PHYSICO CHEMICAL AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF CHICKPEA PROTEIN ISOLATE

The main purpose of this research work was to isolate the most refined form of protein from chickpea for food processing. In this research work, chickpea (Cicer arietinum. L) was collected from Monywa Township, Sagaing Region and nutritional characteristics such as moisture content, ash content, fat content, carbohydrate content, protein content and fiber content were determined. The fat of raw bean flour was removed by bulk soaking in ethanol and also by soxhlet extraction using ethanol as solvent before isolating the protein. In addition, the fiber and starch from defatted chickpea flour was removed by alkaline extraction and acid precipitation method to isolate the protein (isoelectric precipitation). Protein solubility, water and oil absorption capacity, emulsifying capacity and stability, foaming capacity and stability of chickpea protein isolate have been determined. The solubility curve corresponding to the chickpea protein isolate indicated the minimum solubility at pH 4 (protein solubility of 24 %) and maximum solubility at pH 12 (protein solubility of 89 %) respectively. The chickpea protein isolate had water absorption capacity of 1.65±0.12 mL H2O/g   protein and oil absorption capacity of 1.72±0.34 mL oil/g. protein. It was found that emulsion stability of isolated chickpea protein was 40.12 ±0.33 %with foaming capacity was 63.64±0.22 %. Isolated chickpea protein improved texture appearance and taste than the lentil flour and thus it can better be used as nutrition and functional ingredients in many food products.