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Effects of Maize Hybrid and Meal Drying Conditions on Yield and Quality of Extracted Zein¹

¹Journal Paper, J-16808 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, IA, 50011. Project no. 0161. Research supported by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, Center for Crops Utilization Research and the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station. ²Graduate research assistant, associate professor and professor, respectively. ³Corresponding author. E-mail: dmyers@iastate.edu ⁴Professor-in-charge, Center for Crops Utilization Research, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011.

Corn gluten meal (CGM) produced from two maize hybrids and subjected to five drying treatments were used to determine the effects of variables on zein extraction. Zein extraction yields, protein recoveries, and purities were higher in the CGM with the higher protein content. The yield and protein recovery of zein decreased as the drying temperature increased. Zein yield, protein recovery, and purity were significantly lower in the CGM subjected to freeze- and spray-drying than in those subjected to oven-drying. A relatively higher pH value in the CGM slurries was a characteristic of freeze- and spray-dried CGM. An explanation of these results based on the mechanisms of protein changes during drying is given.