Effect of alternative processes on the yield and physicochemical characterization of protein concentrates from Amaranthus cruentus

Three different processes for the preparation of amaranth protein concentrates (APCs) were investigated with respect to the yield and physicochemical characteristics. The first was the conventional process for isolating protein (standard process), the second included an acid washing step prior to protein extraction (acid washing process) and the third included heating (50 °C) during the alkaline extraction step (thermal process). The protein yields were 17.8 and 25.6% for the acid washing and thermal processes, respectively. The concentrates were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, free sulfhydryl groups (SH), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), size-exclusion high performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC), solubility in water and in 0.05 mol L−1 NaCl at pH 3.0, 4.5 and 7.0, phenolic compounds content and color parameters. The results indicated that the acid washing process had positive effects on the composition, color parameters, protein solubility and thermal stability of the concentrates. The thermal process also brought about positive effects on the characteristics of the proteins and color parameters although it negatively affected solubility due to the formation of high molar mass aggregates. The conventional process, when compared with the thermal and acid washing processes, adversely affected the properties evaluated.