SOYBEAN PROTEIN CONCENTRATES (SPC)

5.1 Introduction
Edible soybean protein concentrates are relatively new products. Their availability as commercial
products dates from 1959. In the last 30 years or so, these versatile products have become
important ingredients, well accepted by many food industries. In many applications, they simply
replace soy flours. In others, they have specific functions which cannot be performed by soy flours.
Historically,the need for the development of soybean protein concentrates stemmed primarily
from two considerations: to increase protein concentration and to improve flavour.
It is very difficult to avoid the occurrence of the green-beany flavour of soybeans in untoasted fullfat or defatted soy flour, prepared in the conventional way. Beany flavour is one of the major
objectionable characteristics, limiting the use of conventional soy flours. One of the objectives of
the further processing of flours into concentrates is to extract the particular components which are
responsible for the bitterness and beany taste.
As shown in the previous chapter, the maximum level of protein content in soy flour, even after
nearly complete removal of hulls and oil, is about 55% (moisture-free basis). In certain
applications, such as in meat products, a soybean protein ingredient with a higher percentage of
protein is often preferable.
Soybean protein concentrates normally cost 2 to 2.5 times more than defatted soy flour.
Considering the relative protein contents of these two products , the cost per unit weight of protein
is about 80% higher in the concentrate.
The starting material for the production of soy protein concentrates is dehulled, defatted soybean
meal with high protein solubility (white flakes). The concentration of protein is increased by
removing most of the soluble non-protein constituents. These constituents are primarily soluble
carbohydrates (mono, di and oligosaccharides), but also some low molecular weight nitrogenous
substances and minerals. Normally, 750 kilograms of soybean protein concentrate are obtained
from one metric ton of defatted soybean flakes.
There are three major methods for extracting these components in a selective manner, without
solubilizing the major protein fractions. These are not different methods for manufacturing the
same product, but each method produces a different type of concentrate, with distinct
characteristics and specific uses. These methods are known as:
* The aqueous alcohol wash process
* The acid wash process
* Heat denaturation/water wash process
5.2 Defintion, compostion, types
The Association of American Feed Control Officials, Inc. (AAFCO), specifies soy protein
concentrates as follows:
" 84.12: Soy Protein Concentrate is prepared from high quality sound, clean, dehulled soybean
seeds by removing most of the oil and water soluble non-protein constituents and must contain
not less than 70% protein on a moisture free basis."
( from the '89 Soya Bluebook.)

Following is the composition of a typical food-grade soy protein concentrate ( SOLCON, made by
Solbar Hatzor Ltd.) as specified by the manufacturer:

Protein (mfb) .

70% min.

Moisture

8% max.

Crude fibre

4.5% max.

Ash

7% max

Particle size

95 % < 150 microns

Fat

1% max

Standard plate count

15,000/g. max

Salmonella in 200 g.

Negative

E. Coli in 1 g

Negative

As explained above, there are three basic types of soy protein concentrates, distinguished
according to the method used for extraction of the non-protein solubles. All three types have
basically the following proximate composition, on a moisture-free basis:
Protein (Nx6.25)

70%

Insoluble carbohydrates

20%

Ash

5%to 8%

Lipids

1%

Soy protein concentrates are further characterized by their protein solubility index. Soy proteins
are rendered insoluble by each of the three extraction processes. However,it is possible to increase
the solubility of the protein in the concentrate by further processing, for example by neutralization
of acid washed concentrate with alkali. Concentrates made by heat denaturation/water leaching
processes are irreversibly denatured and darker in colour. Alcohol-wash concentrate has a low NSI
values (10 to 15%) due to denaturation of the protein by the aqueous alcohol. The molecular
changes in the proteins caused by alcohols are, however, different from those resulting from heat
denaturation. Thus, alcohol-wash concentrate retains most of the functional properties
( slurry viscosity, emulsification power etc.) despite its low protein solubility as
determined by the standard NSI or NDI tests.
The dispersibility and functionality of alcohol-wash concentrates can be increased by steam
injection or jet-cooking, and improved further by high-shear homogenization. ( Soy Protein Council
1987).
Much of the characteristic beany flavour is also usually removed by the extraction process.
Soybean protein concentrates are relatively bland. The flatus-producing oligosaccharides of
soybean flour,raffinose and stachyose, are also efficiently removed by the solvents used in the
production of concentrates.
Soy protein concentrates are marketed in various forms: granular, flour and spray dried. In
addition, texturized concentrates are also available. These texturized products will be discussed
in a separate chapter.

Since some low molecular weight proteins are also extracted along with the sugars, the amino acid
composition of the concentrates may differ slightly from that of the original flour. (Table 5-1).

Table 5.1 Amino acid composition of SCP and soy flour

(grams per 16g. notrogen)
AMINO ACID

Soy flour

Soy protein concentrate (SCP)

Alcohol wash

Alanine
Arginine
Aspartic acid
Half-cystine
Glutamic acid
Glycine
Histidine
Isoleucine
Leucine
Lysine
Methionine
Phenylalanine
Proline
Serine
Threonine
Tryptophan
Tyrosine
Valine

4.0
6.95
11.26
1.45
17.18
3.99
2.60
4.80
6.50
5.70
1.34
4.72
4.72
5.00
4.27
1.80
3.40
4.60

4.86
7.98
12.84
1.40
20.20
4.60
2.64
4.80
7.90
6.40
1.40
5.20
6.00
5.70
4.46
1.60
3.70
5.00

Acid wash

4.03
6.46
11.28
1.36
18.52
4.60
2.59
5.26
8.13
6.67
1.40
5.61
5.32
5.97
3.93
1.35
4.37
5.57

Source: Campbell et al. (1985)

5.3 Production processes
5-3-1 The aqueous alcohol wash process
The process is based on the ability of aqueous solutions of lower aliphatic alcohols ( methanol,
ethanol and isopropyl alcohol) to extract the soluble sugar fraction of defatted soy flour without
solubilizing its proteins. The optimal concentration of alcohol for this process is about 60% by
weight.
The theory of solvent extraction (see para. 3-2-4)is applicable to the extraction of defatted soy
flour with aqueous alcohol.

Starting with defatted white flakes as raw material, the process consists of the following steps:
Liquid-solid extraction, removal and recovery of the solvent from the liquid extract, removal and
recovery of the solvent from the extracted flakes, drying and grinding of the flakes.
a- Solid-liquid extraction: This can be carried out batchwise or continuously. Continuous
extraction is justified for relatively large scale operations. According to Campbell et al.(1985),
continuous processes are employed for plants with typical capacities over 5,000 tons per year.
Unlike oilseed crushing industries, smaller plants are not uncommon in this branch. The batch
process is, therefore, rather widely applied. The methods and types of equipment used are
essentially similar to those encountered in oil extraction plants: horizontal belt and basket
extractors, stationary and rotary cell extractors etc. In the case of alcohol extraction, the solvents
are quite volatile and flammable. Adequate precautions for the prevention of fire and explosion are
necessary.
The reason for using high-NSI white flakes as the starting material is not necessarily related to the
objective of obtaining a product with high protein solubility.( As explained above, this would not
help anyhow , due to the different type of protein denaturation caused by the alcohol.) The
principal reason for preferring this type of raw material is due to the fact that the percentage of
extractable soluble sugars in white flakes is higher than in toasted meal. Toasting renders the
sugars less soluble by binding them to proteins (Maillard reaction) or by caramelization. As a result
of this type of condensation reactions, the sugars are no longer extractable by the solvent and
they remain in the product, lowering the protein concentration in it. Furthermore, the darker colour
of concentrates made from overheated meal is also objectionable, and their nutritional value is
lower (lower lysine availability.)
b- Removal and recovery of the solvent from the liquid extract: The alcohols are removed
from the liquid extract by evaporation and rectified by distillation. They are then brought to the
proper concentration and recycled through the extractor. The distillation residue is an aqueous
solution of the sugars and other solubles. It is concentrated to the consistency of honey and sold
as "soy molasses". Typically, soy molasses contain 50% total soluble solids. These solids consist
of carbohydrates (60%), proteins and other nitrogenous substances (10%), minerals (10%), fats
and lipoids (20%). It is mainly used as a caloric ingredient and as a binding agent in animal feeds.
c- Desolventizing the solids: After extraction, the solvent saturated flakes are desolventized .
The methods are essentially the same as for the removal of hexane from soybean meal flakes.
Flash desolventizing, using superheated vapours of the alcohol-water mixture can be applied to
protein concentrates. Any excess water left in the flakes after desolventizing is removed by hot air
drying.
d- Grinding: The methods and equipment used to grind soy protein concentrate flakes are
essentially the same as those employed in the production of soy flours (see Section 4-3-1).
5-3-2 The acid-wash process
This process is based on the pH-dependence of the solubility of soybean proteins,discussed in
Section 1-6-2. It will be recalled that the majority of soybean proteins exhibit minimum solubility at
pH 4.2 to 4.5 (isoelectric region). Therefore, it is possible to extract the sugars, without solubilizing
the majority of the proteins, using, as a solvent, water to which an acid has been added so as to
keep the pH at the isoelectric region.
The acid-wash process has the obvious advantage of using a non-flammable, non-explosive, nontoxic and inexpensive solvent: water. To a certain extent, this is also the disadvantage of the
process. Separation of the solid from the solvent is more difficult and less complete, due to the
fact that the flakes absorb considerable quantities of water and swell. Gravity draining is not
suitable for efficient solid-extract separation. Rotary vacuum filters or decanting centrifuges must
be used instead.

A batch process using horizontal decanting centrifuges is shown in Fig. 29. Defatted soy flakes or
flour are mixed with acidified water in an agitated vessel. The slurry is then fed to the decanter
centrifuge which separates the extracted solids from the extract (whey). The solids are discharged
continuously at approximately 30% dry matter content. The solids can be dried at this stage, to
yield an "isoelectric" concentrate of low protein solubility. If a more functionally active, neutral
concentrate is desired, the isoelectric solid cake is resuspended in water and the acidity is
neutralized. A second step of centrifugal separation gives a cake of neutral concentrate with a
protein content of 75% on dry matter basis. This cake also retains about 70% water, by weight.
The cake is usually wet-milled to a fine slurry and spray dried. The protein solubility of the
neutralized product is quite high, giving NSI values above 60%, provided that white flakes were
used as the starting material.
The liquid extract containing sugars ,minerals, the protein fractions which are soluble at pH 4.5,
and other soluble components is usually known as "whey", in analogy to the process of cheese
making. Unlike cheese whey, however, soy whey has no use and must be discarded as waste. The
reasons for not using soy whey for animal feeding will be discussed in the next chapter, dealing
with isolated soybean protein.
5-3-3 Heat denaturation/ water extraction process
In this process, the proteins of defatted soy meal are first rendered insoluble by thermal
denaturation, using humid heat. The heat-treated meal is extracted with hot water, which
dissolves the sugars.

Figure 29: SCP Production Using Decanter Centrifuges

( Courtesy: Alfa-Laval)
Since the process is based on solid-liquid extraction using water as the solvent, the operations and
equipment systems are essentially similar to those used in the acid-wash process, discussed in the
previous paragraph.
5.4 Utilization
5-4-1 Basic considerations

Just as with soy flours, soy protein concentrates are used in food products for their nutritional
characteristics or for their functional properties or for both.
Nutritionally, the attractive features of concentrates include: their high protein content, the nearabsence of anti-tryptic and other anti-nutritional factors, the absence of flatulence and the
substantial "dietary fibre" content. The nutritional value of the protein in the concentrates of
different types, expressed as Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) is slightly lower than that of soy flour
protein. (Table 5-2). This is probably due to the slight fractionation effect of the extraction process,
mentioned above.
Table 5.2 Per * value of soy protein products
PRODUCT

Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER)

Soy flour (defatted and toasted)

2.2 to 2.3
+ 1.0% Methionine
Soy Protein Concentrate

2.25 or higher
2.0 to 2.2

+ 1.5% Methionine
2.5 or higher

Soy Protein Isolate

1.1 to 1.7
+ 1.5% Methionine
2.0 or higher

(*) The PER values corrected to: casein = 2.5

Source: Soy Protein Council (1987)
The most important functional characteristics of soy protein concentrates are: water binding
(water adsorption) capacity, fat binding capacity and emulsification properties.
5-4-2 Use in bakery products
Unless higher protein fortification levels are necessary, there is no special reason for using soy
protein concentrates in bakery products. Nutritionally and functionally, soy flours do the same job,
more economically.
5-4-3 Meat products
This area probably represents the most important application of soy protein concentrates in the
food industry. SCP is used mostly in comminuted meat, poultry and fish products ( patties,
emulsion type sausages, fish sticks etc.) to increase water ant fat retention. The nutritional
contribution of soy protein in low-meat, high-fat, low-cost products may also be significant. Typical
usage levels, on moisture-free basis, are: 5-10% in patties, 2-8% in chili, 2-12% in meatballs, 3.5%
max. in sausages, 5-10% in fish sticks. (Campbell et al. 1985).
5-4-4 Other uses
Soybean protein concentrates have been used as stabilized dispersions in milk-like beverages and
simulated dairy products such as sour cream analog. Campbell et al.(1985) present a formula for a
milk-like beverage, suggested by A.E. Staley Mfg. Co., producers of the soy protein concentrate
and the corn syrup solids components in the formula. The formula and directions for the
preparation of the beverage are given below:
Formula for "Soy Concentrate Milk":
6.0 %
Soy protein concentrate

Sucrose

0.6 %

Corn syrup solids

2.0 %

Fat

3.0 %

Mono-and di-glycerides

0.1 %

Salt

0.05 %

Water

88.25 %

The SCP is hydrated with water in a high-shear mixer, then all other ingredients, except the fat are
added and mixed thoroughly. The mixture is heated to 65-70oC. The fat (apparently a
hydrogenated, well deodorized oil) and flavouring agents are added. The mixture is homogenized,
cooled and packaged.
Non-dairy coffee whiteners can also be made, using the same principle, but different ingredients
and proportions.
REFERENCES
ALFA-LAVAL, (1990)
Commercial Communication Alfa-Laval Sharpless Ltd., Camberley, U.K.
Campbell, M.F.; C.W. Kraut; W.C. Yackel and Ho Seung Yang (1985).
"Soy Protein Concentrates", in "New Protein Foods", A.M. Altschul and H.L. Wilke, Editors.
Vol. 5, p. 301. Academic Press, Inc. Orlando, Florida.
Ohren, J.A. (1981)
Process and Product Characteristics for Soya Concentrates and Isolates. J. Amer. Oil Chem.
Soc. 58: 333
Sair, L. (1959)
U.S.Patent 2,881,076
SOLBAR HATZOR (1991)
Commercial Communication Solbar Hatzor Ltd., Ashdod, Israel.
Soy Protein Council (1987)
"Soy Protein Products, Characteristics, Nutritional Aspects and Utilization."Soy Protein
Council, Washington DC
Soya Bluebook (1989)
Soyatech, Inc. Bar Harbor, ME.
Waggle, D.H., C.D. Decker and C.W. Colar (1981)
Soya Products in Meat, Poultry and Seafood J. Amer. Oil Chem. Soc. 58: 341