Pea Protein Extraction Plant
Pea Protein Extraction Plant
Pea protein isolate (PPI) is the fastest-growing plant protein globally, used in meat analogs, protein beverages, and sports nutrition. Mechotech's pea protein extraction plants process yellow split peas into 80%–85% protein isolate using wet alkaline extraction — delivering clean-label, allergen-free protein powder.
Mechotech designs pea protein extraction plants using the wet-milling and alkaline solubilization process, producing high-purity pea protein isolate with excellent amino acid profile. Our GMP-compliant plants integrate pin mills, alkaline extraction tanks, centrifuges, and spray dryers in a continuous or semi-batch configuration to match your production volume.
Manufacturing Process
Pea Milling
Yellow split peas are pin-milled to fine flour. Air classification separates protein-rich and starch-rich fractions, pre-concentrating the protein content before wet extraction.
Alkaline Extraction
The pea flour is dispersed in water at pH 8.5–9.0 with food-grade NaOH. Pea proteins solubilize into the aqueous phase while starch and fiber remain suspended.
Centrifugal Clarification
Decanter centrifuges remove insoluble starch and fiber from the protein-rich supernatant. The clarified extract is collected for precipitation.
Isoelectric Precipitation
pH is lowered to 4.5 using food-grade acid, causing pea proteins to precipitate. The protein curd is separated by centrifugation.
Washing & Neutralization
The protein curd is washed to reduce phytates and off-flavours, then re-dispersed and neutralized to pH 7.0 for a clean-tasting final product.
Spray Drying
The neutralized protein suspension is spray-dried to produce a cream-coloured, free-flowing pea protein isolate powder with moisture below 7%.
Applications
- Plant-based meat analog and burger production
- Protein-fortified beverages and shakes
- Sports nutrition and post-workout supplements
- Dairy-free yogurt and cheese production
- Infant and elderly nutrition formulations
- Pasta and bakery protein fortification
- Animal feed protein supplement
- Clean-label nutraceutical protein capsules
Key Features
Air Classification Pre-Step
Integrated pin mill and air classifier pre-concentrates pea protein before wet extraction, reducing extraction volume and improving overall plant efficiency.
Allergen-Free Processing
Pea protein is free from the top 14 allergens. Our plant uses dedicated allergen-free equipment and validated cleaning protocols to maintain allergen-free certification.
Low Anti-Nutritional Factors
Optimized washing and neutralization steps reduce phytates, tannins, and saponins to below regulatory limits, improving protein digestibility and flavour profile.
High PDCAAS Score
Processing parameters are optimized to preserve lysine content and achieve high protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) for nutritional quality.
Continuous Operation Mode
High-capacity plants are configured for continuous alkaline extraction and precipitation, reducing batch cycle time and increasing daily output per installed footprint.
Frequently Asked Questions
What protein content does pea protein isolate contain?
How does pea protein compare to soy protein?
Can the plant also produce pea starch as a co-product?
What is the minimum plant capacity available?
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