Glucosinolates and higher fiber content in canola, rapeseed, and mustard meal are two major anti-nutritional factors restricting their application at high inclusion levels in monogastric animal, poultry, and fish diets. To address the glucosinolates and fiber issues, a novel extrusion-assisted extraction process is proposed to carry out thermomechanical and chemical treatments in a continuous step which make it feasible to be adopted by feed processors or crushers. This process will lower glucosinolates content and modify fiber structure to improve the palatability and digestibility of feeds. Consequently, the inclusion of canola meal will be increased, which will improve the competitiveness of canola meal with soybean meal.
Lowering glucosinolates content in non-“double zero” oilseeds meal to levels typically found in canola meal would provide opportunities for these meals to be used in feeds. Moreover, the extracted glucosinolates is a value-added product. The success of this process development helps feed processors and biodiesel processors to be more competitive. The quality and cost competitive feed and value-added products will encourage the growth, competitiveness, and sustainability of canola production, the livestock and poultry industry, and emerging biodiesel industry.
The objective of this research is to develop an extrusion-assisted extraction process to remove the gluscosinolates, and modify meal structure so as to increase the inclusion of canola meal in feed. In the meantime, a glucosinolates isolation process will be developed. By evaluating the removal effectiveness of glucosinolates through the measurements of glucosinolates residue content in treated meal or feed, the feasibility of adoption of this process by crushers or feed processors will be technically determined.
The project consists of the following parts:
- Optimization of extrusion-assisted extraction
- Investigation of meal pre-treatment
- Optimization of operational profile
- Solvent selection
- Methodology development of liquid glucosinolate purification, and glucosinolates and crude fiber quantification
For more information on this project, contact the project lead Jianbo Lu with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Bio-Industrial Opportunities Section. | | 
Alberta Agriculture & Forestry
Bio-Industrial Opportunities Section
Agri-Food Discovery Place
Building F-83, 6020 – 118 Street
Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1
Phone: (780) 644-8118
Email: biobranch@gov.ab.ca
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