Patent EA-004914-B1 (EA)
Title: A process for the production of green malt
Inventor: NALLEN PETER
IPC: C12C1/135
Filed: 2004-03-10
Abstract: 1. A barley germination process to produce green malt on a fixed germination bed having a perforated barley supporting surface comprising, with the bed full of barley: removing a last batch of green malt from the distal end of the bed every four to twelve hours; moving barley progressively along the bed to allow a first batch to be loaded on the bed at its proximal end, the moving operation comprising lifting the barley off the bed and delivering it back onto the bed distally from its previous position and exposing some of the surface of the bed; cleaning, using the scraper device, the exposed surface of the bed every time the batches are moved along the bed to prevent clogging of the perforated barley supporting surface; loading the first batch onto the bed and simultaneously checking the moisture level of the first batch as it is loaded onto the bed and spraying the barley if its moisture level falls below 45%:; delivering air having a 100% relative humidity and an air-on temperature of between 12 degree C and 20 degree C up through the bed; controlling the air-on temperature and the volume of air delivered so that the barley temperature is between 12 degree C and 20 degree C; measuring and recording the germination capacity of each batch at predetermined time intervals; providing a profile of the germination capacity of all the batches along the bed; comparing the profile so obtained with the profile of the germination capacity of similar barleys which resulted in an acceptable green malt, together with the operating conditions under which the green malt was produced; and varying the air-on temperature, as well as the volume of air delivered up through the bed, having regard to the comparison. 2. A process as claimed in claim 1, in which the first batch is sprayed with gibberellic acid as it is loaded onto the bed. 3. A process as claimed in claim 1or 2, in which the gibberellic acid is added at the rate of approximately 0.001 Kg per tonne barley. 4. A process as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the germination capacity of each batch is measured each time the batch is moved along the bed. 5. A process as claimed in any claims 1 to 3, in which the germination capacity of each batch is measured every 18 to 30 hours. 6. A process as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the germination capacity is measured approximately every 24 hours. 7. A process as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the barley temperature is varied if the profile of the germination capacity indicates an unsatisfactory germination capacity for the barley on the bed. 8. A process as claimed in any preceding claim, in which part of a batch of green malt is removed for kilning approximately every 8 hours. 9. A process as claimed in claim 8, in which approximately one third of a batch is removed. 10. A process as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the time between first loading of the bed and final removal as green malt takes between 4 and 6 days. 11. A process a as claimed in claim 10, in which the time taken is of the order of 5 days.