Location: Soybean and Nitrogen Fixation Research
Project Number: 6070-21220-070-085-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 30, 2026
End Date: Apr 4, 2029
Objective:
The goal of this research is to use air classification to fractionate soy meal into protein rich and protein depleted components. Meal defatted with hexanes and meal defatted using pressure will be evaluated and compared. The alternative protein market targets consumers that will be dissatisfied with chemical extraction of oil from soy so we are trying to evaluate soy defatted with pressure. Parameters of air fractions like milling and air speed will be optimized to recover a protein rich fraction comparable to soy protein products like soy concentrates that are currently used in the alternative protein industry for meat substitutes. Generally, products already on the market are between 60% and 90% protein. All fractions will be returned to the cooperator providing the funds. Cooperator will evaluate the protein rich fractions for functional properties comparing the air classified fractions with a comparable product currently on the market. Additionally, the composition of all fractions will be evaluated to determine if they have value to other industries. For example, can protein depleted fractions be used as a component in animal feed.
Approach:
The ARS cooperator will provide full fat soybeans for defatting using pressure, and provide defatted meal from a local mill to the North Carolina Food Innovative Lab. Defatted meal will only be subject to air classification if the oil content is below 10%. The cooperator will optimize parameters of air classification like milling and air speed to optimize protein content in one fraction. Both collaborators will explore iterative approached to enrich protein content by taking protein fraction from the first run and optimizing again in a second attempt at optimization. The goal is to generate fractions between 60%-90% protein which are comparable to protein concentrated currently on the market. The ARS cooperator will compare the functionality of the air classified fractions(s) with those currently available on the market. Functionalities evaluated will include, protein content, protein composition, water holding capacity and oil holding capacity though others tests may be performed. The ARS cooperator will also evaluate nutritional composition of protein depleted fractions to identify potential uses to avoid generating waste.