ISOLATION AND CHEMICAL EVALUATION OF PROTEIN FROM CLAM WASH WATER

An appreciable amount of clam waste protein concentrate was obtained from the clam wash water by treatment with 10N H2SO4, at pH 4.0. Protein yields were about 41% by this process. Proximate analyses of the freeze-dried clam waste protein concentrate were: moisture, 2.21%; protein, 67.9%; fat, 11.22%; fiber, 0.32%; ash, 4.92% and N-free extract, 13.43%. Amino acid scores of the clam waste protein concentrate were considerably lower than those of the FAO reference pattern of amino acids. The clam waste protein concentrate was first limiting in leucine and valine, followed by the sulfur-containing amino acids (cystine and methionine) and isoleucine.