Pilot-scale production of washed cottonseed meal and co-products

Authors: He, Zhongqi; Klasson, K Thomas; WANG, DONGHAI - Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center-Hays; LI, NINGBO - Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center-Hays; ZHANG, HAILIN - Oklahoma State University; Zhang, Dunhua; WEDEGAERTNER, TOM - Cotton, Inc

Submitted to: Modern Applied Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/7/2015
Publication Date: 1/15/2016
Citation: He, Z., Klasson, K.T., Wang, D., Li, N., Zhang, H., Zhang, D., Wedegaertner, T.C. 2016. Pilot-scale production of washed cottonseed meal and co-products. Modern Applied Science. 10(2):25-33.

Interpretive Summary: Water washed cottonseed meal has been shown the potential as a biobased wood adhesive. In this work, we proposed and tested in a pilot scale (10 lb) multiple-step procedure that can be used to produce water washed cottonseed meal and a co-product water soluble cottonseed protein. Alternatively, the procedure can also produce water soluble cottonseed protein, alkali soluble protein and the protein extracted insoluble residue. In this pilot experiment, we used the "real world" mill-produced cottonseed meal as the staring material. We evaluated the operational parameters for production of large quantities of cottonseed meal-based products, and determined the chemical composition of the pilot produced products for quality control and feasibility of future mill scale production of these products. Adaption of this procedure would provide the necessary quantities for exploring the practical utilization of these products in biomaterial industry.

Technical Abstract: Enhanced utilization of defatted cottonseed meal (CSM)-based products as industrial and biobased raw materials would increase the profitability of cotton growers and processors. Especially, water washed cottonseed meal has been shown the potential as a biobased wood adhesive. In this work, we proposed and tested in a pilot scale [10 lb (4.54 kg) of the starting material CSM] multiple-step procedure that can be used to produce water washed cottonseed meal (WCSM) and a co-product water soluble cottonseed protein (CSPw). Alternatively, the procedure can also produce CSPw, alkali soluble protein (CSPa) and the protein extracted insoluble residue (CSIR). Data of chemical analysis indicated that the chemical composition of these products was generally comparable to that of the corresponding laboratory-prepared products. However, the fiber content was higher in the pilot-produced WCSM than in laboratory-produced product mainly due to the higher fiber content in the mill-based starting meal material used in the pilot trial. The protein content in the pilot-produced CSPw was only 64.4% of the solid matter, indicating that additional rinse is needed before drying the HCl-precipitated CSPw fraction. Per the yield and composition data, we concluded that it was feasible to produce the four products WCSM, CSPw, CSPa, and CSIR from CSM in a large scale. Thus, adaption of this procedure would provide the necessary quantities for exploring the practical utilization of these products in biomaterial industry.