INFLUENCE OF DRYING TEMPERATURE ON THE CORN WET-MILLING PROCESS: REVIEW

In order to separate its major components, corn kernel is processed using the wet-milling process during which steeping, milling and starch/gluten separations appear to be the most important operations. To improve the efficiency of this process, corn wet-milling industry expended considerable resources focusing on improved process control, more efficient process equipment and on the development of hybrids that decrease the variability and reduce production costs. However, important variability is still observed according to the thermal history of grain after harvesting. The present article reviews up-to-date literature on the effect of drying conditions on the corn wet-milling performance and the physicochemical and functional properties of corn wet-milled fraction. Literature in this topic shows that high drying temperature combined with high initial moisture content of grain impact significantly the wet-milling performance and the quality of recovered materials. Further studies on the influence of drying process on the quality of starch, gluten, germ and fiber recovered during the wet-milling process are needed and would help to develop more accurate engineering and economic models for the corn wet milling process.