Method and apparatus for treating cereal kernels, treated cereal kernels and their use
AssigneeLP-Tutkimuskeskus Oy
InventorsJuhani Olkku, Petri Peltola, Pekka Reinikainen, Esa Räsänen, Veli-Matti Tuokkuri
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Abstract
The invention relates to a heat treatment method of cereal kernels which enables the decrease in the mould content of the cereal kernels without disturbing their germinability. The method is especially applicable to the treatment of kernels to be germinated e.g. before malting. The invention also relates to the treated cereal kernels, cereal kernel products made of them and their use in malting and brewing. Further, apparatuses are described which are applicable to the heat treatment of cereal kernels.
Claims19
A method of treating cereal kernels to decrease their mould content, comprising transporting the kernels to a heating station, exposing the kernels to heat at such a temperature for such a period of time that the mould content of the kernels decreases but germinabilty remains, wherein the temperature of the kernels to be treated is raised to a temperature of 60 to 100° C. for 0.5 to 30 seconds, and cooling the kernels.
A cereal kernel, charactarized in that it is treated with the method as claimed in 1.
An apparatus for treating cereal kernels to decrease their mold content, said apparatus comprising
- transport means to transport the cereal kernels, said transport means being adapted to retain the kernels in the steaming area for 0.5 to 30 seconds,
- steam feeding means to direct the steam onto the kernels, said steam feeding means being adapted to raise the temperature of the kernels to a temperature range of 60 to 100° C., and
- air cooling means to cool the cereal kernels with air, wherein the steam feeding means are disposed upstream of the air cooling means in the transport direction of the transport means.
An apparatus for treating cereal kernels to decrease their mold content, said apparatus comprising
- a feed box to feed the kernels, and
- a vertical pipe containing a control cone to disperse the kernels, and flow controlling means to slow down the speed of the seeds, said control cone and flow controlling means being adapted to slow down the speed of the moving kernels to retain the kernels in the pipe for 0.5 to 30 seconds, and steam feeding means to treat the kernels with steam, said steam feeding means being adapted to raise the temperature of the kernels to be treated to a temperature range of 60 to 100° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.