new oil crop because of the specific properties of its oil. However, little information is available concerning the properties of the proteins, which constitute a major component of the seed. Therefore, a method for the isolation of proteins from Crambe seeds was developed. Protein extractability for whole and dehulled Crambe meal was studied as a function of pH. Highest extractability was obtained with dehulled meal at pH 11. Double extraction at this pH increased the extractability to about 66%. Protein precipitation from the above-mentioned extract was studied as a function of pH with and without addition of a precipitating agent, i.e., carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). Addition of CMC resulted in a protein recovery of about 75% at pH 4.4. Without CMC, about half of the protein was recovered by isoelectric precipitation. The remaining soluble protein could be concentrated by ultrafiltration with a recovery of about 65%. The developed process, not including CMC addition, results in two protein fractions, i.e., an isoelectric precipitate (protein content 75%) and a retentate (protein content 87%), which together account for about 50% of the protein present in Crambe meal. Application of heat decreased protein extractability, but the protein contents of the resulting fractions were comparable to those from non-heat-treated meal.