Identification methods for the perception and quality of cotton meal

Identification methods for the sensory properties of cotton meal

Observe the color, shape, etc. of cotton meal. The sensory characteristics are small flakes or cakes, with a fresh and consistent yellow brown color. There are few black fragmented cottonseed shells and lint, and there is no mold or clumping phenomenon. Grab a handful of cottonseed meal in your hand, carefully observe for any impurities, and estimate the proportion of cottonseed husks and the content of cotton lint. If the content of cottonseed husk and lint is high, the quality of cottonseed meal is poor. Low crude protein and high crude fiber.

The moisture content shall not exceed 12%. Grab a handful of cottonseed meal vigorously and release it. If the cottonseed meal is held in clumps, the moisture content is higher; if it is loose, the moisture content is lower. Pour the cottonseed meal and observe the amount of residue on the hands. If there is more residue, the moisture content is higher, and vice versa. Feel the humidity of cotton meal with your hand. Generally, the temperature is high and the moisture content is high. If you feel hot, a large amount of stacking may ignite spontaneously.

Smell the smell of cotton meal to see if there are any odors, odors, etc.

Quality Evaluation of Cotton Meal

Cotton meal should be fresh and consistent, free from fermentation, spoilage, and odors, and should not have a burnt or overheated taste.

Cotton meal usually has better quality in golden color, but poorer quality in blackening.

The amount of cotton husk and fiber in cotton meal directly affects its quality, and the more the proportion, the worse the quality. The quality can be roughly judged based on the proportion.

Cotton meal may be infected with aflatoxin, and if necessary, aflatoxin testing can be performed.

The content of gossypol is an important indicator for judging quality.

Reasons for cotton meal turning red

Under the same quality, yellow cottonseed meal is priced at 40 to 50 yuan per ton higher than slightly red cottonseed meal. Why does the color of cotton meal produced from the same cottonseed turn red and yellow mainly due to the denaturation of gossypol in the cottonseed. Gossypol is a yellow crystalline substance that can produce denatured gossypol when stored for too long, with high moisture, high temperature, and prolonged steaming. The color of denatured gossypol is brownish red or brownish black, and the color of cotton meal containing denatured gossypol is red. The denaturation of gossypol reduces the toxicity of cottonseed meal, but the deepening of color affects its appearance quality.