Enzymatic process for extracting oil and protein from rice bran

Enzymatic extraction of oil and protein from rice bran, using a commercial protease (Alcalase), was investigated and evaluated by response surface met hodology. The effect of enzyme concentration was most significant on oil an d protein extraction yields, whereas incubation time and temperature had no significant effect. The maximal extraction yields of oil and protein were 79 and 68%, respectively. Further, the quality of oil recovered from the pr ocess in terms of free fatty acid, iodine value, and saponification value w as comparable with solvent-extracted oil and commercial rice bran oil, but the peroxide value was higher.