Process and Product

This electro-acidification process separates proteins by precipitation and concentrates them without causing denaturation. The energy efficiency of this process depends on the number and type of bipolar membranes used, the protein and salt concentrations of the protein solution, temperature and flux. In addition, bipolar membrane electrodialysis is a clean technology that does not require the addition of a base or an acid, and permits re-use of the effluents that are generated. The process was tested on soy proteins using a cell with an electrode surface area of 100 cm2.

Market

Protein isolates obtained through this process find several applications in the human and animal food, and pharmaceutical industries.

Intellectual property rights are co-owned by Hydro-Québec and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).

This technology has been developed to laboratory scale.

Business Opportunity Available

AAFC is seeking industrial partners to collaborate on scaling up the process to a cell with an effective electrode surface area of 300 cm2 or larger, and to exploit the results.