Quinoa Processing Line China Manufacturers

Quinoa Processing Line China Manufacturers

Shijiazhuang Xinlu Technology Co., Ltd. – Technical Overview of Quinoa Processing Line

Quinoa processing is a specialized operation aimed at removing the natural, bitter-tasting saponin coating from the seeds and delivering a clean, polished, and microbiologically sound final product. The processing line must be gentle to preserve the delicate seed while being thorough enough to achieve the strict quality standards of the health food market. Shijiazhuang Xinlu Technology Co., Ltd. designs quinoa lines that integrate washing, polishing, and precision sorting technologies.

The primary and defining stage is saponin removal. This is achieved through a combination of abrasive and washing actions. Raw quinoa is fed into a specialized dehulling/polishing machine, often a horizontal abrasive cylinder or a series of friction-based machines. This process mechanically abrades the outer pericarp (which contains the saponins). Immediately following or integrated with this abrasive step is a washing and rinsing system. The abraded quinoa is mixed with water in screw washers or flume channels. The saponins, being water-soluble, are dissolved and washed away. The washed quinoa is then spun in a centrifuge to remove excess surface water.

The next critical phase is drying. The wet quinoa must be dried quickly and evenly to a safe storage moisture content (typically below 12%) to prevent germination or mold growth. This is done using continuous flow dryers, such as fluidized bed dryers or vertical tray dryers, which use controlled, heated air. Precise temperature control is essential to avoid cooking or damaging the seed's nutritional properties.

Following drying, the quinoa undergoes precision cleaning and grading. It is passed over vibrating screens to remove any remaining small impurities or broken seeds. Specific gravity separators are then used to efficiently separate lighter, potentially under-processed seeds from the denser, well-polished quinoa. Optical sorting is a final, crucial quality check. High-resolution color sorters are used to remove any remaining seeds with residual hulls, discolored seeds, or foreign materials, ensuring a perfectly uniform, bright final product.

For some premium markets, an additional final polishing step may be included to enhance the seed's natural shine after drying. Finally, the processed quinoa is packaged in moisture-resistant bags. Given that quinoa is often consumed as a whole grain, the entire processing line from Shijiazhuang Xinlu Technology Co., Ltd. is designed with utmost care for gentle handling to minimize breakage, using soft-impact elevators and conveyors. The line emphasizes effective saponin removal, thorough drying, and meticulous sorting to produce quinoa that meets international food safety and quality standards.