Jiangsu University has pioneered a coupled reaction technology that integrates protein enzymatic hydrolysis with membrane separation.

　　According to a report by Science and Technology Daily on January 20, 2015, China’s agricultural processing industry generates approximately 90 million tons of protein‑rich byproducts annually. Due to their high degree of denaturation, low solubility, and poor nutritional quality, these byproducts are not fully utilized, resulting in significant waste of protein resources.

　　The Jiangsu University research team involved in the National 863 Program project “Key Technologies and Development for Biological Conversion and Refinement of Low-Value Protein Resources” has overcome critical bottlenecks, pioneered several groundbreaking technologies, and developed a series of multi‑mode ultrasonic equipment. Notably, their work on “Research into Key Technologies for the Efficient Enzymatic Preparation of Functional Peptides and the Development of Ultrasonic‑Assisted Enzymatic Hydrolysis Equipment” was awarded the Second Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress by the Ministry of Education in 2013 and the First Prize for Technological Progress at the China Association for Food Science and Technology in 2014.

　　The research group has developed a novel multimodal ultrasonic-assisted extraction technique and a new method for enhancing proteolytic reactions via multimodal ultrasound. They have also pioneered an intelligent fed‑batch control strategy coupled with membrane separation for protein hydrolysis, and established an innovative ultrasonic‑enhanced fermentation process.

　　China’s ultrasonic equipment was previously rudimentary and outdated. This project has developed 12 operating modes and designed 15 ultrasonic devices, two of which represent world‑first innovations. It also produced China’s first frequency‑swept multi‑frequency ultrasonic‑assisted enzymatic hydrolysis pilot unit, the country’s first multi‑frequency counter‑current energy‑focusing system, and the first dual‑frequency frequency‑swept divergent ultrasonic‑assisted enzymatic hydrolysis industrial‑scale apparatus. Furthermore, it established China’s first production line for functionally active peptides using ultrasonic assistance, enabling large‑scale manufacturing of rapeseed peptides. Products such as rapeseed peptide and corn peptide have been well received by the market, and a wheat germ peptide production line is currently under construction.

　　In China, plant oil‑processing technologies suffer from unstable oil quality and safety, significant environmental pollution, and low raw‑material utilization. Under the National 863 Program’s project “Research on Key Technologies for the Creation of Novel Food Enzymes and Their Innovative Bioprocessing Applications,” research teams from the National Academy of Grain Sciences and Northeast Agricultural University have achieved safe, efficient, and clean food production through mild bioprocessing methods.

　　This project has achieved breakthroughs in core technologies, developed a novel glycosidase preparation, and succeeded in isolating new enzymes and their corresponding genes from high-temperature environments. It has also constructed genetically engineered microbial strains, created an innovative enzyme‑based oil‑extraction formulation, established a composite protease catalytic system, devised pretreatment methods tailored to different research subjects, and designed specialized pretreatment equipment optimized for the enzymatic hydrolysis of protein‑based lipids.

　　Emulsification is a common phenomenon in oilseed biolysis technology. This project has identified suitable emulsion-breaking techniques, achieving free‑oil yields exceeding 90% for soybeans and sunflower seeds and above 80% for specialty oilseeds. Furthermore, the mechanism underlying these highly efficient demulsification methods has been elucidated, and thermophilic cellulases and glycosidases have been obtained, thereby enhancing the speed and efficiency of oilseed biolysis. Notably, the project “Innovation and Application of Key Technologies and Equipment for Biological Biolysis and Refining of Vegetable Oils” was awarded the First Prize in the Heilongjiang Provincial Science and Technology Invention Awards for 2013.

　　Science and Technology Daily / Ma Aiping