Commingling Effects and Residual Grain during Grain Receiving

Abstract

Concern about the possible effects of genetically modified crops has increased thedemand for segregating grains during handling and processing operations. Research on the amountof commingling of different grains in an elevator is limited. This study evaluated the level ofcommingling at a grain flow rate of 51 t/h (2000 bu/h) at the research elevator facility of the USDAARS,Grain Marketing and Production Research Center (GMPRC), Manhattan, Kansas. White cornwas first loaded in the elevator followed by yellow corn. Samples were taken after the yellow cornhad passed the elevator boot, weighing scale, and grain cleaner. Samples were sorted by color andcomponents were weighed to determine commingling, defined as the percentage of unwanted grainin the total grain mass. Residual grain was also collected from each piece of equipment after eachreplication. Commingling for the first 380 kg (15 bu, approximately 1% of the leg rate per hour) wasapproximately 4%; it decreased to 0.5% within the first metric ton of load (2% of the leg rate perhour). Residual grain in the dump pit and elevator boot amounted to 0.24% and 1.41% of the totalload, respectively. The process commingling after the receiving pit and elevator boot amounted to 0.15% while commingling percentages with weighing scale, grain cleaner and grain scalper were0.18%, 0.28% and 0.01%, respectively.