Preparation of white leaf protein concentrate using a polyanionic flocculant

Juice was extracted from lucerne ( Medicago sativa L.), tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea L. var. Alta) and perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L. var. Melle). The removal of pigmented material from the juice, by the destabilisation of the colloidally suspended chloroplastic particles, using a number of flocculants in combination with pH adjustment, was studied. Although the addition of calcium and magnesium ions partially precipitated pigmented material, Superfloc A150, a polyanionic polyacrylamide flocculant, was more effective. pH adjustments, both before and after the addition of this flocculant, led to two possible methods for precipitating completely pigmented material, a one‐stage process where one pH adjustment and centrifugation was used, and a two‐stage process where two pH adjustments and centrifugations were made. These processes allowed the recovery of a ‘white ’protein suitable for use in human food formulations.