Protein production

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I claim: 1.
A process for the recovery of edible ossein protein from animal bone comprising the following steps: (a) crushing fresh bone to particles of 7 mm or less.
(b) defatting the bone particles to reduce the fat content thereof to not more than 5% on a dry weight basis, (c) mixing the defatted bone particles in dilute hydrochloric acid, which has already contacted bone particles, in a first treatment vessel to form a mixture of bone particles freely suspended in acid, (d) passing the bone particles in counterflow to dilute hydrochloric acid through a series of treatment vessels, containing said dilute hydrochloric acid in which the particles are maintained in suspension by agitation thereof, by separating bone particles from the acid in passage thereof between treatment vessels and passing the separated bone particles and acid to different vessels, (e) during step (d) supplying fresh acid in a strength of 6% to 8% by weight to a treatment vessel other than the first treatment vessel, (f) controlling the temperature of the mixture in the treatment vessels to a maximum of 25.
degree.
C.
, (g) continuing the process steps (d) through (f) so that in a few hours the bone particles are substantially demineralised, and (h) separating and washing said demineralised bone particles to recover the edible ossein protein solid product.




Description:
This invention relates to the recovery of protein and other useful products from animal bone by demineralisation with acid.
In such processes as known, broken and degreased bone is held in a mass in a vat during acid treatment at a temperature not exceeding 15.
degree.
C.
, the acid at strongest being 6% by weight HCl.
To effect substantial demineralisation, this treatment is continued for a period lasting from a few days up to four weeks.
Not only are the known processes laborious but also the ossein product is suitable only for animal feedstuff, or for further processing for gelatin production.
The invention provides a process and apparatus whereby both a substantial reduction in treatment time can be achieved and the ossein product is suitable for human consumption