A new method for rapeseed hulls purification – Proof of concept

The loss of fats in the hulls is one main obstacles limiting industrial implementation rapeseed dehulling. reason resides shape outer cotyledons which resemble to hulls’ and make it difficult separate. purpose this study propose a new method for purification hulls. After primary separation by aspiration, mixture kernels passed between pair flat rolls where are flattened stick metal while do not. We exploited property adapt small laboratory flaker with two counter-rotating cylinders 65 mm diameter scrapers that fall away from Process optimization tunning experimental conditions (hulls moisture content, roller spacing, speed feed rate) allowed determination optimal operating conditions. Experiments showed wetting improves purity but reduces recovered kernels. A gap 0.1 was necessary. In addition, shown sorting quality depends on ratio flow-rate / rotation-speed. best performances reached around 1 g.s −1 .rpm . these conditions, were 96% 94% respectively. This preliminary work has us prove concept. next step will be develop pilot plant validate process efficiency larger scale (100 kg/h).