An experimental high-protein (25 % protein, N x 5.7 dry basis) spring
wheat (ND 643) and flour from that wheat were used to make protein iso
late by alkaline extraction. Optimal extraction of protein was at pH 1
0.7 in 0.03 N sodium hydroxide with a solvent:solid ratio of 6:1. The
alkaline extract after centrifugation was adjusted to optimal pH of 6.
2 to yield a precipitate and a supernatant. Bran was separated from st
arch by screening the second alkaline dispersion. The protein contents
of the isolates from ground wheat and flour were 90 and 95 %, respect
ively, and accounted for 65 and 68 % of the total nitrogen of the star
ting wheat and flour. Yields of protein isolate were 18 and 16 %, resp
ectively, of starting high-protein wheat and flour compared with 10 %
of starting wheat and flour from a typical hard red winter wheat. Prot
ein isolate had a nitrogen solubility of 96 % at pH 2.6 and a minimum
solubility of 5.7 % at pH 5.8, a hydration capacity of 2.5, an emulsif
ying activity of 51 %, and an emulsion stability of 50 %.