Selective gossypol abatement process from oil extraction of cottonseed

摘要

A method for the treatment of plant material to provide a protein-rich product and oil relatively free of gossypol. The process includes the steps of:PPa. contacting plant material with an aqueous monohydric alcohol solvent to extract oil and gossypol from the plant material and form a miscella fraction including the solvent, oil and gossypol, and a plant material fraction having gossypol removed therefrom; PPb. separating the solvent from the oil and gossypol in the miscella, preferably by membrane separation under pressure in a membrane separation unit, to form a first (retentate) fraction comprising the oil and gossypol, and a second (permeate) fraction comprising the solvent; andPPc. contacting the first fraction with an adsorbent effective to separate the gossypol from the oil therein. PPThe plant material and oil remaining after the process are relatively free of gossypol and may be recovered for subsequent use. The plant material is especially valuable as a protein-rich food product or feed.