Resumo

VAZQUEZ-VILLEGAS, P. et al. Production and optimization of a chlorophyl-free leaf protein concentrate from alfalfa (Medicago sativa) through aqueous two-phase system. Rev. Mex. Ing. Quím [online]. 2015, vol.14, n.2, pp.383-392. ISSN 1665-2738.

There is a growing interest in producing protein from green crops, being alfalfa (Medicago sativa) one of the more studied models. In this work we develop an aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) process to obtain a chlorophyl-free leaf protein concentrate. A two-level factorial experimental design in order to study five factors that interferes with recovery of total protein in ATPS is performed, employing two model proteins (BSA and Lyz). The factors of polymer concentration and total protein concentration were statistically significative. From here, we applied steepest descent and central composite design (CCD) methods in order to optimize chlorophyl-free, total protein recovery from alfalfa (Medicago sativa) green tissue. An extraction of more than 809% of total protein was reached for bottom phase LPC and 51% of protein in powder from the lyophilized LPC.

Palavras-chave : alfalfa; aqueous two-phase system (ATPS); central composite design; leaf protein concentrate.