Protein Extraction and Utilization from Leaf Biomass
Summary
Leaf biomass represents a vast and underexploited reservoir of valuable proteins, notably ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), which can be repurposed for both food and non‐food applications. Recent advances have focused on sustainable and energy‐efficient extraction methodologies, including non‐thermal technologies such as ultrasound, high‐voltage electrical discharge and tailored aqueous or alkaline treatments. Concurrent improvements in fractionation techniques—comprising thermal coagulation, acid and isoelectric precipitation—have enabled the selective separation of green chloroplastic proteins from soluble white fractions. Optimisation of process parameters (pH, temperature, centrifugal forces) and pre‐treatment strategies (enzyme assistance, lignosulfonate‐mediated precipitation) has enhanced both yield and functional properties of recovered proteins. These proteins exhibit promising nutritional completeness, solubility, emulsification and gelation capacities, paving the way for their incorporation into plant‐based foods, feed supplements and biobased industrial materials. Integration of protein recovery within fractionation cascades for biorefineries further valorises residual biomasses, contributing to circular bioeconomy goals and reducing dependency on conventional protein sources.
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Protein Extraction and Utilization from Leaf Biomass publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in protein extraction and utilization from leaf biomass across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
RuBisCO: Ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, the most abundant leaf enzyme, often targeted for extraction due to its high protein content and nutritional completeness.
Ultrasound extraction: A non‐thermal method using acoustic cavitation to disrupt cell walls and enhance solubilisation of proteins.
High‐voltage electrical discharge: A technique employing pulsed electrical fields to permeabilise tissue matrices without substantial heat generation.
Isoelectric precipitation: Separation of proteins by adjusting pH to their isoelectric point, causing them to aggregate and precipitate for recovery.
Fractionation: Sequential separation of biomass components—such as green chloroplast proteins and soluble white proteins—using thermal, chemical or mechanical processes.
References
- Alternative methods for RuBisCO extraction from sugar beet waste: A comparative approach of ultrasound and high voltage electrical discharge. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry (2023).
- RuBisCO as a protein source for potential food applications: A review. Food Chemistry (2023).
- Fractionation of proteins from alfalfa juice at demonstration scale: Effects of temperature and centrifugation strategies on removal of green protein and recovery of the soluble white protein fraction. Separation and Purification Technology (2024).
- How Does Alkali Aid Protein Extraction in Green Tea Leaf Residue: A Basis for Integrated Biorefinery of Leaves. PLOS ONE (2015).
- Protein Fractionation of Green Leaves as an Underutilized Food Source—Protein Yield and the Effect of Process Parameters. Foods (2021).
- Enzyme Enhanced Protein Recovery from Green Biomass Pulp. Waste and Biomass Valorization (2016).
- Enhancing Protein Recovery in Green Biorefineries by Lignosulfonate-Assisted Precipitation. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (2019).
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