Process to improve enzyme hydrolysis and resultant protein flavor and bio-activity of fish offcuts

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of turbine mixing during enzymatic hydrolysis of aquatic protein from species such as fish, aquatic mammals, crustaceans and/or mollusks, to obtain high quality aquatic protein hydrolysates, having very low oxidation, improved organoleptic profile and improved biological activity of interest, for human consumption and cosmetics. The turbine mixing can inhibit oxidation during hydrolysis, contribute to an increase in the bio-activity and decrease the bitter taste of the final product. The process can vary in starting material, pre-treatment, type and amount of enzyme, hydrolysis conditions, time, degree of hydrolysis and post-treatment.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An aquatic protein hydrolysate, obtained by a process comprising:
 a) subjecting an aquatic protein source material, water and at least one enzyme to turbine mixing with an axial flow pattern to enzymatically hydrolyze the aquatic protein source material;   b) stopping the enzymatic hydrolysis by deactivating the at least one enzyme under turbine mixing with the axial flow pattern to obtain a hydrolyzed aquatic peptide fraction and solid material; and   c) separating the hydrolyzed aquatic peptide fraction from the solid material to obtain the aquatic protein hydrolysate.   
     
     
         20 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 19 , wherein the aquatic protein hydrolysate is in a form of a capsule; a dried form; a liquid; a semi-liquid; a suspension; an emulsion; or a syrup. 
     
     
         21 . A method of preparing a composition comprising adding the aquatic protein hydrolysate according to  claim 19  to the composition, wherein the composition is a food product, a food supplement, pet food, animal feed, fish feed, fertilizer, cosmetic product, pharmaceutical preparation, nutraceutical preparation, or medicament. 
     
     
         22 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 19 , wherein the aquatic protein hydrolysate is in a form of powder, flakes, granules, or pellets. 
     
     
         23 . An aquatic protein hydrolysate, obtained by a process comprising:
 enzymatically hydrolyzing an aquatic protein source material by turbine mixing with an axial flow pattern.   
     
     
         24 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 23 , wherein the process further comprises:
 stopping enzymatic hydrolysis under turbine mixing with the axial flow pattern.   
     
     
         25 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 24 , wherein the stopping of the enzymatic hydrolysis produces a hydrolyzed aquatic peptide fraction and solid material, and wherein the process further comprises:
 separating the hydrolyzed aquatic peptide fraction from the solid material to obtain the aquatic protein hydrolysate.   
     
     
         26 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 23 , wherein the aquatic protein source material is enzymatically hydrolysed by at least one protease from bacterial, fungal or marine species. 
     
     
         27 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 23 , wherein the aquatic protein source material is enzymatically hydrolysed by a mixture of endo and exo proteases. 
     
     
         28 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 27 , wherein the aquatic protein source material is enzymatically hydrolysed by a mixture of endo and exo proteases from  Bacillus  strains. 
     
     
         29 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 27 , wherein the aquatic protein source material is enzymatically hydrolysed by a mixture of endo and exo proteases from  Bacillus licheniformis.    
     
     
         30 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one protease is Subtilisin. 
     
     
         31 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 23 , wherein the aquatic protein source material comprises fish material, aquatic mammals, crustaceans, or mollusks, or any combination of the foregoing. 
     
     
         32 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 23 , wherein the aquatic protein source material comprises fish muscle, fish skin, fish viscera, fish bones, fish heads, other fish byproducts, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         33 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 31 , wherein the crustaceans is whole crustaceans, crustacean meat, crustacean shells, crustacean byproducts, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 23 , wherein the process further comprises:
 grinding or mincing the aquatic protein source material in the presence of water to produce ground or minced pulp, and utilizing the ground or minced pulp in the enzymatic hydrolysis.   
     
     
         35 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 34 , wherein the aquatic protein source material has a protein content in water prior to enzymatic hydrolysis in the range of 0.1% to 30% w/v of protein/water;
 wherein enzymatic hydrolysis is performed at a pH in the range of 5 to 9;   wherein enzymatic hydrolysis is performed at a temperature in the range of 30° C. to 80° C. at which the at least one enzyme does not become heat inactivated; and   wherein enzymatic hydrolysis proceeds for a period in the range from about 10 minutes to 1 hour or until the degree of hydrolysis (% DH) has reached a desired value in the range of 2% to 70% DH.   
     
     
         36 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 25 , wherein the process further comprises:
 drying the separated hydrolyzed aquatic peptide fraction.   
     
     
         37 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 24 , wherein the enzymatic hydrolysis is stopped by enzyme deactivation at a temperature not below 60° C., for 5 to 60 minutes, followed by cooling. 
     
     
         38 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 24 , wherein the enzymatic hydrolysis is stopped by enzymatic deactivation at a pH below about 5 or above about 9. 
     
     
         39 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 25 , wherein the hydrolyzed aquatic peptide fraction is separated from the solid material by filtration. 
     
     
         40 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 39 , wherein the filtration is performed using an ultrafiltration membrane. 
     
     
         41 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 40 , wherein the ultrafiltration membrane has a molecular weight cut-off between 1 kDa and 30 kDa. 
     
     
         42 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 25 , wherein the hydrolyzed aquatic peptide fraction is separated from the solid material by centrifugation. 
     
     
         43 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 42 , wherein the centrifugation is performed at a speed between 500 and 10000 G. 
     
     
         44 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 25 , wherein the process further comprises:
 concentrating the separated hydrolyzed aquatic peptide fraction to obtain the aquatic protein hydrolysate.   
     
     
         45 . The aquatic protein hydrolysate of  claim 25 , wherein the process further comprises:
 drying the separated hydrolyzed aquatic peptide fraction to obtain the aquatic protein hydrolysate.