GB620011A - Process for the production of zein and solutions thereof and zein-containing prolamines - Google Patents

Abstract

Maize gluten or like starch-containing prolamine is treated to render most or all of the starch content water-soluble, and the said starch content extracted with an aqueous medium. Zein may then be extracted from the prolamine residue with an aqueous alcoholic medium. Gluten meal may be treated in aqueous suspension with a hydrolysing agent such as hydrochloric acid or an enzyme preparation, e.g. malted barley extract. The protein residue is dried and extracted with aqueous alcohol to give a zein solution which may be treated with decolorizing carbon, filtered, and concentrated. The initial meal, the protein residue or the zein solution is freed from oil by extraction with a solvent such as toluene or separation of zein and removal of oil may be effected simultaneously using water, alcohol, and an oil solvent. Stable solutions are obtained. Salts or reagents improving stability such as formaldehyde may be incorporated. In examples, maize gluten is heated in suspension in water containing hydrochloric acid or sulphur dioxide for 3 hrs. at 100 DEG C. or for 50 mins. at 30 lbs. pressure, or with malt barley extract for 2 days at 74 DEG C., the product filtered, and the residue washed, dried, ground, extracted with toluene, dried, and extracted with methylated spirit at 60 DEG C.