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This process refers to the separation of the kernel or meat of the seed or hull from its shell.
There are several advantages in removing the outer covering,
- Because a seed or nut shell has little or no protein value, its removal increases the value of the extracted cake or meal end product
- Usually the seed shell has little or no oil content so it will only act to absorb some of the oil contained in the kernel if not removed before processing, reducing the oil yield
- If shells are removed, the potential plant throughput increases as a proportion depending on the material being processed
- The shell is normally abrasive and can cause excessive wear in the preparation plant end if screws presses or expanders are being used
- Certain removed shell and husks can be used as a fuel for steam generation saving on boiler fuel
- In some cases, the shell contains toxic substances which make the resultant cake unsuitable for cattle feed.
The methods of Decortication used in the oilseed industry vary considerably and depend on the structure of the seed to be treated.
Soyabean dehulling is a major process due to the importance of soya as the No1 seed in production terms in the world's oilseed complex and the primary source of livestock feed material. Crown has developed its own systems for this oilseed and is covered separately on this site. Click here for soybean hot dehulling. |
