Recovery of protein from potato plant waste effluents by complexation with carboxymethylcellulose

The processing of potato products from fresh potatoes produces waste effluent containing substantial amounts of protein. In this study, the recovery of a protein-hydrocolloid complex from a simulated potato processing plant waste effluent (SPWE), using carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) as the complexing agent, was investigated. The effects of CMC to protein ratio (CPR), pH, temperature and type of CMC with respect to degree of substitution (DS) on complex formation and protein recovery were studied. Optimum results were obtained using CMC DS 0.85-0.95, CPR of 0.05, and pH 1.5-4.0. The temperature of precipitation had little effect in the range of 4-25 degrees C. The recovered complex contained 76.6% protein, 17.6% CMC and formed a bulky precipitate easily separated from the SPWE.