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2024 Technical Program

Protein and Co-Products

Session: Protein-based Materials and Hydrocolloids for Food and Non-food Applications

BioSUNmulant project: protein isolate and cultivation co-products for the creation of an integrated value chain of sunﬂower biomass

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

4:43 PM – 5:00 PM EDT

Room: 520b

Presenting Author(s)

Philippe Evon, PhD (he/him/his)

Research Engineer
LCA-ENSIACET
Tarbes Cedex, France

Slides

Co-Author(s)

LJ

Landry Jégat

Technician
LCA-ENSIACET, France
LL

Laurent Labonne

Engineer
LCA-ENSIACET, France
TV

Thierry Veronese

Scientific Director
Ovalie Innovation, France
SB

Stéphane Ballas

Project Manager
Ovalie Innovation, France
LT

Lucas Tricoulet

Project Manager
Ovalie Innovation, France
JL

Jing Li

Ph.D. student
UGent, Belgium
DG

Danny Geelen

Professor
UGent, France

BioSUNmulant aimed to create a value chain of sunflower biomass using cultivation co-products (stalks and heads). Bioactive ingredients were extracted continuously using a twin-screw extruder having a filtration module at penultimate position along the barrel. Various operating conditions were optimized: solid particle size, screw profile in the liquid/solid (L/S) separation zone, filling coefficient, extraction pH, number of injection points, and total L/S ratio. From optimal settings, extraction yield was 64% (w/w) in proportion to the initial water-solubles.
Sunflower extract is expected to be valorised as an innovative and ecologically friendly agricultural product. Its addition to Arabidopsis seedlings grown in vitro showed a dose-dependent response. High concentrations caused growth inhibition but, when priming seeds with this extract, a small but significant increase in leaf area was observed at a dose of 5 g/L. The extract also improved the salt stress tolerance of crops by reducing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by about 30%. ROS reduction was due to the presence of antioxidant agents in the extract, and to the activation of ROS-eliminating enzymes. Polyphenols (e.g., flavonoids), carbohydrates, proteins and other compounds may have contributed to this bioactivity.
The remaining fibrous material (extrudate) was also used for obtaining bio-based materials. It is processable into formaldehyde-free cohesive fiberboards through hot pressing, generating economical value with low environmental footprint. According to NF EN 312, optimal board (37 MPa flexural strength, and 33% thickness swelling) containing 9.1% (w/w) sunflower protein isolate as natural exogenous binder can be used as a type P2 board, i.e., for interior fittings (including furniture) in dry environments. For P3 and P4 types, a thickness swelling lower than 20% and 21%, respectively, will be required.