Wet‐Milling of Grain Sorghum of Varying Seed Size Without Steeping

Abstract

AbstractExperimental lines of hybrid grain sorghums were produced with thousand‐kernel‐weights (TKW) varying between 23.1–44.9 g. The proportion of germ in the normal‐seeded hybrids with TKW 23–27 g was ∼ 9.9–10.2% of dry kernel weight, whereas that in the large‐seeded hybrids with TKW 37–45 g was ∼ 10.8–11.2%. Starch in grain decreased ∼ 4% as kernel weight increased which was offset by an increase in protein level. Wet‐milling of the grain was done without steeping after an initial coarse‐grinding step in two parts of water with 0.3% sodium bisulfite. Three of four samples of large‐seeded and soft‐textured grain sorghums gave 77–82% recovery of starch with 0.5–0.7% protein, while one gave 59% recovery and 0.6% protein. The starches had < 0.5% damaged starch, gave no rancid off‐odor after storing 26 months at 25°C in a sealed glass container, and had lightness (L*) values of 93.1–93.7 vs. 95.2 for a commercial corn starch. Their pasting curves were similar to that of commercial corn starch. The bran/germ/endosperm fraction obtained by limited wet‐milling of one large‐seeded hybrid was separated by flotation to recover one‐half the germ in 98% purity as estimated by fat content.