Emerging Physical Field Technologies for Extracting Sustainable Plant Proteins: Mechanisms, Structural Modifications,...

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Growing global demand for plant-based proteins necessitates sustainable alternatives to animal agriculture.
• Conventional plant protein extraction methods are energy-intensive and environmentally damaging.
• Optimizing extraction is crucial for yield, structure, and functionality of plant proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review emerging physical field-assisted technologies for plant protein extraction.
• To evaluate their mechanisms, environmental benefits, and impact on protein structure-function.
• To highlight their potential for energy-efficient, low-carbon food production.

Main Methods:

• Review of physical field-assisted technologies: ultrasound (US), pulsed electric fields (PEFs), microwave (MW), radiofrequency (RF), high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), and cold plasma (CP).
• Analysis of underlying protein extraction mechanisms (e.g., acoustic cavitation, electroporation).
• Evaluation of structure-function relationships and energy efficiency.

Main Results:

• Physical field technologies offer higher energy efficiency, faster processing, and reduced solvent use compared to conventional methods.
• These techniques enhance protein release and allow controlled structural modification for tailored functionality.
• Optimized processing is critical to prevent structural deterioration and functionality loss.

Conclusions:

• Emerging physical field technologies present a sustainable and energy-efficient approach to plant protein extraction.
• These methods can improve protein yield and tailor functionality for applications like plant-based meat analogs.
• Industrial adoption requires advanced tools like digital twins and AI for process optimization and scale-up validation.