Milling of rice grains: The roles of starch structures in the solubility and swelling properties of rice flour

Rice flours with different particle sizes and degrees of damaged starch granules were produced by hammer milling and cryogenic milling of rice grains, where degradation of starch molecules was evident in the hammer‐milled flours, but not in the cryogenically milled flours. The solubility and swelling properties of the resulting rice flours were determined in cold (30°C) and hot water (90°C). The cold‐ and hot‐water starch solubility was strongly correlated with the degree of damaged starch granules, and weakly with the particle size of rice flour. No evident correlations were observed between starch solubility and the molecular structures, indicating that molecular degradation by milling process was not the only precondition of increased starch solubility. Possible mechanism for the observed correlations is that increasing surface area and/or exposure of loosely packed inner part of starch granules with increasing degree of damaged starch granules allowed more starch molecules to leach out in cold and hot water. Furthermore, the cold‐water swelling of rice flour was strongly correlated with the degree of damaged starch granules, possibly due to the rapid hydration of damaged starch granules, whereas the hot‐water swelling did not show any correlations with flour particle size and granular and molecular starch structures. The results have provided better insights in the relationship between starch structures and solubility and swelling properties of rice flour, which can be used to improve the manufacture and selection criteria of rice flour for better products.     

Effects of ball‐milling on the glass transition of wheat flour constituents

BACKGROUND: Starch and gluten, the major components of wheat flour, greatly influence the structural characteristics of food products made with wheat flour. The effects of ball‐milling on the change in the semicrystalline structure of starch granules to the amorphous state have been reported. However, the effects of ball‐milling of native wheat flour on physicochemical changes in wheat flour constituents have not been elucidated. Therefore in this study the effects of ball‐milling on the glass transition of wheat flour constituents were investigated. RESULTS: Crude gluten, non‐gluten proteins and separated starch were obtained from wheat flour ball‐milled for 0–10 h, and the glass transition temperature (T_g) of these constituents was evaluated. The T_g of all wheat flour constituents decreased with increasing ball‐milling time. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that changes in band position and intensity did not occur for gluten but did occur for non‐gluten proteins. X‐ray diffraction revealed decreased crystallinity and greater plasticisation by water in separated starch as the ball‐milling time was prolonged. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the ball‐milling process decreased the T_g of wheat flour constituents as a function of milling time. The decrease in T_g was probably due to changes in conformation of protein subunits in gluten and depolymerisation of the non‐gluten protein fraction. The information obtained here about the physical alteration of wheat flour constituents may enhance the ability to successfully use ball‐milled wheat flour in food applications. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

干法、半干法和湿法磨粉对糙米粉性质的影响

研究干法、半干法及湿法3种磨粉方式对糙米粉损伤淀粉含量、平均粒径、微观结构、水合特性、热焓特性和流变性质等的影响。结果表明,干法磨粉糙米粉损伤淀粉含量、吸水指数、水溶性和膨胀势显著高于湿法和半干法。但干法磨粉糙米粉平均粒径、凝胶最大弹性模量和最大黏性模量显著小于湿法和半干法。干法和半干法糙米粉糊化焓值低于湿法。干法磨粉糙米粉形成了许多不规则的颗粒碎片,而半干法和湿法的糙米粉淀粉颗粒较完整。磨粉方式和条件显著影响糙米粉的性质,应根据糙米制品品质的要求选择合适的磨粉方式和磨粉条件。     

Effect of Raw Material Preparation on Rice Vermicelli Quality

The physicochemical properties of high amylose rice flour prepared from wet milling and dry milling were examined and the rice vermicelli quality made from these flour samples was evaluated. The effect of flour particle size on rice vermicelli quality was also determined. The milling method affected chemical compositions and all physicochemical properties of the flour. A higher degree of starch damage occurred in drymilled flour. Rice vermicelli made from dry‐milled flour had higher cooking losses and softer texture than that made from wet‐milled flour and the commercial reference products. Flour particle size influenced both cooking and textural quality of rice vermicelli but did not influence the water absorption index. Flours with larger particle sizes gave vermicelli with higher cooking loss and less desirable texture than flours with smaller particle sizes. Flour with particle sizes less than 200 mesh produced acceptable vermicelli in terms of cooking and textural quality.     

Study on the Change in Powder Properties of Rice Flour by Different Milling Processes

The aim of this study was to clarify the change in the powder properties of rice flour depending on the milling process. Rice flour samples, which have gradual mechanical shock properties, were prepared using different milling methods. Furthermore, the correlation between the starch damage, owing to mechanical shock, and powder properties of rice flour was investigated. The particle size was changed gradually through each milling process; however, the change did not clearly correlate with starch damage. The results of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of nongelatinized samples showed the typical A-type structure of starch. The crystal structure of starch in rice flour may change to a disorder state with the progress of milling; thus, in this study, instead of crystallinity, we considered the disorder index (DI) calculated from the XRD intensity of samples. Relationship between DI and starch damage was confirmed with R² = 0.923. Therefore, the mechanical shock caused by the milling process contributes to the crystal state of starch. The parameter q_m calculated from the Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB) equation of each sample corresponded to the DI. This result suggested that the sorption site of rice flour decreased, and a positive correlation was observed between the parameter K and DI. Thus, the interaction between the rice flour and water molecules weakened because of the mechanical shock. In addition, the use of a SEM image supports the insight that the change in parameter K may reflect the structural change in the solid phase. These results demonstrated that the change in powder properties of rice flour caused by mechanical shock of the milling could evaluate quantitatively.     

Starch Damage

Damaged starch granules are produced during flour milling. Such material absorbs more water and is more susceptible to enzymic degradation than unmodified starch. In the present study, X-ray diffraction measurements were used in an attempt to give a physical explanation of this phenomenon. It is proposed that the effect of milling may be partly attributed to the conversion of starch into a more amorphous form.     

Thermo-mechanical rice flour modification by planetary ball milling

Planetary ball milling is presented as an alternative way to improve the native flour properties by physical modification. A grinding protocol was developed by combination of grinding and pause stages. The effect of rotational speed (450–650 rpm) and milling time (10–20 min) on flour properties were determined using RSM method. The effect of milling conditions on flour attributes was significant. With increasing milling speed and time a significant increase in damaged starch, water-absorption and solubility indexes was observed. Changes in functional attributes, intrinsically related to structural and morphological properties of rice flour, were satisfactorily correlated with crystallinity loss, specific surface area and gelatinization degree. Modified rice flours presented pre-gelatinized characteristics which can offer new opportunities for flour applications, for example as ingredient for instant meal product. Flour modification can be controlled by selecting milling conditions. The distinctive characteristic of the planetary ball mill was the fast speed with which the modified flour was obtained which presented intermediate characteristics in relation with native and amorphous state.     

The effects of natural fermentation on the physical properties of rice flour and the rheological characteristics of rice noodles

The effects of fermentation of whole polished rice grains on the physical properties of rice flour and the rheological characteristics of rice noodles were investigated. Natural fermentation had little effect on the crystalline structure of rice starch, as measured by X‐ray diffraction, but the ratio of the crystalline to the amorphous regions increased. The thermal properties of rice flours were determined using differential scanning calorimetry and a rapid viscosity analyser (RVA). The gelatinization temperature, T_p, and the RVA peak viscosity of rice flour decreased, while the gelatinization enthalpy, ΔH, increased after fermentation. The FTIR spectra of fermented and control rice flours were similar. Fermented rice starch granules had slight superficial corrosion when examined using scanning electron microscopy. Fermentation may thus change the amorphous region of the starch granule as well as the chemical components and thereby modify both physical properties of rice flour and rheological characteristics of rice noodles.     

Effect of the shape of rice starch granules on flour characteristics and gluten‐free bread quality

The effect of three different rice varieties with different starch shapes (Seolgaeng (SG), round starch structure; Samkwang (SK), polygonal starch structure and Boramchan (BRC), polygonal starch structure) on rice flour characteristics and gluten‐free bread baking quality was investigated. Rice flours were produced by dry milling and passed through a 200 mesh sieve. Electron microscopy revealed that the structure of SG grains, with round starch granules, possessed larger void spaces than SK and BRC, composed of polygonal starch granules. For this reason, SG grain had low grain hardness and consequently, it was milled to a fine flour with low damaged starch content. The thermo‐mechanical properties were determined by Mixolab, which revealed that SG was gelatinised rapidly and maintained high viscosity after gelatinisation. These characteristics gave SG flour the ability to build up bread structure without gluten. Specific volume and crumb hardness of gluten‐free rice breads made of SG, SK and BRC flours were 3.37, 3.11 and 2.12 mL g^?1 and 2.61, 2.76 and 6.46 N, respectively. The SG flour with round starch structure is appropriate for making gluten‐free rice breads.     

蒸汽酶解调质-挤压膨化工艺改善速食米粉冲调分散性和预消化性

为建立具有良好冲调分散性和消化特性的速食米粉加工技术,本研究以大米为原料,分析了蒸汽酶解调质-挤压膨化工艺对速食米粉冲调分散性、淀粉糊化度、体外消化特性、以及可溶性蛋白和还原糖含量等的影响。结果表明,与直接挤压膨化相比,蒸汽酶解调质-挤压膨化制得的速食米粉的水溶性指数提高了96.60%,吸水性指数、结块率及分散时间分别降低了72.68%、51.39%及38.27%,米糊的粘度也显著降低,且该速食米粉在低剪切速率下具有较低粘度,其粘度曲线趋于平直;其休止角及滑角均显著降低,说明蒸汽酶解调质-挤压膨化工艺显著改善了速食米粉的冲调分散性及其粉体流动性。此外,蒸汽酶解调质-挤压膨化制得的速食米粉的亮度和总色度显著低于直接挤压膨化,产生了肉眼可见的色差。蒸汽酶解调质-挤压膨化处理还显著增加了速食米粉的可溶性蛋白和还原糖含量,其快消化淀粉比例也较直接挤压膨化明显提高。总之,蒸汽酶解调质-挤压膨化较直接挤压膨化进一步改善了速食米粉的冲调特性及其预消化性。     

不同脱皮设备对青稞米加工碎米率的影响研究

本实验采用青稞为原料,对比了青稞米加工中柔性脱皮机和碾米机对碎米率的影响。分析了两种脱皮设备对青稞麸皮中淀粉含量的变化趋势和原因,探讨了入机水分、脱皮率、灭酶、筛分工序等对青稞米加工过程中碎米率的影响。研究结果显示,青稞米加工最佳的入机水分为16%;碎米率随着脱皮率升高而升高,碾米机的碎米增长率高于柔性脱皮机;脱皮率＜10%时,灭酶对碎米率无显著性影响,脱皮率＞10%时,灭酶处理使碎米率显著上升;脱皮率＞10%时,筛分工序能够降低碎米率和提高青稞米粉的亮度;柔性脱皮机能缓解青稞制米时碾米机过碾的问题,降低了富葡聚糖相中淀粉的含量。     

Characterizing starch structure in a gluten‐free pasta by using iodine vapor as a tool

The suitability of starch–iodine complex to highlight differences in chain mobility and crystallinity of starch in rice pasta was investigated. Two pasta samples were produced starting from the same rice flour (RF) and using a conventional extrusion process without (Process A) and with (Process B) a preliminary extrusion‐cooking step. Based on the absorption/scattering coefficient (K/S) spectra (obtained after equilibration above K₂SO₄ and exposure to iodine vapor), Pasta A showed a behavior similar to RF. Process B exhibited a greater iodine binding capacity suggesting greater starch chain mobility. Moreover, the extrusion‐cooking conditions seem to favor the loss of starch crystallinity and the formation of larger amorphous regions. The organization of starch polymers observed in Pasta B could account for its higher capacity to water absorption during cooking.     

添加变性淀粉的糯米糕团制品的研究

通过探讨变性淀粉对糯米糕团制品成品品质的影响，得出以水磨糯米粉为原料的糯米糕团制品的最佳配方——预糊化糯米粉加入量5％、加水量70％（以粉计）、交联粳米粉1．5％、醋酸酯糯米粉0．5％。     

干法、半干法和湿法磨粉工艺制备的糙米米线品质研究

采用干法、半干法和湿法3种方式将糙米磨粉制备糙米米线,干法粉碎强度10～40 Hz,半干法调节含水量为20%～35%及湿法料液比为1∶1、1∶2、1∶3、1∶4,研究了3种磨粉方式对糙米米线蒸煮品质和质构性质的影响,并分析了糙米磨粉颗粒细度及损伤淀粉含量与糙米米线蒸煮品质的相关性。结果表明,磨粉方式及磨粉工艺条件显著影响糙米米线的蒸煮、质构和感官品质,糙米磨粉颗粒细度与糙米米线最佳蒸煮时间显著正相关,与糙米米线断条率显著负相关。糙米磨粉损伤淀粉含量与糙米米线最佳蒸煮时间、硬度显著负相关,损伤淀粉含量与糙米米线断条率显著正相关。干法粉碎强度10、半干法水分调节含量20%、30%和35%、湿法粉碎料液比1∶3～1∶4时,糙米米线的品质较好。     

Changes in physico‐chemical and rheological properties of rice during flaking

Hydration, solubility, pasting and rheological properties of roasted‐parboiled rice and flakes were examined in comparison to raw rice. There was an increase in the hydration capacity, swelling power and solubility during roasting‐parboiling of rice as a result of gelatinization of its starch. Flaking caused further increase due to damage of starch by application of mechanical force. The changes were higher in flakes from roller‐flaker as compared to those from edge‐runner. Pasting characteristics of flour slurries in Rapid Visco Analyzer showed a typical profile for pregelatinized products viz. a higher initial viscosity but a lower peak viscosity for roasted‐parboiled rice and flaked rice than for raw rice. The viscosity curves and flow curves of the products over a wide range of shear rate indicated a non‐Newtonian, pseudoplastic behaviour for all the samples. All samples showed typical hysteresis loop in their viscosity curves indicating their thixotropic nature. Flakes from roller‐flaker exhibited lower viscosity but more thixotrophy indicating higher starch breakdown in them than in edge‐runner flakes, which seemed to have more of heat damaged starch.     

Effect of debranching and heat‐moisture treatment on the properties of Thai rice flours

High and low amylose Thai rice flours (KC and ML, respectively) were used in this work, to increase the resistant starch (RS) content in the flour. Pullulanase debranching followed by heat‐moisture treatment (DHMT) altered the pasting properties, which increased the shear stability to the flours. The gelatinisation temperature determined by DSC was increased and the more retrogradation occurred in treated flour compared to the native flour. The SEM observation showed that the treatment did not change the morphology of the granules in both flours. The slowly digestible starch (SDS) content in DHMT KC was higher than in the native KC. The RS content in the treated ML flour was increased to 18.31% from 11.59% in native flour. These concluded that the treatment affected the digestibility, while maintaining the granular structure.     

Effect of Processing of Sword Beans (Canavalia gladiata) on Physicochemical Properties of Starch

The effect of various processing methods on physico‐chemical properties of sword bean starch was studied. Seed grits and flour were cooked with and without soaking, wet‐autoclaved, and roasted. The changes in starch associated with these processing methods were studied by observing changes in granular structure, water solubility index, water absorption index, molecular size distribution and the degree of gelatinization estimated by differential scanning calorimetry. Intact, ungelatinized starch granules of raw and dry‐heat treated samples were observed under the light microscope. The starch granules were elliptical in shape and had an average length and breadth of 37–40 μm and 27 μm, respectively. Wet‐processed samples had the lowest water solubility, higher water absorption and lower gelatinization enthalpies than the raw bean flour, whereas the dry heat‐treated samples showed higher water solubility and higher gelatinization enthalpies. The starch molecular size distribution pattern showed a higher amount of high molecular size carbohydrates in dry heat‐treated samples and a large fraction of intermediate molecular size carbohydrates in the wet‐processed samples. The low molecular size carbohydrate content was low in wet‐processed samples where processing was done with excess water.     

小麦粉破损淀粉含量的影响因素

分别以软、硬麦为原料,采用在正常生产情况下改变工艺条件并在线取样的方法,取得多组不同样品,样品处理后分别测定破损淀粉含量,研究影响小麦粉淀粉破损的重要工艺因素。研究结果表明：硬麦加工后淀粉破损率高,而软麦则相对较低,硬麦粉的淀粉破损率较软麦粉高出20%左右;面粉越细则淀粉破损率越高;研7磨道数越多,研磨强度越大,淀粉破损越严重;齿辊所造成的淀粉破损程度要比光辊为重,但差距不是很大;撞击机在正常生产时对淀粉破损影响较小,如反复撞击也会使破损淀粉增加,但其影响程度较研磨强度缓和。     

Retrogradation properties of high amylose rice flour and rice starch by physical modification

A new physical modification applied to prevent the retrogradation of rice flour and rice starch was investigated. This study examined the retrogradation properties of treated rice flour or rice starch paste by three stirring or heating-stirring, or without. The results proved that the retrogradations of rice flour and rice starch were both not substantially affected by three stirring modifications. However, three heating-stirring treatments had a marked effect on retarding the retrogradation of rice flour, but did not affect that of isolated rice starch. In the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, modified rice flour by three heating-stirring exhibited the lowest retrogradation enthalpy (3.04 J/g dry matter) as compared to the control RF (5.93 J/g dry matter) and by three stirring (5.08 J/g dry matter). Meantime, it had almost the least recrystallization of retrogradation by X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was also found through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that the granule structure of this modified rice flour had a more honeycomb-like structure and the lowest crystallinity as compared to the others.     

Relationship between Rice Flour Particle Sizes and Expansion Ratio of Pure Rice Bread

We examined a method to produce bread from crystalline rice flour without using thickening agents such as gluten, polysaccharide thickening, and amorphous rice flour. Rice grains were pulverized by a jet mill to produce flour. Samples of rice flours of various particle size distributions were prepared by using a size shifter. The degree of starch damage and the dynamic viscoelasticity of rice batter were measured in this work. We also baked bread of the flour of each size distribution to study processability for making bread. The batter made by the pulverized flour of rice particle size ranging from 75 to 106 μm had the highest expansion ratio and a good processability for baking breads compared to other particle size batters. The rice bread with high expansion ratio was produced by controlling particle size of crystalline rice flour without using thickening agents.