Optimization of enzymatically extracted rice protein in extrusion encapsulation

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Extrusion processing has been traditionally used to prepare diversified products like instant cereals, structured snacks, extruded vegetable proteins (meat simulators), enhanced value food products and more recently for encapsulation purposes. Generally, the technology is either a starch, or protein or their combinations. In general, most commercial extrusion processes involve high temperature cooking with continuous high pressure shearing, compression and decompression application and resembles a complex reaction chamber. In encapsulation extrusion processes, the technique is generally used to embed an active component within a structure forming matrix. The objective of this project is to investigate extrusion operational parameters in order to achieve a plasticization of enzymatically extracted rice protein during low temperature extrusion encapsulation of high value, sensitive bio-molecules. The research partner, a Quebec based ingredient encapsulating company, is experiencing problems with encapsulating high value and heat sensitive bio-molecules in rice protein matrix. While they have found some success with alkali extracted rice protein, the more commonly used and less invasive protein extracted using enzyme aided extraction processes is posing difficulties. It is hypothesized that the extrusion processing conditions employed is failing to plasticize the proteins and other conditions might yield satisfactory results. While they have manufacturing scale extrusion equipment, they lack the time, expertise and resources to explore the concept. The applicant's team at McGill has carried out extensive studies on extrusion processing and has the necessary infrastructure to carryout such work. The experimental plan is to use a response surface design with operational variables and carryout optimization toward obtaining the right encapsulation.The results are expected to be useful for diversifying the product line and to be competitive in the market place. It also paves way for manpower training and generate new data for a better understanding of the process.