Method of improving head rice yield
AssigneeMEI Research, Ltd.
InventorWilliam D. Hurst
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Dehulled brown unmilled rice is exposed to ozone gas in an ozone and air gas mixture. The exposed brown rice is stored for at least a day to sufficiently affect the bran before subjecting the exposed rice to a typical milling process. The milling of the exposed brown rice results in reduced breakage and thus increased head rice yield to economically attractive levels.
Claims30
A method for pre-treating dehulled brown rice having a bran coat for producing head rice, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating ozone gas;
- providing dehulled brown rice having a bran coat thereon;
- exposing the dehulled rice to an atmosphere of the generated ozone gas greater than that found in ambient air;
- and
- storing the ozone-exposed rice for a period of time such that the generated ozone gas interacts with the brown rice to effect loosening of the bran coat prior to milling the bran coat from the dehulled rice.
A method for protecting dehulled brown rice for enhancing head rice yield, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a container;
- storing a quantity of brown rice in the container for exposing the rice contained therein to ozone;
- injecting an atmosphere of generated ozone gas greater than found in ambient air into the container for exposing a substantial portion of the brown rice to the atmosphere of ozone gas;
- and
- storing the exposed brown rice for a period of time sufficient to effect a loosening of the bran coat for enhancing head rice yield resulting from milling the exposed brown rice when compared to the same milling of dehulled rice not exposed to the generated ozone gas.
A method for milling, the method useful for enhancing head rice yield from milling, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating an atmosphere having a concentration of ozone gas greater than that found in ambient air;
- exposing brown rice having a bran layer to the atmosphere for providing an ozone exposure level sufficient for an ozone gas interaction with the bran layer to be removed in milling;
- storing the exposed rice for a time prior to milling, the storing time sufficient for permitting any interaction between the ozone and the brownrice to affect loosening of the rice bran layer;
- and
- milling the exposed rice with a sufficient degree of milling for removing the covering layer, the exposing, storing, and the degree of milling of the exposed rice improving head rice yield when compared to the same milling of rice not exposed to the generated ozone gas.
A method for pre-treating dehulled grains which still retain their bran coats, the method comprising the sequential steps of:
- generating ozone gas;
- exposing dehulled grain having a bran coat thereon to an atmosphere containing a concentration of the ozone gas greater than that found in ambient air;
- storing the ozone exposed grain for a period of time such that the ozone interacts with the exposed grain to effect loosening of the bran coat;
- and then
- milling the exposed grain to remove the bran coat from the exposed grain, wherein the amount of ozone gas, the exposure time of the exposed grain to the ozone gas, and the storage time of the exposed grain prior to milling all being in an amount sufficient to provide an increased yield of unbroken grain when compared to the same milling step employed on grain that has not been exposed to the concentration of ozone and that has not been stored for the time period after exposure and before milling to remove the bran coat.
A method for pretreating dehulled grains which still retain their bran coats, the method comprising the sequential steps of:
- generating ozone gas;
- exposing dehulled grain having a bran coat thereon to an atmosphere containing a concentration of the generated ozone gas greater than that found in ambient air;
- and
- storing the ozone exposed grain for a period of time such that the ozone interacts with the exposed grain to effect loosening of the bran coat, wherein the amount of ozone gas, the exposure time of the exposed grain to the ozone gas, and the storage time of the exposed grain prior to milling of the grain all being in an amount sufficient to provide an increased yield of unbroken grain when compared to the same milling employed on grain that has not been exposed to the concentration of ozone and that has not been stored for the time period after exposure and before milling to remove the bran coat.
A method for pretreating dehulled grains which still retain their bran coats, the method comprising the sequential steps of:
- exposing dehulled grain having a bran coat thereon to an atmosphere containing a concentration of ozone gas greater than that found in ambient air;
- storing the ozone exposed grain for a period of time such that the ozone interacts with the exposed grain to effect loosening of the bran coat;
- and then
- milling the exposed grain to remove the bran coat from the exposed grain, wherein the amount of ozone gas, the exposure time of the exposed grain to the ozone gas, and the storage time of the exposed grain prior to milling all being in an amount sufficient to provide an increased yield of unbroken grain when compared to the same milling step employed on grain that has not been exposed to the concentration of ozone and that has not been stored for the time period after exposure and before milling to remove the bran coat.
A method for pretreating dehulled grains which still retain their bran coats, the method comprising the sequential steps of:
- exposing dehulled grain having a bran coat thereon to an atmosphere containing a concentration of generated ozone gas greater than that found in ambient air;
- and
- storing the ozone exposed grain for a period of time such that the ozone interacts with the exposed grain to effect loosening of the bran coat for milling of the exposed grain to remove the bran coat from the exposed grain, wherein the amount of ozone gas, the exposure time of the exposed grain to the ozone gas, and the storage time of the exposed grain prior to milling all being in an amount sufficient to provide an increased yield of unbroken grain when compared to the same milling step employed on grain that has not been exposed to the concentration of ozone and that has not been stored for the time period after exposure and before milling to remove the bran coat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.