SL2274TB0504 San Miguel Rice Bran

Report on storage of rice bran under modified atmosphere using a

GrainPro Cocoon

Introduction

A demo trial on the use of hermetic storage for rice bran was set up from Jan.12 ,2004 till March
22 2004, a total of 71 days.
Rice bran is a well appreciated additive to animal feed and 6-10% of it is added to various feeds.
San Miguel uses some 6000 MT monthly. Problems with this commodity are at the logistical and
quality level: during the lean months (June, July and August) prices increase by 30%, whereas the
overall quality of the bran is at the low side due to the fact that most of the rice mills in the
Philippines are small and collection by traders takes time. Time between milling and delivery to
the SM feedmill may be as much as 2-3 weeks. By this time the oil content of the bran, being the
main reason for its inclusion in the feed, has turned rancid due to the activation of the lipase
enzyme system which catalyzes or triggers the oil in the bran into Free Fatty Acid and
glycerine.This breakdown process starts as soon as 12 hrs after milling. Bran contains a
substantial amount of the rice germ and because of this is a great attraction to storage insects
which tend to cause rapid infestation of the commodity. Infested bran has to be fumigated before
inclusion of it into the production process, causing delays and extra expenses.
Purpose of the trial was to demonstrate that hermetic storage can preserve the quality of the bran
when stored over a long period.

Key Findings - It was established that all the Rice Bran stored in the GrainPro Cocoon™
after 71 days was insect-free and of acceptable quality. Whereas, the two control bags left
outside the Cocoon were heavily infested (average 25 insects per sample or 51 insects per
kg.) and according to their odor and appearance were not usable for animal feed anymore.

Measurements of FFA (free fatty acid) suffered from significant measurement

inconsistencies and, therefore, are not reliable.

Materials

1 GrainPro Cocoon of 5 MT (7.5m3)

2 Data loggers type Hobo
1 O2 analyzer type
3990 kg of rice bran from various sources and of unknown production date in polypropylene bags
of 35 kg in average
2 bags of rice bran serving as control

Methods
114 bags of rice bran were stored in a “5 MT “ GrainPro Cocoon set up inside the warehouse of
Purefoods, Santa Rosa, Laguna. Due to the bulk density of bran (0.53) the actual amount stored
was 3939 kg in bags with an average of 34.5 kg piled in 9 layers.
10 x 500 gr samples were taken from the Cocoon. Samples 1-3 from layer 1 (bottom), 4-6 from
layer 3, samples 7-10 from layer 8. A data logger was placed inside the Cocoon at layer 5.
Samples were tested for FFA, CP, Moisture, Fibers and Level of Insect Infestation.
The FFA tests were conducted by FAST Laboratories, while Crude Protein (wet method),
Moisture (Oven Drying Method) and Fiber (NIR) were done at the Laguna QC Laboratory.
O2 readings were performed daily during the first 2 weeks; after that once a week.
One data logger was installed in the warehouse to measure ambient temperature and RH, another
one inside the Cocoon.
The two bags serving as control were placed next to the Cocoon. These bags were exposed to
ambient conditions and were occasionally sprayed or exposed to fogging as a SOP of the
warehouse management.

Results

1. O2 levels during the trial

O2 level in % Santa Rosa

25

20

15
O2 in %

O2 in %
10

0
04
04

04
4

4
4

4
00

00

00

00

00
00

00
20

20

20
/2

/2
/2

/2
/2

/2

/2
9/
3/

2/
13

10
20

27

17

24

16
2/

3/

3/
1/

1/

1/

2/

2/

2/

3/

Date

Remarks and annotations:

Initially some problems were faced with the operation of the O2 analyzer, leaving some missing data. However the
overall trend of the graph is clear. It settled down on the level of 2.3% for over a month.

2
 2. Ambient conditions in the warehouse: temperature and RH

120

100

80

Temperature (*C) (1)

60
RH (% ) (3)

40

20

04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04 04
/ 20 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 20
12 19 26 2 9 16 23 1 8 15 22
1/ 1/ 1/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 3/ 3/ 3/ 3/

Remarks and annotations:

Unfortunately the datalogger inside the Cocoon failed to produce data due to an expired battery.

3. Results analysis Free Fatty Acids, Crude Protein, Moisture Content, Crude Fiber and Insect
Infestation.

Sample % FFA % FFA %CP %CP % MC % MC % % Insects Insects

CFiber CFiber
No. Oleic Oleic Per kg Per 500
grams
Initial final initial final initial final initial Final initial Final
1 58.4 76 12.85 12.48 10.99 10.69 5.99 5.89 0 0
2 74.8 64.8 13.1 12.34 11.43 10.82 5.89 5.53 0 0
3 58.9 44.6 13.04 12.54 11.04 10.87 5.79 5.67 0 0
4 55.4 70.3 12.97 12.59 11.14 11.6 5.48 5.18 0 0

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 5 71.6 72.8 12.75 12.39 11.17 10.91 6.01 6.32 0 0
6 15.3 65.8 12.89 12.63 10.94 10.78 5.72 5.36 0 0
7 73.3 42.1 12.77 12.96 11.77 11.51 6.36 6.2 0 0
8 36.1 51.7 12.72 12.47 11.47 11.08 5.69 6.07 0 0
9 55.2 34 13.1 12.88 11.87 11.13 5.68 5.38 0 0
10 30.5 39 13.07 12.58 11.31 10.97 5.89 5.75 0 0
Mean 52.95 56.11 12.93 12.59 11.31 11.04 5.85 5.74 0.00 0.00
(control) 57.7 22.5 13.03 12.44 11.76 11.05 5.73 5.75 0 16
11
(control) 73.2 41.4 13.02 12.01 11.46 10.75 5.91 6.23 0 35
12
Mean 65.45 31.95 13.03 12.23 11.61 10.90 5.82 5.99 0.00 25.50

Remarks and annotations:

The weight of the samples was roughly 500 gr. ; since the international standard is to present insects per kg, the
actual data are 51 life insects per kg.
There are “problematic” FFA readings: indicating a lower final FFA level than the initial data.
This is scientifically impossible and the reason should be looked for in the accuracy of the FFA tests performed.

Conclusions

1. The level of 2.3% O2 reached after 3 weeks of storage, prevented any insect infestation of
the bran, whereas the control reached a level of some 50 live insects per kg.
2. The results of the FFA tests are inconsistent and contradictory, since FFA cannot
decrease. All the more both the controls show a decrease, which again is impossible. A
closer look should be given to the method of sampling in order to insure reliability, the
technical aspects of FFA laboratory tests and the accuracy of the results, which obviously
are not satisfactory both to the negative as well as the positive.
3. There is a slightly better performance of the Cocoon in preserving C.Protein (0.34%
decrease) whereas the control decreased by 0.8%).
4. MC in the Cocoon shows a decrease of 0.27%, whereas the control decreased by
0.71%.There is a certain inaccuracy factor even in oven tests. However it is clear that the
high temperatures in the warehouse (up to 38o C) had a drying effect on the commodity.
5. For obvious reasons there is no difference in the C.Fiber content.
6. According to Mr. Eddie I. Camaligan, Area Operations Manager for South Luzon I, who
was present at the opening of the Cocoon, the bran retained its smell of freshness.
7. The rice bran which was retrieved from inside the cocoon was still of acceptable quality
based on the acceptance parameters of the feed mill and the rice bran was actually
included and used immediately in the feed milling operations.

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Discussion

Insect infestation, being one of the major hassles in bran storage is effectively controlled
maintaining the zero level for the samples inside the cocoon. It was also observed that there were
dead insects inside the cocoon after the storage period of 71 days. This means that some insects
were already present when the rice bran was first placed inside the cocoon, but they could not be
detected by the naked eye. These insects were killed by the low oxygen level under hermetic
storage inside the cocoon.

Even presuming the O2 decrease process will take 2-3 weeks (much depending on the level of
infestation), the low O2 level retained and maintained afterward enables San Miguel Foods Inc. to
store bran for several months at a level which is not lower than the present quality level.

Due to the inconsistency of the FFA test, no final conclusions can be drawn from the ability of
hermetic storage to control FFA levels.

However the basic problem is that SMFI collects its bran over a period of 2-3 weeks and thus the
FFA levels will always be high, unless a method is found for rapid collection and delivery to the
feed mill or to a hermetic storage unit. This should be done within a period of < 48 hrs from
milling. Ideally bran used in feed mills should not have a FFA level higher than 15%.

Other parameters as CP, MC and CF do hardly change or not change at all under hermetic
conditions.

The graph of the O2 is similar to the graph for bran received from the ARO in Israel and the
graph on brown rice received from IRRI in Los Banos.

Results on FFA and O2 levels sharply differ from a trial on the storage of rice bran for 3 months
at the Vitarich plant in Bulacan where a rapid drop in O2 occurred (to 1% in < 7 days) and an
increase in mean FFA of 4% only after 3 months.

Based on data accumulated till now with various field and laboratory trials, it may be concluded
that rice bran can be stored for several months (more than 3) without insect infestation and
maintaining freshness. As to now the impact of hermetic storage on FFA levels is not clear yet
and will much depend on the initial FFA levels at the time of storage and accuracy and reliability
of the measurement methods.

Literature:

Eduardo A.Jarcia (19??) Prospects of Rice Bran Utilization in Agriculture and Industry, Unpublished report report
by the NFA-TRDD, Quezon City 19??
J.V.Parairo (2002) Effect of Volcani Cube on the Physical and Chemical Quality of Rice Bran D- One for 90-day
Storage Period, Vitarich QC-IRM Section, FEPD Department, Experiment # 36
Mauricio R.Valdez and Antonio R.dela Cruz (19??) Rice Bran Stabilization- The NFA Experience, Paper presented
to the FA Field Workshop on Rice Process Industries, RAS/81/046, Jakarta, Indonesia, 19??

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Date:
Quezon City Santa Rosa

Tom de Bruin Pablito M. Villegas Eddie I. Camaligan Juancho Miranda

GrainPro Inc. Farms, Inc. / Adtech, Inc. San Miguel Foods, Inc.