Protein isolates with reduced gossypol content from screw-pressed cottonseed meal

Gossypol was removed from commercial cottonseed meal by successive extractions with organic solvents. 1-Butanol hydrochloride was found the most suitable solvent, reducing the free gossypol content to the safe level of 0.0104%. Protein isolates, with a protein content of 85%, were produced from raw and butanol-treated meals with yields of 50-80% based on extracted proteins. The isolates were light colored and had bland flavor. The butanol treatment influenced the protein isolation yield, lowering protein extractability, as confirmed by chromatographic analysis, but did not affect significantly the functional properties of the proteins