Fragmentação mecanica de amendoas de cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) por meio de um beneficiador de cilindros. / Spalling almond mechanics of cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) by means of a beneficiador of cylinders.

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2007

RESUMO

Cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) is a native fruit from the Brazilian Amazon region whose seeds suitably fermented, dried and roasted can be used to manufacture a product similar to chocolate. One phase of this process must also include, therefore, the extraction of nibs (scrapped cotyledons) from the dried kernels, separating it from the shells, what can be done before or after roasting. This part of processing the kernels is still done through manual operation, in an inefficient artisan way. This work aims at devising an alternative way of cracking the dried but not roasted kernels by using a roller crusher, followed by sieving for separating the fractions. The variables studied for determining the nibs acquisition yield as well the purity of such material (expressed as percentage of shell and embryo fragments) were the moisture of the whole kernel and the differential speed of the double rollers of the crusher, this last is the difference of the tangential speeds of those rollers. The studied values of the moisture were 5, 6 e 7%. The factor differential speed was studied in two bands, the first with 2.10 , 2.66 e 3.23m/s, the second with 0.84 , 1.87 e 3.23m/s. The results confirmed that the moisture of the whole kernel was the variable that most influenced the cracking of the kernels. The moisture level of 5% of the whole kernels showed greater yield obtainment of nibs. The variation of the differential speed did not present any significant difference at yield. With regard to the percentage values of shell and embryo found in nibs, the variables considered did not show any significant difference on the response parameter, although the results were very much satisfactory. The percentage of shell and embryo found in the final material (nibs) is below the 1.75%. The yield of this alternative process is 90% of the cotyledons acquisition from certain kernels mass. In conclusion, the proposed process sets up as a mechanized alternative, of technical value and superior to the artisan methods, showing good nibs acquirement yield, and percentage of shells and embryo below the tolerated.

ASSUNTO(S)

cotyledon cupuaçu nibs agricultura - mecanização cracking theobroma grandiflorum

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