Use of cellulase in a method of wet milling a starch-containing grain

• US 4,795,101 A
• Filed: 05/13/1987
• Issued: 01/03/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Genencor International Incorporated (International Flavors & Fragrances Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Genencor International Incorporated (International Flavors & Fragrances Incorporated)
• Inventors: Silver, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eley, Timothy V.
• Application Number:
  US07/049,750
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 241/21, 241/6, 241/9, 241/12, 127/68, 426/18, 426/623, 426/630, 426/635
• US Class Current: 241/12
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 30/044 from corn or maize

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of milling grain, especially corn, comprising cleaning the grain, steeping the grain in water to soften it, and then milling the grain with a cellulase enzyme.

Claims

1. A method for wet milling a starch-containing grain comprising:

(a) selecting a starch-containing grain;

(b) steeping the grain in water until the desired;

(1) amount of water absorbed;

(2) amount of dry substance released into the steep water; and

/or

(3) softness of the grain is achieved;

(c) removing the steep water from the grain;

(d) adding a cellulose enzyme to the grain of step (c) in the amount of from at least about 5,000 FPU/ton of grain; and

(e) milling the grain of step (c) or (d).

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the grain selected is corn.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the cellulase enzyme of step (d) is that cellulase isolated from Trichoderma reesei NRRL 15709, its mutations and submutations.