Advancing Faba Bean Protein Purification Using Membrane Technology: Current State and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Plant-based proteins are gaining popularity because of their appeal to vegetarians and vegans, alignment with scientific and regulatory recommendations, and the environmental impact associated with livestock production. Several techniques are employed for the separation, isolation, and purification of plant-based proteins including membrane-based separation, diafiltration, centrifugation, chromatography, electrophoresis, micellar precipitation, and isoelectric precipitation. Despite decades of application, these techniques still have some limitations such as scale-up challenges, high solvent consumption, chemical/biological disposal, and the possibility of protein loss during precipitation or elution. Membrane separation processes are the most effective purification/concentration technology in the production of plant-based protein isolates and concentrates due to their selective separation, simple operational conditions, and easy automation. Membrane separation processes yielded products with higher protein content compared to isoelectric precipitation, and all concentrates presented good functional properties with expected variability among different legumes. This review critically focuses on the membrane technology advances and challenges for the purification of plant-based protein isolates. This study also highlights the plant-based diet trend, the market, composition, and the protein isolate of the faba bean, in addition to the emerging technologies for the elimination of antinutritional compounds.