Sunflower and Bran Separation

Protein enrichment in sunflower meal

Hexane extracted sunflower meal samples were processed to separate the protein and fiber fractions to generate an upgraded product using STET tribo-electrostatic belt separator. A high protein content oil-
seed meal product has applications in animal feed industry for its enhanced nutritional value. The test

feed was milled (Sausa) divos daļiņu izmēros, a coarser feed with a D50: 70 Mikronu, prepared with a hammer
mill and a finer feed with a D50: 25 Mikronu, sagatavoti dzirnavās, kas klasificētas kā gaiss. The dry sunflower seed
meal samples were then separated using a high throughput tribo-electrostatic belt separator.
Rupjākiem (D50: 70 Mikronu) Parauga, feed containing approximately 40% proteīns (sausa pamata) was
separated into a product containing 52% olbaltumvielas un blakusprodukts ar 29% proteīns, in a single pass
through the separator. Smalkākam (D50: 25 Mikronu) Parauga, produkts ar 54% protein content was
generated, with a by-product of 25% proteīns, vienā piegājienā caur atdalītāju. The product grade
can be increased further by using the second pass i.e. re-processing the product of the first pass. Sunflower meal
separation images are shown below:

The tribo-electrostatic belt separator successfully demonstrated the capability to process ground
sunflower seed meal to significantly enrich the protein content. A key feature of this technology is that
efficient separation of feed components is achieved without the addition of water or chemicals, thereby
eliminating any downstream processing such as drying. It is a high rate, low energy usage, an industrially
proven processing device which can be utilized as a compliment to existing dry processing, or in
cases where alternative dry processing technologies, such as air classification, are shown to have limited
effectiveness.

Fiber enrichment in oat bran:

Oat bran samples were processed to increase the fiber and associated beta-glucan content by separating the starch and fiber fractions, using STET tribo-electrostatic belt separator. Increased fiber and beta-
glucan content products are an important growing application in food industry due to the health benefits of these components. For this test, a sample of commercially available oat bran was purchased with a median particle size
(D50): approx. 800 Mikronu.

The table below shows analytical results for the feed, product, and by-product (see image below). The results
show increased fiber and beta-glucan in the product, while the by-product is enriched in starch.

The tribo-electrostatic belt separator successfully demonstrated the capability to process oat bran to
separate fiber and starch. A key feature of this technology is that efficient separation of feed components
is achieved without the addition of water or chemicals, thereby eliminating any downstream processing such
as drying. It is a high rate, low energy usage, an industrially proven processing device which can be utilized
as a compliment to existing dry processing, or in cases where alternative dry processing
technologies, such as air classification, are shown to have limited effectiveness.