Details of the project EPI

Development and implementation of innovative dry fractionation technologies along with micronization of dried corn grains.

28-04-2023 do 31-12-2024

6 324 307,15

EFRROW; national public funds

www.cornmeal.eu

Development and implementation of innovations in the field of product, method of organization and marketing and technology consisting in dry fractionation combined with micronization of raw material – corn grains for meal with specific parameters and its new applications.

Fractionation of raw material and analysis of obtained fractions. Assessment of the basic composition of the raw material (AOAC) Carrying out dry fractionation in several variants and measuring the basic composition of the obtained fractions, as well as their energy value. Characteristics of raw material and fraction. Assessment of the content of anti-nutritional compounds. Measurement of the following parameters for each fraction and for selected fraction mixtures. Measurement of solubility as a function of pH and ionic strength, foaming ability and stability, water or oil retention capacity, emulsion formation and emulsion stability, gelation.

Dry fractionation technology combined with micronization is a method that allows modification and increase the value of crushed starch raw materials. The main advantage of the proposed technology compared to classical techniques of fractionation of crushed starch and protein raw materials is simplicity and elimination of the use of solvents and chemicals from the technology. Classical fractionation methods require the use of large amounts of water, sodium hydroxide, and acids. In addition, a high energy input is required to concentrate and remove the solvents used. Modern strategies used in agriculture involve the use and exploitation of resources in an efficient way, minimizing food losses and strengthening sustainable food production. The processing of primary raw materials must result in products of higher value than primary raw materials. The increase in energy and raw material costs forces manufacturers to use the latest processing methods to produce products with appropriate fu

The aim of the project is to develop an innovative method and produce starch and protein products with increased functional value from maize. To achieve the above objective, a processing method consisting in the initial preparation of the raw material for micronization, fragmentation of the raw material to the appropriate particle size and fractionation of the raw material using physical methods into fractions with increased protein content and fractions with increased starch content will be used. The use of micronization techniques leads to gelatinization of starch at a high level, which contributes to improving digestibility and increasing the energy value of the grain. The taste improves, the protein is denatured and its digestibility improves. Additionally, unwanted bacterial microflora is eliminated. The raw material prepared in this way is a valuable base for high-quality production. The use of dry fractionation methods will also allow the separation of protein and starch fractions, which will contribute to increasing the value of the final products. Thanks to the use of micronization, it will be possible to separate individual fractions from raw material with different particle sizes, determine their basic composition and functional properties and their dependencies, and create a universal additive based on one raw material, whose role in food production will be adjusted on the basis of the share of individual fractions after micronization.

The main result of the operation will have a positive impact on environmental protection. The applied technology will be deprived of the use of solvents and chemicals, which is the case in currently used technologies, and the product itself will be ecological both in the production process and subsequent disposal. The new use of the product in zoology will also contribute to the protection of the natural environment, because the product after use can be composted or used as a fertilizer in the garden. Currently used technologies generate large amounts of liquid waste and dust. Both the generated waste and the products generated at these installations are not biodegradable due to the content of chemicals. Importantly, the result of the implemented, innovative solutions for the organization of production on the pilot plant to be built will be a lack of liquid waste. Dusts generated during production will be recycled and recombined with fractions in the granulation process, so the generation of waste will be reduced to a minimum and the products formed during production will be biodegradable due to the lack of chemicals.

agricultural production system