6] The Pilot plant

WP leader: Martin Hedström martin.hedstrom@biotek.lu.se

The pilot plant operated in work package 6 is designed and manufactured within the ScanOats project. The semi-automatic pilot plant is constructed for the processing of cereals, mainly oat kernels, but also other suitable vegetable food products, via wet milling in three steps with subsequent enzyme treatment. The pilot plant will primarily be used for research and development of oat products in the ScanOats project based on health effects, taste and other product experiences linked to:
-Density and particle size
-Protein, fat and carbohydrate composition linked to existing and newly developed oat varieties
-Enzyme profile
-Improved process analytics

The pilot plant

The ScanOats pilot plant is designed for continuous processing of cereals for the production of liquid base material in the range from 50-500 L. Via a dedicated control system, the grains are fed and mixed with water at a fixed ratio and at a selected temperature. Three consecutive wet milling steps are utilized, involving a perforated disc mill, a tooth colloid mill and a corundum mill, which results in a base material with exceedingly reduced particle size (40-80 µm). With the integrated holding/enzyme tank (capacity of 500 L), it is possible to produce pilot scale amount of material for further processing.

Oat-base processing

A main objective in work package 6 is to facilitate the use of the pilot plant for internal project partners related to other work packages. Here, focus can be on different oat varieties and/or process parameters such as the utilized enzyme profile or the degree of milling. The use of the pilot plant can also become available for external users via a third-party agreement.

Online analytics

Research and development of dedicated process analytical tools implemented directly in the workflow, will allow for the ScanOats pilot plant to be utilized as a test bench i.e., a proof of concept, for the monitoring and control of various process parameters of interest at an industrial production level. An initial focus on less complicated parameters, such as the total solid content will be followed by more advanced online analytical methods related to e.g., the maltose/glucose levels, protein content or mycotoxin detection.

Raw material pre-treatment

Another focus area in work package 6 is the study of different pre-treatment methods e.g., malting and kilning in combination with the pilot plant processing. This work will be performed in close collaboration with colleagues in work package 4.

Related information about oat processing and process analytics:

Jantra, J., Zor, K., Sanders, M., De Saeger, S., Hedström, M., Mattiasson, B. Development of an automated flow-based spectrophotometric immunoassay for continuous detection of zearalenone. Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry, 2020, 67, 375-382.
Bergdahl, G.E., Hedström, M., Mattiasson, B. Capacitive saccharide sensor based on immobilized phenylboronic acid with diol specificity. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2019, 188, 124-137.
Rimsten, L., Haraldsson, A., Andersson, R., Alminger, M., Åman, P., Sandberg, A. Effects of malting on betaglucanase and phytase activity in barley grain. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2002, 82, 904-912.
De Bondt, Y., Liberloo, I., Roye, C., Windhab, E., Lamothe, L., King, R., Courtin, C. The Effect of Wet Milling and Cryogenic Milling on the Structure and Physicochemical Properties of Wheat Bran. Foods, 2020, 27, 1755.