Defatted soybean, a byproduct of soybean oil extraction, is rich in plant-based proteins and dietary fibers. To enhance its functional properties in the food industry—such as in meat analogues, bakery products, and high-protein beverages—the material must be processed to a specific fineness to improve mouthfeel and solubility. In this case, a large-scale food processing enterprise utilized the Epic Powder MJW Series Air Classifier Mill (ACM) to perform the ultrafine grinding of defatted soybean sourced from Brazil, achieving industrial-scale efficiency.
1. Core Challenges
- Balance of Throughput and Fineness: Maintaining a high output of 800 kg/h while strictly controlling the particle size at approximately D50: 60 μm.
- Temperature Control: Soybean proteins are heat-sensitive. Excessive temperatures during grinding can cause protein denaturation, negatively affecting product quality and taste.
- Fiber Handling: Soybean fiber possesses inherent toughness; conventional mills often struggle to achieve a uniform particle size distribution while maintaining efficiency.
2. Technical Solution: MJW Series Air Classifier Mill
The MJW series combines mechanical impact grinding with integrated air classification. This system is ideal for the ultrafine grinding of defatted soybean as the material is pulverized by the high-speed interaction between the grinding rotor and the tooth liner.
- Coarse Feed Adaptability: The system directly processes Brazilian soybean pellets with an inlet size of D50: 5 mm, eliminating the need for a pre-crushing stage and simplifying the production line.
- Integrated Classification System: By adjusting the classifier wheel speed, oversized particles are precisely intercepted and returned to the grinding zone for re-milling, ensuring a stable final product of D50: 60 μm.
- Air-Cooling Effect: The high-volume airflow inherent to the process rapidly dissipates heat, ensuring the nutritional profile of the defatted soybean remains intact.
3. Processing Results & Parameters
Following the implementation of the MJW Air Classifier Mill, the operational data is as follows:
| Item | Technical Specification |
| Equipment | Epic Powder MJW Series Air Classifier Mill (ACM) |
| Raw Material | Defatted Soybean |
| Inlet Particle Size | D50: 5 mm |
| Product Fineness | D50: 60 μm |
| Production Capacity | 800 kg/h |
| Product Characteristics | Uniform particle distribution, preserved protein activity, smooth texture |
