Technoeconomic Analysis of Protein Extraction from Ethanol Defatted Cold Press Canola Meal via Dry Fractionation
Date
2024-12-10
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
The food industry has been spurred to supplant animal proteins in food formulations with underutilized plant protein sources and their coproducts due to concerns about sustainability and nutrition security. This research undertakes technoeconomic analysis (TEA) of protein extraction from ethanol defatted cold press canola meal to identify the cost-effective operating scale for the process. Brassica oilseed (canola/rapeseed) is the second most cultivated oilseed worldwide, after soybean. Canola cold-pressed cakes and meals, which are protein-rich co-products from oil extraction, present an exceptional opportunity in the plant protein market. The future growth of the canola sector is contingent upon the extraction of the complete value from each component of the seed. However, the production of pure canola protein with a high extraction yield and reasonable cost is challenging. The chemical, nutritional, and functional quality of the final protein product is also significantly influenced by processing parameters during oil extraction. Considering these factors, the utilization of canola protein in the food industry could be enhanced by establishing a well-defined process for protein enrichment from canola meal that does not involve severe processing.
Furthermore, a comprehensive TEA would be necessary to assess the feasibility and scalability of any new technology, as well as identify parameters that have the potential to substantially influence the overall profitability of the process. The technoeconomic analysis in this research considers a base case of 33,000 tonnes per year of canola seed processing capacity. The research suggests that the protein process is economically feasible at that production scale. However, the range of costs for feedstock and prices for the primary product and co-product, within which the process remains profitable, is quite narrow. A twofold increase in plant capacity represents the range over which a higher positive net present value resulted. Nevertheless, opting for a bigger capacity would necessitate a correspondingly higher market potential to ensure the produced proteins have adequate market uptake to generate revenue.
This study also carried out an industry survey and analysis to determine the degree of acceptance of canola protein products by the food sector and ingredient producers, considering that approximately 95% of canola is genetically modified (GM). The study attempted to analyze the level of acceptance towards plant proteins, specifically focusing on whether the industry would accept canola protein if it possessed the same functional capabilities as the currently available options on the market. Additionally, the survey aimed to identify elements that would be taken into consideration when including canola protein as a functional ingredient in food products. The survey findings indicate that the industry has a satisfactory degree of acceptance of genetically modified canola if its quality and cost are comparable to the alternatives. Almost 40-50% of the industries presented a willingness to consider canola proteins regardless of their GM status. Decreased consumer acceptance is identified as one of the major barriers by most industries to consider the incorporation of GM canola proteins. The survey findings on overall ensure a positive market response towards canola proteins.
Description
Keywords
Technoeconomic Analysis , Canola Proteins , Air Classification , Dry Fractionation
Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Program
Biological Engineering