Detoxification of three toxins in castor meal by a novel continuous phase-transition extraction in a pilot-scale

Castor ( Ricinus communis L.) meal, a by-product of castor oil production, is a high-quality protein source. Unfortunately, the toxic substance limits its application. Herein, a novel continuous phase transition extraction (CPTE) technology at pilot scale was explored for castor meal detoxification. The detoxification conditions were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) as: treatment time of 3 h, extraction pressure of 0.16 MPa and temperature of 84.8°C. And the removal rate of allergens, hemagglutinin, and ricin reached 79.2 %, 99.8 % and 99.0 %, respectively. The protein content of castor meal increased from 38.4% to 39.0%. The nontoxicity nature of the treated caster meal was verified via an acute toxicity tests where the mean lethal dose was >5000 mg/kg body weight. Overall, CPTE offers a novel and efficient tool for castor meal detoxification, with the superiority of non-nutrient loss, it improved the application value of castor meal and reduced the risk of environmental pollution.