<i>Studies on Ground Corn Flowability as Affected by Particle Size and Moisture Content</i>

Author(s):  
H T Jadhav ◽  
Chinwendu Ozoh ◽  
Sai Teja Marripudi ◽  
Xiong Cao ◽  
K A Rosentrater
Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1372
Author(s):  
Michaela Braun ◽  
Kara Dunmire ◽  
Caitlin Evans ◽  
Charles Stark ◽  
Jason Woodworth ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of whole-corn moisture and hammermill screen size on subsequent ground corn moisture, particle size and flowability. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial design with two moisture concentrations (14.5 and 16.7%), each ground using 2 hammermill screen sizes (3 mm and 6 mm). Corn was ground using a lab-scale 1.5 HP Bliss Hammermill at three separate timepoints to create three replications per treatment. Ground corn flowability was calculated using angle of repose (AOR), percent compressibility, and critical orifice diameter (COD) measurements to determine the composite flow index (CFI). There was no evidence for a screen size × corn moisture interaction for ground corn moisture content (MC), particle size, standard deviation, or flowability metrics. Grinding corn using a 3 mm screen resulted in decreased (p < 0.041) moisture content compared to corn ground using the 6 mm screen. There was a decrease (p < 0.031) in particle size from the 6 mm screen to the 3 mm, but no evidence of difference was observed for the standard deviation. There was a decrease (p < 0.030) in percent compressibility as screen size increased from 3 mm to 6 mm. Angle of repose tended to decrease (p < 0.056) when corn was ground using a 6 mm screen compared to a 3 mm screen. For the main effects of MC, 16.7% moisture corn had increased (p < 0.001) ground corn MC compared to 14.5%. The 14.5% moisture corn resulted in decreased (p < 0.050) particle size and an increased standard deviation compared to the 16.7% moisture corn. The increased MC of corn increased (p < 0.038) CFI and tended to decrease (p < 0.050) AOR and COD. In conclusion, decreasing hammermill screen size increased moisture loss by 0.55%, decreased corn particle size by 126 µm and resulted in poorer flowability as measured by percent compressibility and AOR. The higher moisture corn increased subsequent particle size by 89 µm and had improved flowability as measured by CFI.


1970 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Balasubramanian ◽  
Rajkumar Rajkumar ◽  
K K Singh

Experiment to identify ambient grinding conditions and energy consumed was conducted for fenugreek. Fenugreek seeds at three moisture content (5.1%, 11.5% and 17.3%, d.b.) were ground using a micro pulverizer hammer mill with different grinding screen openings (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mm) and feed rate (8, 16 and 24 kg h-1) at 3000 rpm. Physical properties of fenugreek seeds were also determined. Specific energy consumptions were found to decrease from 204.67 to 23.09 kJ kg-1 for increasing levels of feed rate and grinder screen openings. On the other hand specific energy consumption increased with increasing moisture content. The highest specific energy consumption was recorded for 17.3% moisture content and 8 kg h-1 feed rate with 0.5 mm screen opening. Average particle size decreased from 1.06 to 0.39 mm with increase of moisture content and grinder screen opening. It has been observed that the average particle size was minimum at 0.5 mm screen opening and 8 kg h-1 feed rate at lower moisture content. Bond’s work index and Kick’s constant were found to increase from 8.97 to 950.92 kWh kg-1 and 0.932 to 78.851 kWh kg-1 with the increase of moisture content, feed rate and grinder screen opening, respectively. Size reduction ratio and grinding effectiveness of fenugreek seed were found to decrease from 4.11 to 1.61 and 0.0118 to 0.0018 with the increase of moisture content, feed rate and grinder screen opening, respectively. The loose and compact bulk densities varied from 219.2 to 719.4 kg m-3 and 137.3 to 736.2 kg m-3, respectively.  


Processes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
Waleed H. Hassoon ◽  
Dariusz Dziki ◽  
Antoni Miś ◽  
Beata Biernacka

The objective of this study was to determine the grinding characteristics of wheat with a low moisture content. Two kinds of wheat—soft spelt wheat and hard Khorasan wheat—were dried at 45 °C to reduce the moisture content from 12% to 5% (wet basis). Air drying at 45 °C and storage in a climatic chamber (45 °C, 10% relative humidity) were the methods used for grain dehydration. The grinding process was carried out using a knife mill. After grinding, the particle size distribution, average particle size and grinding energy indices were determined. In addition, the dough mixing properties of wholemeal flour dough were studied using a farinograph. It was observed that decreasing the moisture content in wheat grains from 12% to 5% made the grinding process more effective. As a result, the average particle size of the ground material was decreased. This effect was found in both soft and hard wheat. Importantly, lowering the grain moisture led to about a twofold decrease in the required grinding energy. Moreover, the flour obtained from the dried grains showed higher water absorption and higher dough stability during mixing. However, the method of grain dehydration had little or no effect on the results of the grinding process or dough properties.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana L M Gomes ◽  
Antonio V I Bueno ◽  
Fernando A Jacovaci ◽  
Guilherme Donadel ◽  
Luiz F Ferraretto ◽  
...  

Abstract Our objective was to examine the effects of processing, moisture, and anaerobic storage length of reconstituted corn grain (RCG) on the fermentation profile, geometric mean particle size (GMPS), and ruminal dry matter disappearance (DMD). Dry corn kernels were ground (hammer mill, 5-mm screen) or rolled, then rehydrated to 30%, 35%, or 40% moisture, and stored for 0, 14, 30, 60, 90, 120, or 180 d in laboratory silos. Rolled corn had an increased GMPS compared with ground corn (2.24 and 1.13 mm, respectively, at ensiling). However, there was a trend for an interaction between processing and moisture concentration to affect particle size, with GMPS increasing with increased moisture concentration, especially in ground corn. Longer storage periods also slightly increased GMPS. Processing, moisture, and storage length interacted to affect the fermentation pattern (two- or three-way interactions). Overall, pH decreased, whereas lactic acid, acetic acid, ethanol, and NH3-N increased with storage length. RCG with 30% moisture had less lactic acid than corn with 35% and 40% moisture, indicating that fermentation might have been curtailed and also due to the clostridial fermentation that converts lactic acid to butyric acid. Ensiling reconstituted ground corn with 30% of moisture led to greater concentrations of ethanol and butyric acid, resulting in greater DM loss than grain rehydrated to 35% or 40% of moisture. Ammonia-N and in situ ruminal DMD were highest for reconstituted ground corn with 35% or 40% of moisture, mainly after 60 d of storage. Therefore, longer storage periods and greater moisture contents did not offset the negative effect of greater particle size on the in situ ruminal DMD of rolled RCG. Nonetheless, RCG should be ensiled with more than 30% moisture and stored for at least 2 mo to improve the ruminal DMD and reduce the formation of ethanol and butyric acid.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 2008
Author(s):  
Samsul Rizal ◽  
N. I. Saharudin ◽  
N. G. Olaiya ◽  
H. P. S. Abdul Khalil ◽  
M. K. Mohamad Haafiz ◽  
...  

The degradation and mechanical properties of potential polymeric materials used for green manufacturing are significant determinants. In this study, cellulose nanofibre was prepared from Schizostachyum brachycladum bamboo and used as reinforcement in the PLA/chitosan matrix using melt extrusion and compression moulding method. The cellulose nanofibre(CNF) was isolated using supercritical carbon dioxide and high-pressure homogenisation. The isolated CNF was characterised with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FT-IR, zeta potential and particle size analysis. The mechanical, physical, and degradation properties of the resulting biocomposite were studied with moisture content, density, thickness swelling, tensile, flexural, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, and biodegradability analysis. The TEM, FT-IR, and particle size results showed successful isolation of cellulose nanofibre using this method. The result showed that the physical, mechanical, and degradation properties of PLA/chitosan/CNF biocomposite were significantly enhanced with cellulose nanofibre. The density, thickness swelling, and moisture content increased with the addition of CNF. Also, tensile strength and modulus; flexural strength and modulus increased; while the elongation reduced. The carbon residue from the thermal degradation and the glass transition temperature of the PLA/chitosan/CNF biocomposite was observed to increase with the addition of CNF. The result showed that the biocomposite has potential for green and sustainable industrial application.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 134-135
Author(s):  
Michaela B Braun ◽  
Kara M Dunmire ◽  
Michael Sodak ◽  
Jerry Shepherd ◽  
Randy Fisher ◽  
...  

Abstract This study was performed to evaluate hammermill tip speed, assistive airflow and screen hole diameter on hammermill throughput and characteristics of ground corn. Corn was ground using two Andritz hammermills (Model: 4330–6, Andritz Feed & Biofuel, Muncy,PA) measuring 1-m in diameter each equipped with 72 hammers and 300 HP motors. Treatments were arranged in a 3 × 3 × 3 factorial design with 3 tip speeds (3,774, 4,975, and 6,176 m/min), 3 screen hole diameters (2.3, 3.9 and 6.3 mm), and 3 air flow rates (1,062, 1,416, and 1,770 fan RPM). Corn was ground on 3 separate days to create 3 replications and treatments were randomized within day. Samples were collected and analyzed for moisture, particle size, and flowability characteristics. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS 9.4 with grinding run serving as the experimental unit and day serving as the block. There was a 3-way interaction for standard deviation (Sgw), (linear screen hole diameter × linear hammer tip speed × linear air flow, P = 0.029). There was a screen hole diameter × hammer tip speed interaction (P &lt; 0.001) for geometric mean particle size dgw (P &lt; 0.001) and composite flow index (CFI) (P &lt; 0.001). When tip speed increased from 3,774 to 6,176 m/min the rate of decrease in dgw was greater as screen hole diameter increased from 2.3 to 6.3 mm resulting in a 67, 111, and 254 µm decrease in dgw for corn ground using the 2.3, 3.9, and 6.3 mm screen hole diameter, respectively. For CFI, increasing tip speed decreased the CFI of ground corn when ground using the 3.9 and 6.3 mm screen. However, when grinding corn using the 2.3 mm screen, there was no evidence of difference in CFI when increasing tip speed. In conclusion, the air flow rate did not influence dgw of corn but hammer tip speed and screen size were altered and achieved a range of dgw from 304 to 617 µm.


2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 685-692
Author(s):  
D. R. Ouellet ◽  
L. Faucitano ◽  
D. Pellerin ◽  
M. D’Amours ◽  
R. Berthiaume

Two experiments were conducted to determine the relationship between corn particle size and soybean meal treatment on growth, diet digestibility, and nitrogen balance of growing steers. In the first experiment, 40 medium-frame beef steers (250 ± 11 kg) were fed individually for 140 d a diet based on grass silage offered for ad libitum consumption and supplemented with either 3.5 kg of DM d-1 of cracked corn (CC) or ground corn (GC) and with 450 g of DM d-1 of solvent extracted (SS) or lignosulfonate-treated soybean meal (Soypass™ SP). Dry matter intake was not affected by treatments and averaged 8.6 ± 0.3 kg d-1 (P > 0.10). Average daily gain was higher for animals receiving the ground corn than those fed cracked corn. Feed to gain ratio was not affected by treatments. There was an interaction between treatments for plasma urea-N concentration, with source of soybean meal having no effect with CC. When compared with SS, SP supplement reduced plasma urea-N when fed with GC. No effect of soybean meal and its interaction with corn processing was observed on growth performance. In the second experiment four additional steers were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to evaluate diet digestibility and nitrogen balance. There was an interaction between treatments for starch apparent digestibility and N retained, the values being respectively, 90, 86, 93, and 92% (SEM = 1.2; P < 0.01) and 36, 42, 44 and 41 g d-1 (SEM = 2.8; P < 0.03) for CCSS, CCSP, GCSS and GCSP, respectively. Altogether, the results indicate a slight advantage to reduce particle size of corn in growing steers fed grass silage. However, soybean meal treatment resulted in limited effects on growth and digestion. Key words: Rumen carbohydrate, undegradable protein, performance, steers


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Faseleh Jahromi ◽  
Juan Boo Liang ◽  
Yin Wan Ho ◽  
Rosfarizan Mohamad ◽  
Yong Meng Goh ◽  
...  

Ability of two strains ofAspergillus terreus(ATCC 74135 and ATCC 20542) for production of lovastatin in solid state fermentation (SSF) using rice straw (RS) and oil palm frond (OPF) was investigated. Results showed that RS is a better substrate for production of lovastatin in SSF. Maximum production of lovastatin has been obtained usingA. terreusATCC 74135 and RS as substrate without additional nitrogen source (157.07 mg/kg dry matter (DM)). Although additional nitrogen source has no benefit effect on enhancing the lovastatin production using RS substrate, it improved the lovastatin production using OPF with maximum production of 70.17 and 63.76 mg/kg DM forA. terreusATCC 20542 andA. terreusATCC 74135, respectively (soybean meal as nitrogen source). Incubation temperature, moisture content, and particle size had shown significant effect on lovastatin production (P<0.01) and inoculums size and pH had no significant effect on lovastatin production (P>0.05). Results also have shown that pH 6, 25°C incubation temperature, 1.4 to 2 mm particle size, 50% initial moisture content, and 8 days fermentation time are the best conditions for lovastatin production in SSF. Maximum production of lovastatin using optimized condition was 175.85 and 260.85 mg/kg DM forA. terreusATCC 20542 and ATCC 74135, respectively, using RS as substrate.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelius Damar Hanung ◽  
Ronald Osmond ◽  
Hendro Risdianto ◽  
Sri Harjati Suhardi ◽  
Tjandra Setiadi

White rot fungi of Marasmius sp. is a fungus which produce laccase in high activity. Laccase is one of the ligninolityc enzymes that capable to degrade lignin. This ability can be used for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials in the bioethanol production. Laccase was produced in flask by batch process using Solid State Fermentation (SSF). The optimisation was conducted by statistically of full factorial design. The particle size, moisture content, and Cu concentration were investigated in this study. Rice straw was used as solid substrate and the glycerol was used as the carbon sources in modified Kirk medium. The results showed that particle size of rice straw did not affect significantly to the enzyme activity. The highest laccase activity of 4.45 IU/g dry weight was obtained at the moisture content of 61% and Cu concentration of 0.1 mM.Keywords: laccase, Marasmius sp., optimisation, rice straw, solid state fermentation ABSTRAKJamur pelapuk putih, Marasmius sp. merupakan jamur yang menghasilkan enzim lakase dengan aktivitas tinggi. Lakase merupakan enzim ligninolitik yang dapat mendegradasi lignin. Kemampuan ini dapat digunakan untuk proses pengolahan awal bahan lignoselulosa pada pembuatan bioetanol. Produksi lakase dilakukan dalam labu dengan modus batch menggunakan fermentasi kultur padat. Optimisasi produksi enzim lakase dengan metode fermentasi padat dilakukan dengan  rancangan percobaan faktorial penuh. Pengaruh ukuran partikel, kelembapan, dan konsentrasi Cu diuji dengan medium penyangga jerami dengan menambahkan gliserol dalam medium Kirk termodifikasi sebagai sumber karbon. Penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa ukuran jerami tidak berpengaruh signifikan terhadap aktivitas enzim. Aktivitas enzim lakase maksimum terjadi pada saat kelembapan 61% dan konsentrasi Cu 0,1 mM dengan aktivitas enzim lakase/berat kering tertinggi mencapai 4,45 IU/g.Kata kunci: lakase, Marasmius sp., optimisasi, jerami, fermentasi kultur padat


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