The present invention provides to a fiber washing system, optimized for the use of hydrolytic enzymes in the system. Furthermore, the present invention provides to a method for improving starch and gluten yield in a wet milling process, preferably comprising the optimized fiber washing system.

A process for modifying starch comprises atomising an aqueous slurry of non-pregelatinised starch into an internal chamber in a bi-fluid nozzle of a spray dryer and treating the atomized slurry, in the internal chamber, with superheated steam to cause partial gelatinisation of the starch. The aqueous slurry containing partially gelatinised starch is discharged through an outlet in the internal chamber into a reactor where the droplets containing the partially gelatinised starch are subjected to further treatment with superheated steam, resulting in the completion of the gelatinisation of the starch in the reactor. Also disclosed is a bi-fluid nozzle for use in spray drying starch which comprises a nozzle body, a nozzle cap and an internal chamber located between the nozzle body and the nozzle cap. The nozzle body comprises at least one atomiser, for connection to a supply of an aqueous starch slurry, for atomising the slurry into the internal chamber and it has at least one inlet, for connection to a supply of superheated steam under pressure, for introducing superheated steam under pressure into the internal chamber. The nozzle cap comprises at least one outlet from the internal chamber. The internal chamber also comprises an interchangeable spacer element with a length of from 10 to 60 mm enabling the length of the internal chamber to be changed. A pregelatinised starch and its use in foods, especially baby foods and infant formulas, feed, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal care products are also disclosed.

A process for modifying starch comprises atomising an aqueous slurry of non-pregelatinised starch into an internal chamber in a bi-fluid nozzle of a spray dryer and treating the atomized slurry, in the internal chamber, with superheated steam to cause partial gelatinisation of the starch. The aqueous slurry containing partially gelatinised starch is discharged through an outlet in the internal chamber into a reactor where the droplets containing the partially gelatinised starch are subjected to further treatment with superheated steam, resulting in the completion of the gelatinisation of the starch in the reactor. Also disclosed is a bi-fluid nozzle for use in spray drying starch which comprises a nozzle body, a nozzle cap and an internal chamber located between the nozzle body and the nozzle cap. The nozzle body comprises at least one atomiser, for connection to a supply of an aqueous starch slurry, for atomising the slurry into the internal chamber and it has at least one inlet, for connection to a supply of superheated steam under pressure, for introducing superheated steam under pressure into the internal chamber. The nozzle cap comprises at least one outlet from the internal chamber. The internal chamber also comprises an interchangeable spacer element with a length of from 10 to 60 mm enabling the length of the internal chamber to be changed. A pregelatinised starch and its use in foods, especially baby foods and infant formulas, feed, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal care products are also disclosed.

With a method for digesting starch, an aqueous slurry of the starch is treated with steam in a cooking vessel and in this case exposed to shear forces, wherein the starch-containing slurry is heated to a temperature of between 85C and 110C in the cooking vessel by introducing steam, and the digestion step is implemented until the desired degree of digestion has been reached. Also described is a cooking vessel that can be used when the method for digesting starch is being carried out.

With a method for digesting starch, an aqueous slurry of the starch is treated with steam in a cooking vessel and in this case exposed to shear forces, wherein the starch-containing slurry is heated to a temperature of between 85C and 110C in the cooking vessel by introducing steam, and the digestion step is implemented until the desired degree of digestion has been reached. Also described is a cooking vessel that can be used when the method for digesting starch is being carried out.

A process for modifying starch comprises atomising an aqueous slurry of non-pregelatinised starch into an internal chamber in a bi-fluid nozzle of a spray dryer and treating the atomized slurry, in the internal chamber, with superheated steam to cause partial gelatinisation of the starch. The aqueous slurry containing partially gelatinised starch is discharged through an outlet in the internal chamber into a reactor where the droplets containing the partially gelatinised starch are subjected to further treatment with superheated steam, resulting in the completion of the gelatinisation of the starch in the reactor. Also disclosed is a bi-fluid nozzle for use in spray drying starch which comprises a nozzle body, a nozzle cap and an internal chamber located between the nozzle body and the nozzle cap. The nozzle body comprises at least one atomiser, for connection to a supply of an aqueous starch slurry, for atomising the slurry into the internal chamber and it has at least one inlet, for connection to a supply of superheated steam under pressure, for introducing superheated steam under pressure into the internal chamber. The nozzle cap comprises at least one outlet from the internal chamber. The internal chamber also comprises an interchangeable spacer element with a length of from 10 to 60 mm enabling the length of the internal chamber to be changed. A pregelatinised starch and its use in foods, especially baby foods and infant formulas, feed, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal care products are also disclosed.

A process for modifying starch comprises atomising an aqueous slurry of non-pregelatinised starch into an internal chamber in a bi-fluid nozzle of a spray dryer and treating the atomized slurry, in the internal chamber, with superheated steam to cause partial gelatinisation of the starch. The aqueous slurry containing partially gelatinised starch is discharged through an outlet in the internal chamber into a reactor where the droplets containing the partially gelatinised starch are subjected to further treatment with superheated steam, resulting in the completion of the gelatinisation of the starch in the reactor. Also disclosed is a bi-fluid nozzle for use in spray drying starch which comprises a nozzle body, a nozzle cap and an internal chamber located between the nozzle body and the nozzle cap. The nozzle body comprises at least one atomiser, for connection to a supply of an aqueous starch slurry, for atomising the slurry into the internal chamber and it has at least one inlet, for connection to a supply of superheated steam under pressure, for introducing superheated steam under pressure into the internal chamber. The nozzle cap comprises at least one outlet from the internal chamber. The internal chamber also comprises an interchangeable spacer element with a length of from 10 to 60 mm enabling the length of the internal chamber to be changed. A pregelatinised starch and its use in foods, especially baby foods and infant formulas, feed, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal care products are also disclosed.

With a method for digesting starch, an aqueous slurry of the starch is treated with steam in a cooking vessel and in this case exposed to shear forces, wherein the starch-containing slurry is heated to a temperature of between 85 C. and 110 C. in the cooking vessel by introducing steam, and the digestion step is implemented until the desired degree of digestion has been reached. Also described is a cooking vessel that can be used when the method for digesting starch is being carried out.

With a method for digesting starch, an aqueous slurry of the starch is treated with steam in a cooking vessel and in this case exposed to shear forces, wherein the starch-containing slurry is heated to a temperature of between 85 C. and 110 C. in the cooking vessel by introducing steam, and the digestion step is implemented until the desired degree of digestion has been reached. Also described is a cooking vessel that can be used when the method for digesting starch is being carried out.

A method and device for producing a pregelatinized starch dry powder. A pregelatinized starch dry powder having good processing properties. A method for producing a pregelatinized starch dry powder including supplying a cereal grain to a production device equipped with a predetermined grinding mechanism and a temperature adjusting means and grinding the cereal grain under shear conditions.