GB671409A - Improvements in or relating to the treatment of proteins - Google Patents

Abstract

A modified protein is prepared by subjecting an aqueous sludge or suspension of a seed globulin to treatment with a cationic or anionic surface active agent, which is substantially resistant to hydrolysis in an amount insufficient to solubilize the protein, before subjecting the sludge or suspension to a rapid drying step, e.g. spray drying. The seed globulin may be an unmodified or native protein in which case treatment with the surface active agent effects a modification of the protein or the seed globulin may be previously modified by heating, treatment with acid or alkali, or by dissolving the protein in various organic compounds, e.g. urea, pyrogallic acid, guanidine hydrochloride or a synthetic detergent. In the case of a ground nut protein about 0.1 per cent by weight of surface active agent gives satisfactory results. The resulting spray-dried ground nut protein forms a useful paper coating composition when mixed with china clay, calcium sulphate or barium sulphate. The products are also useful in the production of an oil-bound water paint. In the examples (a) a ground nut meal from which the bulk of oil has been removed is treated with caustic soda and then with hydrochloric acid and the resulting sludge is treated with sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate before being spray dried; (b) a soya bean meal is similarly treated with cetyl pyridinium bromide and then spray dried.