With the aim of obtaining wheat flour hydrolysates with low-phenylalanine (Phe) content, protein extracts were prepared using an enzymatic method through the action of a protease from Bacillus licheniformis. Next, these protein extracts were hydrolyzed by a crude enzymatic extract (CEE) obtained from pineapple peel followed by a commercial enzyme (pancreatin). Some parameters, such as temperature (30, 35, 40, 50 and 70 °C), time (1 hour and 30 minutes, 2 hours and 30 minutes, 3 hours and 30 minutes), and pH of the reaction (6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0) were evaluated. Activated carbon (AC) was used for removing Phe and the efficiency of this process was evaluated by second derivative spectrophotometry, measuring Phe content in wheat flour as well as in its hydrolysates after AC treatment. Varied effects were observed for the three parameters studied, and the best results were found using successive association of CEE (E: S 10:100, 1 hour and 30 minutes) with pancreatin (E:S 4:100, 3 hour and 30 minutes) pH 7.0, at 50°C having reached a final Phe content of 522.44 mg.100 g-1 of hydrolysate.
wheat flour; protein extraction; hydrolysis, enzymes; phenylalanine; removal