ENHANCEMENT OF AMYLOLYTIC POTENTIAL OF SORGHUM MALTS BY ALKALINE STEEP TREATMENT

The effect of alkaline steep liquor on sorghum maltability was investigated using three improved Nigeria sorghum cultivara. Germination was for four days at 30°C after steeping under four different regimes. Grain germinability, root length and malting loss were significantly (P < 0.001) repressed by steeping in alkaline liquor for all the cultivars. However, the extent of this repression seemed in all cases significantly dependent on cultivar and steep regime plus their possible interactions. Similarly, the development of diastatic enzymes activities appeared to be highly significantly dependent on steep liquor, steep regime, cultivar, plus their possible pairwise and three way interactions. For ICSV400, highest diastatic power and α-amylase development were attained on steeping grains in alkaline liquor under a continuous steep regime incorporating final warm steep treatment. Conversely, exposure of KSV8 and SK5912 to a regime incorporating air-resting and final warm steep significantly enhanced diastatic power and α-amylase development. β-Amylase activity was in all cases enhanced by alkaline steeping. In fact, β-Amylolytic activity constituted over 70% of total diastatic activity in most alkaline steeped ICSV400 malts. However, SK5912 exhibited relatively low hot water extract in spite of the improved amylolytic activity.     

DURATION OF FINAL WARM WATER STEEP AS A FACTOR INFLUENCING SOME CARBOHYDRATE RELATED PROPERTIES OF SORGHUM MALT

The effects of duration of final warm steep at 40°C on main root length, malting loss, diastatic power, α- and β-amylolytic activities and extract of two improved Nigerian Sorghum cultivars (CSV 400 and KSV 8 were studied. The duration of final warm steep was varied between 1.5 h and 7.5 h. Germination was for four days at 30°C. All malt quality parameters evaluated were greatly influenced by duration of final warm steep and cultivar as well as their pair-wise interactions. Malting loss and average main root length decreased progressively as the duration of final warm steep increased. Conversely diastatic activity, α- and β-amylolvtic activity and extract yield of both ICSV 400 and KSV 8 generally increased as duration of final warm steep was increased up to 3 h before a progressive drop. Submission to varying lengths of final warm steeping appeared to progressively restrict formation of rootlets and malting loss without concomitant depression of diastatic enzymes development and extract yield. Maximum diastatic activity was attained on submission of grains to 3 h length of final warm steep. A second diastatic activity peak at 7.5 h for KSV 8 may result from increased β-amylolytic activity at 7.5 h final warm steep period. The occurrence of two β-amylase maxima at 3 h and 7.5 h duration of final warm steep for ICSV 400 indicates possible presence of at least two β-amylase components.     

EFFECTS OF AIR REST PERIODS ON MALTING SORGHUM RESPONSE TO FINAL WARM WATER STEEP

The effects off various lengths of air rests on response off malting sorghum main root length, malting loss, diastatic activity, α- and β-amyloytic activity and extract to final warm water steep at 40°C was investigated. Grains were steeped in distilled water for a total of 48 h at 30°C with a 6 h final warm water steep under four different cycles incorporating 1, 2, 3 or 4 h air rest periods. All malt quality properties evaluated were significantly affected by the length of air rest, the cultivar and their pair-wise interactions. Main rootlet length and malting loss reduced progressively as the length of air rest increased. Reducing power, α- and β-amylolytic activity and extract generally increased as the length of air rest was increased for both sorghum cultivars ICSV 400 and KSV 8 examined. The steep cycle incorporating 3 h length of air rest was found by experiment to give the optimum levels of malt quality indices analysed while at the same time causing considerable reduction in average main rootlet length and total malting loss for both grain cultivars.     

INFLUENCE OF CULTIVAR AND STEEP REGIME ON SOME PROTEIN RELATED PROPERTIES OF SORGHUM MALTS

Cold water extract (CWE), cold water soluble protein (CWS-protein), CWS-protein modification and free alpha amino nitrogen (FAN) were determined for three improved Nigerian sorghum cultivars malted under four different steep conditions. The levels of these variables in the sorghum malts differed significantly when malted under identical steep regimes. This indicates that soluble protein accumulation and modification in these grains are cultivar dependent. Grains exposed to a combination of air rest cycles and final warm steeping gave highest values of cold water solubles, CWS-protein modification and FAN. Amylolytic activity was enhanced over the rate of proteolysis when grains were steeped under regimes incorporating final warm steep. Cultivar SK 5912 with highest soluble protein solubilisation activity showed lowest FAN accumulation under all steep regimes suggesting roles for factors other than proteolysis in FAN accumulation.     

THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT STEEPING REGIMES ON WATER UPTAKE,GERMINATION RATE,MILLING ENERGY AND HOT WATER EXTRACT

Five spring cultivars and one winter barley cultivar have been assessed for aspects of malting quality following four different steeping regimes. There were significant effects of cultivar and steeping regime for all characters and cultivar X steeping regime interaction for germination rate and hot water extract. Moisture content after steep was the best guide to the optimum steeping regime. Malting quality was best predicted, in genotypes which germinated rapidly, by determining grain hardness following steeping and 24 hrs germination.     

EFFECT OF MALTING TEMPERATURE AND TIME ON ENZYME DEVELOPMENT AND SORGHUM WORT PROPERTIES

The effect of malting temperature and time on enzyme development and wort properties of an improved Nigerian sorghum cultivar (Ex-Kwara) were investigated. Malting was carried out at two temperature regimes, 20°C and 25°C for eight days. Parameters evaluated included α- and β;-amylase development, hot water extract (HWE), soluble extract, fermentability, fermentable extract, viscosity, filtration rate, reducing sugars, α;-amino nitrogen and total soluble nitrogen (TSN). For virtually all the parameters studied, germination at 25°C produced higher values on the 4th day after which temperature appeared to have little influence. α;-Amylase development continued throughout the germination period while β;-amylase peaked on the 6th day. Optimal values of total soluble nitrogen (TSN) were recorded at both 25°C and 20°C at the 6th and 8th day of germination respectively .     

EFFECTS OF AIR REST PERIOD ON THE MOBILISATION OF SORGHUM RESERVE PROTEINS

The influence of air rest treatment period on the mobilisation of storage proteins of two improved Nigerian sorghum cultivars ICSV 400 and KSV 8 was evaluated. Grains were steeped in distilled water for a total period of 48 h at 30°C with a 6 h final warm steep at 40°C under four different cycles incorporating 1, 2, 3 or 4 h air rest period respectively. Cold water soluble protein, cold water soluble protein modification index, total cold water solubles, total free alpha amino acid nitrogen, carboxy-peptidase and proteinase activities were determined after 6 days malting. All these protein modification indices were highly significantly affected by length of air rest and cultivar, plus their pair-wise interactions. The levels of all these variables were also higher in sorghum cultivar ICSV 400 compared to KSV 8 except for proteinase activity. Significant differences in grain storage protein complexity and structure coupled with probable differences in key proteinase iso-forms are advanced as possible explanation for the higher proteinase activity recorded in KSV 8 malts.     

THE EFFECTS OF INCREASED STEEPING TEMPERATURES ON ENZYME DEVELOPMENT IN MALT

Malts produced by steeping at 30 °C for a total of 24 h including two air rests, frequently give the same results in routine analyses as do malts produced by steeping at 16°C for longer periods. However, the corresponding worts often filter more slowly under controlled laboratory conditions. The increased steeping temperatures can delay or reduce development of endopeptidase and β-glucan solubitase, but generally have little effect on the activity of α-amylase, carboxypeptidase, or endo-β-glucanase. The problems with wort separation are most probably due to high molecular weight β-glucan and disulphide-linked hordein persisting at the end of malting.     

EFFECT OF AMMONIA ON THE MALTING LOSSES OF SOME IMPROVED NIGERIAN SORGHUM VARIETIES

The effect of ammonia treatment as steep liquor on the malting losses and other malting properties of 2 Nigerian sorghum varieties was investigated. Steeping the kernel in 0.1 N ammonia solution for various steeping periods (0 to 18 h) reduced malting losses by suppressing the growth of acrospires. However, mouldiness was not prevented, enzyme development, cold and hot water extracts of the malt were significantly reduced by the application of this chemical. Kernels steeped in 0.3N ammonia solution did not germinate. Malting with ammonia solution may be useful for minimizing malting loss at the expense of optimum development of hydrolytic enzymes, provided the malt produced will only provide malty flavour in beer and external enzymes will be added during processing.     

Optimization of the sorghum malting process for pito production in Ghana

Pito is an alcoholic beverage obtained through a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) fermentation of wort extracted from sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) malt. The malting conditions of sorghum are thought to influence the quality characteristics of the malt, and subsequently the quality of the pito obtained from it. Studies were carried out on a local sorghum cultivar grown in Ghana – chireh, to optimize the conditions for malting conditions for pito production in Ghana. A 3³ full factorial experimental design was replicated with steeping times of 12, 16 and 22 h, germination times of 3, 4 and 5 days, and malt drying temperatures of 30, 40 and 50 °C as factors. Diastatic power, extract yield, attenuation limit and free amino nitrogen were determined. Germination duration significantly affected diastatic power and free amino nitrogen (p < 0.001). Extract yield was also significantly influenced by germination duration (p = 0.001). The germination time, steeping time and drying temperature had no significant effect on the attenuation limit. The optimal conditions for malting this specific cultivar grown in Ghana to obtain critical malt quality indices are 12.0–12.5 h steeping, 5 days of germination at 30 °C and drying at 40 °C. Free amino nitrogen levels in all treatments were higher than the minimum requirement for good yeast nutrition and fermentation. Copyright © 2015 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Methods for accelerating malting,a small scale investigation

It was confirmed that steeping fully after-ripened barley at 25° or 30°c, for various periods, induces different degrees of ‘water sensitivity’. Germination of such warm-steeped grain, set to grow at the steeping temperature, was maximal when the moisture content was about 35%. Sprays of hydrogen peroxide, applied immediately after draining the steeped grain, accelerated the subsequent germination of warm-steeped barley when grown at elevated temperatures. Exceptionally rapid steeping/germination schedules were elaborated, using micromalting techniques. For example, fully mature grain was steeped, (7 h 25°c) to a moisture content of about 36%. All subsequent processing was also at 25°c. After a drain (2 h) the grain was sprayed with a solution of gibberellic acid (0·25 mg/kg) in a dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide (2·5 vol.). Spraying with water was carried out twice more during the germination period to increase the moisture content of the barley to about 44%. The grain was set to kiln at 43°c, 48 h from steep out, that is 55 h from first wetting. Kilning conditions were chosen to allow maximal survival of enzymes. The malt had a hot water extract above 103 lb/Qr (fine grind, on dry matter) and was made at the expense of a 7·5% malting loss. It was acceptable by other analytical criteria. If the second water spray was replaced by a spray of a dilute solution of sulphur dioxide (400 mgjkg) a malt having an extract of 103·5 lb/Qr was obtained with a malting loss of 5·8%, but yielding more soluble nitrogen. The possibility of achieving even shorter processing times, by working at 30°c, was noted.     

Effect of Different Steeping Conditions on Endosperm Modification and Quality of Distilling Malt

This study showed that when barley was steeped in water for either 8 h or 16 h, hydration of endosperm materials was suboptimal and modification of endosperm materials of barley malt was inadequate. The malt produced under these steeping regimes gave poor friability scores and produced a large number of whole grains. When barley was steeped for 24 h on a continuous basis, or when a regimented standard steeping method was used, the malt produced gave higher friability scores and a much lower number of whole grains. An important relationship was found between friability scores and whole grain results for the malt samples produced under these conditions. Optic barley, whose endosperm was more difficult to hydrate, gave a strong negative correlation between friability scores and number of whole grains at R² = 0.8689. Oxbridge, whose endosperm was more easily hydrated, gave a much stronger negative correlation between friability scores and number of whole grains at R² = 0.9769. Rapid visco‐analysis (RVA) results also confirmed that steeping the barley samples for only 8 h or 16 h produced malt that modified poorly as the RVA peak viscosities were very high. RVA pasting results further confirmed that when barley was steeped for 24 h on a continuous basis, or when a standard regimented steeping method was used, good quality malt was produced and no differences were found in the RVA peak viscosities of the barley malt samples produced under the two different steeping conditions. The results of protein breakdown (proteolysis) during these experiments, measured in terms of total soluble nitrogen (TSN) production, or soluble nitrogen ratio (SNR) further confirmed that optimal proteolysis was achieved when barley was steeped for either 24 h on a continuous basis, or with a standard steep. Optimal results were also found for hot water ex‐tractable materials such as hot water extract (HWE) and free amino nitrogen (FAN) when barley was steeped for 24 h or the standard steep. The 24 h continuous steep for barley produced quality malt comparable to that obtained when the standard regimented steep was used for steeping barley. For both Optic and Oxbridge barley, with a 24 h continuous steep, produced malt that gave significantly higher fermentabilities and PSY values, regardless of germination time, than those obtained using a standard regimented steep. Therefore steeping barley for 24 h on a continuous basis prior to malting will produce good quality malt for some barley samples/varieties. This will help to reduce water usage during steeping, will save steeping time thereby reducing malting time and will reduce the amount of water for effluent treatment. All of these factors result in an overall cost saving for the malting industry.     

A Model for Predicting the Effects of a Steeping Program on the Germination of Barley with Different Water Sensitivities

A method for modelling and simulation of malting barley during and after steeping was developed. The modelling was based on data from laboratory scale experiments with various steeping programs. The developed model takes into account the steeping program with different wet steep and air rest periods, the average moisture content of the grains, and the water sensitivity of the raw material, malting barley. The model can be used for the analysis of steeping and the subsequent germination process and for planning of the steeping programs for achieving homogeneous germination in malting.     

DURATION OF FINAL WARM STEEP AS A CRUCIAL FACTOR IN PROTEIN MODIFICATION IN SORGHUM MALTS

Cold water soluble protein (CWS-protein), cold water soluble protein modification index, total non-protein nitrogen (TNPN), small peptide accumulation, free alpha amino nitrogen, carboxy-peptidase and proteinase activities, all protein modification indicators in malts from two improved Nigerian sorghum cultivars were estimated after six days of malting. Grains were steeped in distilled water for a total of 48 h under four different final warm steep (40°C) treatment periods. Cultivar and duration of final warm water steep, plus their pair-wise interactions highly significantly influenced all these protein modification indices. Sorghum ICSV 400 generally exhibited higher FAN, CWS-protein solubilising activity and accumulation, superior amylolytic potential over proteolysis and better protein modification potential over KSV 8. Lower TNPN and TNPN-FAN difference exhibited by ICSV 400 in spite of its higher FAN suggests superior anabolic protein turnover probably due to more efficient peptide translocation process. Proteolytic activities recorded for both cultivars were inconsistent with levels of N-substances obtained suggesting roles for factors other than proteolysis in grain protein modification.     

Relationship between some Sorghum Malt Quality Characteristics and Nature of Alkaline Steep Liquor

Two Nigerian sorghum cultivars, SK5912 and ICSV400 were used to evaluate the relationships between nature of alkaline steep liquor and some malt quality characteristics over a five day germination period. Patterns of development of the malt quality indices examined were significantly influenced by the nature of alkaline steep liquor, cultivar and duration of germination, plus all their possible interactions at p<0.001. Maximum diastatic activity development was attained in ICSV400 and SK5912 when grains were steeped in NaOH and Ca(OH)₂ respectively. Ca(OH)₂ treatment seemed to cause significant enhancement of diastatic enzyme development in SK5912 compared to other treatments presumably due to Ca²⁺ stabilisation of α-amylase. Mean malt cold water extract (CWE) and hot water extract (HWE) were generally similar within both cultivars for the treatments except for ICSV400 where CWE appeared to be remarkably enhanced by NaOH treatment. Data on cold water soluble carbohydrates (CWS-Carbohydrates), CWS — Carbohydrate/CWE and CWS — Carbohydrate/HWE ratios showed that solubilised carbohydrate matter produced during malting constituted significantly higher proportion of total HWE in ICSV400 in contrast to SK5912.     

THE CHROMATOGRAPHIC PROPERTIES OF BARLEY AND MALT β-AMYLASES

Barley β-amlyase occurs as a heterogeneous, polydisperse enzyme in thiol-free extracts of Conquest barley. During malting, the polydisperse enzyme is altered, resulting in the formation of four distinct enzyme components which increase in activity as germination progresses. Addition of thioglycerol to a thiol-free extract of barley, or initial extraction with thioglycerol, produces extracts containing two discrete β-amylase enzymes. β-amylase I is the major component of the extract; β-amylase II occurs as a minor component. Similarly, malt extracts containing thioglycerol have two β-amylase enzymes, β-amylase III and IV. Barley β-amylase II and malt β-amylase III have similar chromatographic properties on CM-cellulose but it is not known whether these enzymes are identical. During the early stages of germination, barley β-amylase I disappears and cannot be detected in extracts of 1-day malt; β-amylase III is the major β-amylase enzyme in this extract. Malt β-amylase IV cannot be detected in barley extracts. It develops during germination until it becomes the major β-amylase in malt extracts.     

INFLUENCE OF MALTING CONDITIONS ON QUALITY OF FINGER MILLET MALT

Effect of processing conditions on dry matter loss and quality characteristics of malt from INDAF-6 variety of finger millet was studied. Increasing the temperature of malting from 15 to 35°C caused increased dry matter loss. Germination at 15–20°C gave malts of higher α-amylase activities than those germinated at 30–35°C. Germination at 20°C for 4–5 days gave malt with maximum enzyme activity and acceptable dry matter loss. Drying the malt to 12% moisture and kilning at 70°C for about 45 min resulted in malt of desired aroma, maximum retention of α-amylase and minimum loss of available lysine. The α-amylase in the malted flour caused the slurries to have low hot paste viscosity.     

Phytate content is reduced and β‐glucanase activity suppressed in malted barley steeped with lactic acid at high temperature

The effect of different steeping conditions on phytate, β‐glucan and vitamin E in barley during malting was studied by a full factorial experiment with three variables (steeping temperature, barley variety and steeping additions). Addition of lactic acid to the steeping water induced a reduction of phytate during steeping and germination, especially in combination with the high steeping temperature (48 °C). Furthermore, lactic acid and high temperature steeping inhibited β‐glucanase development, resulting in a well‐preserved β‐glucan content after germination. When steeping was conducted without addition of lactic acid, the low steeping temperature (15 °C) promoted development of both phytase and β‐glucanase activity during germination. A slightly higher level of tocopherols and tocotrienols was observed in samples steeped at 15 °C than in samples steeped at 48 °C. However, addition of lactic acid reduced the amount for both temperatures. When lactic acid bacteria were added to the steeping water none of the parameters studied differed from samples steeped with water only. The results show the possibility of combining phytate degradation with a preserved β‐glucan content during malting and can thus be of interest for development of cereal products with improved nutritional value. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

PROMOTING SORGHUM RESERVE PROTEIN MOBILISATION BY STEEPING IN ALKALINE LIQUOR

Mobilisation of sorghum storage reserve proteins by steeping in alkaline liquor for 48 h under four different regimes was evaluated. Germination was for 4 days at 30°C. Cold water soluble protein (CWS-protein), CWS-protein modification index, total non protein nitrogen (TNPN), peptide accumulation, FAN, endo- and exo-protease activities—all key indicators of protein mobilisation were highly significantly affected by steep regime, steep liquor and cultivar as well as their pairwise interactions. Mean FAN and TNPN were significantly higher (P < 0.0005) for malts derived from alkaline steep liquor except for KSV 8 which exhibited significant inhibition of TNPN development. Similarly, alkaline steeping promoted protein solubilisation and CWS-protein modification. While parallel improvements in amylolysis and proteolysis were recorded for ICSV 400, proteolysis in KSV 8 and SK 5912 seemed more enhanced except for SK 5912 exposed to air rest cycles. Steeping in alkaline liquor also caused significant repression of the proteases in KSV 8. Conversely, steeping SK 5912 under similar conditions promoted rather than inhibited development of these enzymes. Poor correlation between protein degradation products and enzyme development suggest major roles for factors other than proteolysis in sorghum reserve protein mobilisation.     

Physicochemical Properties of Rice Steeped in Hot or Warm Water

Prolonged steeping of rice grains in hot or warm water was examined to study the gelatinization process of rice starch. Rice treated at 75°C for 8–18 hr showed the same type “V” X-ray diffraction pattern as that of cooked rice. Rice treated at 50–60°C for 24–72 hr showed a strengthened type “A” pattern. The gelatinization degree of the 75°C treated rice determined by the β-amylase-pullulanase method and Brabender amylography was as high as that of cooked rice. The value of the 50–60°C treated rice was lower than that of raw rice. The gelatinization temperature of rice varied with the two types of treatment.