The ProCerealTech laboratory has four highly equipped laboratories to develop all lines of research.
Laboratories and
equipment
The laboratory is divided into 5 different areas:
1. Chemical analysis
High Efficiency Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
Mainly used for the determination and quantification of phenolic compounds, protein fractions, amino acids, etc.
UV-Vis Perkin-Elmer Spectrophotometer. (Waltham, MA 02451 USA)
Oil extraction equipment (Soxhlet).
Determination of fat content of samples of different nature.
2. Physical analysis
Differential scanning calorimeter DSC3, STARe-System, Mettler (Toledo, Switzerland)
Used to measure thermal properties: water freezing, fat crystallization, and starch phase transitions (gelatinization, retrogradation, amylose-lipid complex).
Kinexus Pro+ Rheometer (Malvern Instruments Ltd., Malvern, UK)
It allows measuring the viscoelasticity of fluids, semi-solids and solids, thus providing a detailed evaluation of the behavior of the ingredient/product.
TA-XT2 Texturometer Stable Microsystems (Godalming, UK)
Texture Analyzer to evaluate physical properties of both finished products (hardness, cohesiveness, elasticity, chewiness, adhesiveness, resilience, fractureability, etc.) and intermediate products (dough stickiness, dough consistency, etc.).
VolScan volume meter
VolScan allows you to quantify the volume of different products through laser technology.
PCE CSM5 Colorimeter (Meschede, Germany)
Measurement of the color of a sample in terms of color coordinates, such as the CIE Lab color space.
Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA) Perten 4500 (Waltham, MA, USA)
Rotational viscometer that allows quantifying the viscosity of starch suspensions under controlled temperature and shear conditions.
Stoves, thermobalances
Humidity determination
3. Physical modification plant
Customized MW R342INW Furnace (SHARP, Sakai, Japan)
Microwave treatments represent a fast, sustainable, efficient and reliable technique to physically modify grains, flours and starches.
We have 4 microwaves of 900W each, with coupled rotation system, and temperature control system. It can be worked at constant or variable humidity.
Hielscher UP400St Sonicator (Hielscher Ultrasonics, Teltow, Germany)
Sonicator equipped with a titanium probe, frequency of 24 kHz with a maximum power of 400W.
4. Sample processing/conditioning plant
Perten 3100 laboratory mill (Perten Instrument AB, Hägersten, Sweden)
We have 1 and 0.5 mm sieves
Faribon 600 Mill
Mill that allows you to separate by fractions
Fidibus Medium stone mill (Komo, Hopfgarten, Austria)
Chopin Mill CD1
CISA electromagnetic vibration sieving machine
Grain cleaner
Cgoldenwall mechanical press (China)
Used for oil extraction in nuts and seeds.
5. Pilot plant workroom
Electric oven “Mini Rack Oven” Sveba Dahlen (Fristad, Sweden)
Fermenter with humidity and temperature control
Kitchen Aid 5KPM50 Professional Blenders (Michigan, USA)
SALVA L-500-J laminator (Lezo, Spain)
