Wheat Milling
Enhancing Milling Knowledge
Milling is the process which separating the wheat kernel’s bran, germ and endosperm constituents is ground into flour. It involves storing, Cleaning, conditioning and milling.
Introduction of Wheat
Wheat is a living organ and has the capacity to hold an certain amount of moisture. That is why, it is also called Hygroscopic materials. A wheat kernel has a definite biological function. According to its classes and varieties can vary considerably in both chemical and physical escalation. A wheat kernel has three distinct parts:
Bran: Till Growth begins, the bran protects the seed. The bran is 14.5% of wheat kernel. It includes:
- Hyaline membrane (nucellar tissue)
- Seed Coat and tube cells
- Epidermis (outermost protective layer)
- Hypodermis(epicarp)
- Endocarp(cross cells)
- Hairs of brush(beard)
Germ: It is an embryonic plant which the wheat plant grows. The germ is 2.5% of wheat kernel. This is high in protein but also high in fats and oils. It comprises:
- Rudimentary primary root
- Rudimentary shoot
- Sheath of shoot
- Scutellum (shield between germ and endosperm)
Endosperm: While the roots and leaves have not developed it supplies the embryonic plant with food during the first period of growth. It contains 83% endosperm of wheat kernel. The endosperm is comprised of mainly starch with some protein. It contains:
- Cells filled with starch granules in protein matrix
- Cellulose cells walls
- Aleurone layer(outer endosperm cells)
Millers Objectives
By maintaining lower ash content producing high grade quality products with lowest operational cost.
A Good Miller aims to achieve:
Effective wheat utilization
Consistent flour quality
Efficient operation
Hygiene and safety
Cost Management
Innovative practice
Customer satisfaction
Wheat Kernel Composition
Bran [14.5%]
Pericarp
Seedcoat
Aleurone Layer
Endosperm [83%]
Starch Granules
Protein
Germ [2.5%]
Rudimentary Primary Shoot
Rudimentary Shoot
Sheath of Shoot
Wheat Composition
Process Integration
Wheat milling process integration involves coordinating various stages of wheat processing, from cleaning and conditioning to grinding and sifting, to optimize efficiency and product quality. By seamlessly integrating these stages, mills can ensure consistent flour quality and minimize waste while streamlining operations.
Storing
Cleaning aims to optimize the removal of ferrous materials, organic materials likewise grain chaff, straw, sticks, dust. Besides this, dissimilar cereal grain, different types of seeds likewise oats, rye, barely also mix with wheat grain materials. Different shape and size of wheat grain is also the effect on wheat grain cleaning process system. For maintaining these effective cleaning system miller should take some initiative regarding this issue. The proper screening system should be considered as a result foreign materials or other impurities will be removed easily.
Cleaning
Cleaning aims to optimize the removal of ferrous materials, organic materials likewise grain chaff, straw, sticks, dust. Besides this, dissimilar cereal grain, different types of seeds likewise oats, rye, barely also mix with wheat grain materials. Different shape and size of wheat grain is also the effect on wheat grain cleaning process system. For maintaining these effective cleaning system miller should take some initiative regarding this issue. The proper screening system should be considered as a result foreign materials or other impurities will be removed easily.
Conditioning
Wheat conditioning is defined in which wheat are treated with a combination of moisture, time, properties of wheat and heat. It is the most crucial aspects of flour mill. Less addition of water affects the separation of bran and endosperm as well as breaks the bran entirely. Excessive amount of adding moisture has also the drawbacks of conditioning system. It will more soften the endosperm as a result break rolls mellowing this portion more than the quality requirement. That’s why, proper conditioning is required for getting good quality product.
Milling
The milling process in a wheat flour mill involves several key steps, each designed to transform raw wheat grains into fine flour. The process is a combination of mechanical and chemical procedures aimed at separating the wheat’s endosperm (the starchy part) from the bran (outer layers) and germ (embryo).Break Rolls: The conditioned wheat kernels are passed through a series of break rolls, which are rotating steel cylinders with grooves. The break rolls crack open the wheat kernels without crushing them into flour. This step primarily separates the bran from the endosperm.