Effect of Protease Addition on Starch Recovery from Steeped Sorghum and Maize

The effect of protease addition on starch recovery from steeped white regular sorghum (RSOR) compared to yellow maize (YMZ) was determined. An in vitro wet milling method standardized to test dosages from 0 to 1.5 Anson units (AU/100 g grain) indicated that starch yields increased proportionally as enzyme concentration increased. The yields were significantly lower for RSOR. A factorial experiment with a level of confidence of P < 0.05 was performed to study the effect of protease addition (1.25 AU/100 g grain) to coarsely ground kernels for 4 h after 20 h or 44 h SO₂ steeping of whole grains. Calcium oxide (CaO) was used to increase the pH of the steep solution to 5.5 and improve enzyme activity. The in vitro and laboratory tests indicated that the enzyme treatment significantly improved starch yields and recoveries; the effect being more pronounced in RSOR. Protease‐treated kernels yielded 3.2% more starch than those steeped regularly. RSOR steeped for 20 h and then treated with the enzyme for 4 h yielded 6.7% more starch than the counterparts steeped regularly. When steep times were compared, kernels soaked regularly for 48 h produced 1.6% more starch than counterparts steeped for 24 h. The protease treatment reduced the amount of inseparables (gluten‐starch complexes) to zero and also lowered the gluten content of starch by about 1.5%. A comparison of protein and ash contents for the refined starches indicated that the process was more efficient for YMZ than for RSOR and for grains steeped regularly for 48 h. YMZ starch started gelatinization at a lower temperature, required less time to reach peak viscosity and had less shear thinning than RSOR.