Patent GB-1196622-A (GB)
Title: Milling of Cereal Grains and Processing of Products Derived Therefrom
Inventor: WAYNE TRUMAN BENJAMIN
IPC: A23L7/10
Filed: 1967-06-13
Abstract: 1,196,622. Cereal grain reduction processes. T. B. WAYNE. 13 June, 1967 [13 June, 1966], No. 27156/67. Heading A2Q. [Also in Divisions C3 and C5] In a process for milling wheat, maize, rye or sorghum grains and for subsequently extracting cereal oil from the bran component thereof, the kernels are milled in the presence of a substantially non-aqueous volatile liquid organic solvent such that a substantial separation of the bran and germ constituents from the endosperm is effected, whereby the separated fractions may be separately treated to yield cereal oil and food products respectively. Preferably milling is effected in the presence of a bran-coat softening agent which is conveniently a recycled portion of the cereal oil. As shown, cereal oil in a tank B, Fig. 1, is mixed with grain fed from silas 2 by conveyers 3, 4, A and passes via holding tank D and vapour-lock 8 to milling machine E, Fig. 5, which has an inlet section E-1, a milling section E-2 which comprises a perforated stator 13 and an axially adjustable rotor 14 whereby a desired partial reduction of the kernels is effected, resulting in the delivery of most of the bran and germ constituent at outlet 83, and a delivery section E-3 which is provided with two outlets, 35 for larger pieces of the kernel, mainly endosperm, and 38 for smaller pieces or miscella able to pass through a screen 134. Each of the sections E-1, E-2, E-3 include injector nozzles for admitting the liquid organic solvent which is recycled from later stages. The solvent is preferably either a highly refined petroleum fraction, such as n-hexane or n-heptane, or a polar solvent such as an alcohol, ketone or ether, e.g. ethanol, isopropanol, acetone, ethyl ether, isopropyl either. A pressure substantially above atmospheric is maintained in the milling chamber by hydraulic pressure in a jack 30 which acts on outlet valve 29. As shown in Fig. 1, the larger pieces of kernel from outlet 35 may be selectively directed via valve 141 or 141a either to a vibratory screen J, for completion of germ removal after which they pass via desolventizer drum L, deodorising drum M and, if desired, pulverizer N to kernel product screening, storage and packing stages (not shown), or to shoot 41b for mixing with the smaller pieces and miscella discharged from outlet 38 (Fig. 2, not shown). In the latter case, further reduction of the mixture is effected in a disintegrator (O) in order that separation of fibrous, proteinacous and starchy fractions may be accomplished (see Division C3). The cereal oil is extracted from the material leaving all three outlets 35, 38, 83 of the milling machine by the liquid organic solvent (see Division C5). The cereal oil is obtained from a stripping column FF, some being recycled via tank B while the remainder passes to a storage tank II. The solvent vapours from column FF and various other parts of the process pass to condensers DD, JJ, KK, NN for collection in tank EE and subsequent recycling. A tank LL supplies fresh solvent when needed.