CryoHusking

Development of a cryogenic peeling process as an innovative and sustainable key technology for the use of rapeseed proteins in the human diet

Projektstatus

Laufend

Projektlaufzeit

01.10.2023

- 01.09.2026

Ansprechpartner

Nino Terjung

Ausgangslage

The project is developing and implementing an innovative cryogenic hulling process for rapeseed on a laboratory scale. The goal is to reduce resource consumption and increase process efficiency and sustainability compared to conventional hulling. This is intended to improve the quality of rapeseed oil and nutritionally valuable rapeseed proteins. In addition, process parameters and breeding factors of various rapeseed lines are being investigated in relation to their hulling behavior.

Projektbeschreibung

After the BLE-CryoHusking project began, the first step was to establish analytical foundations for evaluating the quality of husked rapeseed, rapeseed meal, and rapeseed oil. To this end, established methods were adapted to “rapeseed products,” and rapeseed from various lines was examined; which revealed differences in protein, fat, and fiber content. Properties of the expeller cake are also important for evaluating the husking process, particularly the proportion of soluble protein (Protein Dispersibility Index, PDI) as well as its denaturation state and behavior. In 2023, work therefore began on establishing a three-step extraction method for PDI analysis to determine the intact, soluble protein content in seeds and oilseed cake. Next, the cryogenic hulling system will be set up, tested, and optimized at Messer’s pilot plant. At the same time, conventional dehulling trials using rapeseed conditioned in various ways are being prepared at the DIL: drying kinetics were determined, suitable conditioning conditions were established, and a test rig with a roller mill and a zigzag separator was set up.