Controlled enzymatic hydrolysis of egg white for beverage applications

Overview

This platform uses bioinformatics-guided enzymatic hydrolysis to convert egg white into functional peptides for beverage applications. It addresses core barriers in protein beverages—solubility, viscosity, bitterness, and thermal stability—through controlled, enzyme-specific hydrolysis rather than over-hydrolysis. The resulting hydrolysates enable ambient-stable ready-to-drink tea and coffee peptide beverages, opening new markets for egg-derived protein ingredients.

Technical specifications

Key capabilities:

• In silico screening of more than ten commercial proteases (papain, trypsin, and others) predicts cleavage sites, peptide profiles, and hydrolysis efficiency
• Functional ranking prioritizes enzymes producing immunomodulatory and muscle-supporting peptides with combined efficiency and functional potency
• Optimized parameters—solid-to-liquid ratio, enzyme dosage, pH, and time—achieve at least 95% protein solubility, approximately 33% degree of hydrolysis, and minimal bitterness
• Scalable workflow: controlled hydrolysis, enzyme inactivation, centrifugation, concentration, desalting, and drying for consistent quality
• Hydrolysates withstand high-pressure high-temperature sterilization, supporting ambient distribution without cold-chain logistics

Target applications:

• Ready-to-drink tea-peptide and coffee-peptide beverages
• Protein fortification with immune- and muscle-supporting peptide profiles

Technology readiness level

Protease screening and process validation are complete at one-ton pilot scale. Pilot trials confirm stable solubility and degree of hydrolysis through the full downstream process. Current development focuses on beverage formulation—optimizing flavor and mouthfeel to mask bitterness—and validating ambient stability across pH, solubility, viscosity, microbial load, and sensory parameters. The team's deep expertise in egg proteins, supported by more than 80 publications and 18 patents, underpins the path to commercial manufacturing.