A process for the fractionation of valuable fractions from cereal brans
(e.g. wheat, barley and oat brans, and rice polish) is described. In
particular, this invention describes a two step process, in which the
said bran is first subjected to a combination of enzymatic treatment and
wet milling, followed by sequential centrifugation and ultrafiltration,
which aims at physically separating the main bran factions, i.e.
insoluble phase (pericarp and aleurone layer), germ-rich fraction,
residual endosperm fraction and soluble sugars. A second step consists of
fractionating cereal brans substantially free of soluble compounds, hence
insoluble phase from the above-mentioned first step, by enzymatic
treatment with xylanases and/or beta-glucanase and wet milling, followed
by sequential centrifugation and ultrafiltration, which aims at
physically separating the main fractions, i.e. insoluble phase (remaining
cell wall components), protein-rich fraction, soluble hemicellulose and
oligosaccharide, and therefore maximizes the extraction rate of valuable
cell wall components and aleurone cells from previously cleaned bran.