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Abstract.

Canada, particularly Saskatchewan, has increased export of dehulled red lentil resulting in more by-product (tailings) generation; however, the tailings generated is currently underutilized. This study seeks to maximize the usage of lentil by-product using air fractionation to a produce a protein and a starch-rich fraction. Two batches of lentil tailings (F0) were investigated by fractionating with a laboratory aspirator into cotyledon-rich fractions (F1) and hull-rich fractions. The treated fractions (F1) and untreated fractions (F0) were hammer milled and pin milled to a particle size of about (D50) 24 µm and 66.7 µm, respectively. Air classifier was used to fractionate the samples into fine (protein-rich) and coarse (starch-rich) fractions. There were variations in the proximate compositions of the two F0 fractions and these variations influenced the yield and makeup of the fractions. The protein content of fine fractions from both treated and untreated samples was enriched 2.0 times (from 24.78% to 52.96% and 51.45% dry basis (db) respectively). The starch content of the treated (F1) coarse fraction was enriched 2.3 times from 23.84% to 55.44% (db) while that of the untreated sample (F0) reduced from 23.84% to 21.94% db. A relationship was observed between the particle size and the protein content of each fraction; the smaller the particle size of the fraction the higher the protein content. Prior aspiration of lentil tailings significantly increased the protein content of the fine fractions and the starch content of the heavy fraction at p<0.05%.