Isolation and Characterization of Cotyledon Fibers from Peas, Lentils, and Chickpeas

Methods were developed to efficiently isolate legume cotyledon fibers with relatively high yields and purities. Seeds of pea (Pisum sativum), chickpea (Cicer arientinum), and lentil (Lens culinaris) were roller milled into flour and fractionated into prime starch, tailings starch, and water solubles. Insoluble dietary fiber was isolated from tailings starch by wet screening on sieves with openings ranging from 53 to 90 μm. Yield of insoluble fiber using a sieve with 53‐μm openings ranged from 49.7 to 59.2% of insoluble fiber in flour with purities ranging from 85.5 to 87.3%. Soluble dietary fiber was isolated from the water‐soluble fraction following acid precipitation of soluble protein at pH 4. Soluble fiber yield ranged from 83.3 to 89.6% of flour soluble fiber with purities ranging from 64.5 to 70.6%. Glucose was the most common sugar component of hulls and soluble cotyledon fibers, while arabinose was the main sugar in insoluble fibers. Insoluble fiber exhibited significantly higher swelling capacities and water and oil binding capacities in comparison to hulls and soluble cotyledon fibers. Apparent viscosities of soluble cotyledon fibers ranged from 3.13 to 3.43 Pa•sec and exhibited Newtonian characteristics.