A Review on Performance of Rice De-stoning Machines
O. A. Adetola *
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
D. L. Akindahunsi
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The major challenge in Nigerian rice industry is poor processing which allows contaminants such as stone pebbles to be introduced during harvesting and post-harvest handling. Despite the several efforts of various researchers in Nigeria, no commercial rice de-stoning machine is available because the machines have not been optimized and tested for various machine parameters. This review showed the highlights, prospects, performance evaluations, and limitations of some rice de-stoning machines, de-stoning machine modified, and motorized rice de-stoning machine. Their unique advantages and operational parameters, for example, de-stoning efficiency, capacity, and operating speed were assessed. The de-stoning efficiency, capacity, and operating speed ranged from 40.8 - 99.75%, 1.8 – 7500 kg/h, and 200 – 2980 rpm respectively. Mechanization of the de-stoning process will ensure the quality and hygiene of products, thus increasing the commercial value of the final exported or consumed products.
Keywords: De-stoning, efficiency, evaluation, output capacity, rice