Controlling Protein Level of Meal Production at Cottonseed Oil Mills

Excerpts from the report Findings: Cottonseed oil mills may be able to increase net revenues substantially by controlling protein level of meal production in the meal grind room rather than in the press room. Data from six selected screw press mills indicate that protein content of meal production is more uniform when protein reducing hull material is added at the time press cake is ground into meal than when such material is left with cottonseed meats to go through the presses. Of the five mills using press room control, less than half their season's meal production fell within a protein tolerance of 40.5 to 41.5 percent. In contrast, the one mill practicing the more recent meal room control method had 87 percent of its production within the same tolerance. Other possible advantages of meal room control over press room control include greater oil extraction efficiency, increased press capacity, and lower press power and maintenance costs. Although this report is based on data obtained from screw press mills, the meal room protein control method should be equally advantageous to solvent and hydraulic mills.