Rice Milling

By JF Rickman and M Gummert Agricultural Engineering IRRI

Topics
What is milling Characteristic of paddy Options for milling Multistage milling By products of milling

Objective of milling
1. Remove the husk 2. Remove the bran layers 3. Produce whole white rice kernels that are sufficiently milled, free of impurities and minimum number of broken kernels.

Physical Characteristics of rice

Physical characteristic Paddy Husk Brown rice Meal Pericarp and testa (5-6%) Aluerone (1%) Embryo (3%) White rice Percentage 100 20 80 8-10

70-72

Chemical Characteristics
Brown rice Moisture content (%) Starch (%) Amylose Protein (%) Fat Fiber Crude ash 13-14 68-70 28-30 6-8 3 2-3 1-1.5 White rice 13-14 80 33 6-7 1 0.5 0.5 Bran 13-14 9 6 14 20 25 9-10

Milling Options
1. 2. 3. 4. Hand Milling One step milling process Two-step process and Multistage process

Pestle and mortar

Friction based-kernel against kernel High breakage Final cleaning hand winnowing and gravity

Single pass steel mill

Steel friction mill Very high pressure Originated from coffee grinder Low white rice recovery ( 50-55%) Head rice less than 30% Often used for par boiled rice

Two Stage Mill

Super seeded Engleberg (steel) mill Separate hulling and whitening Rubber roller huller Steel friction polisher Capacity 0.5-1t/hr Milling recovery - 60%

2 stage Vietnam mill

Multistage Mill
1.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Pre-cleaning the paddy prior to milling Removing the husk or outer layer from the paddy Polishing or whiting the brown rice to remove the bran layer Separating the broken grains from the whole kernels Bagging the milled rice Managing the byproducts

Multi-stage mill

Pre-cleaning
Equipment Oscillating Sieve type Aspiration cum Oscillation Type Rotary Cleaner

Process of separation
Process 1. Scalp larger objects 2. Retain desired size/weight 3. Removes small size or lighter weight material

De-stoner
Gravity separator Separates on weight

Dehusker
Equipment Steel huller Under runner disc sheller Rubber rollers Operation Friction between surfaces Speed differentials Abrasion

Under runner disc Sheller

Paddy separator
Compartment Separator Paddy and brown rice move at different speeds Brown rice moves faster Specific gravity/buoyancy 45 compartments/2 ton

Gravity separator
Tray Separator Brown rice up slope, paddy down Specific gravity, grain length, coefficient of friction

Friction polisher
Grain kernels forced against each other and a metal screen by a steel ribbed cylinder Always horizontal High pressure, higher temperature than abrasive Suitable japonica types

Steel Polisher-horizontal friction

(Engelberg Type)

Feed

Steel mesh

Steel rotor

Grain

Abrasive polisher
Vertical or horizontal Abrasive surface and screen Less pressure on kernel Better for Indica types

Polishing- Conical Stone

Polisher-horizontal Abrasive

Oscillating Screen separator

Separates out brewers Large and small brokens Oscillating screen

Length Grader
Length grader works by matching screen indentation with whole grain length Small/broken rice fall into indents while whole grain pass to end Sometime set up with 2 different indent sizes

Separating bins
Separates into head rice, large brokens and small broken Mix any combination on belt by variable speed delivery motors in each outlet

Mist Polisher
Improves luster on rice Small amount dust and water

Color sorter
Has to be calibrated for desired color Works on separation discolored grain by using air stream Expensive

Bagging Station
Rice normally sold in 50kg bags Accurately weighed

Mill by products
Husk Coarse meal Fine meal Brewers grain