FTIR Spectroscopic Analysis of Plant Proteins and Correlation with Functional Properties

This study demonstrates the potential of FTIR spectroscopy as a rapid, non-destructive tool for plant protein characterization and functional property prediction. FTIR successfully distinguished five plant protein isolates-soy, mung bean, pea, fava bean, and lentil-through PCA-based spectral clustering. Strong predictive models for water and oil absorption capacities (WAC and OAC) were developed, with prediction correlation coefficients (Rp) values exceeding 0.99 and cross-validation correlation coefficients (Rcv) ranging from 0.84 to 0.95. Functional property predictions for solubility (SOL) and emulsifying activity index (EAI) showed promising potential. These findings highlight FTIR's capability for protein classification, raw material verification, and rapid functional property assessment in quality control applications.