METHOD OF MONITORING EXTRACT CONTENT OF SPENT GRAINS IN A BREWING PROCESS

摘要

The present invention provides a method of monitoring extract content of spent grains in a brewing process, said method : • separating a saccharified mash into clear wort and spent grains; and • transporting a stream of the spent grains across a refractometer to obtain a sequence of time-resolved refractive index measurements. The present method for monitoring extract content is much more accurate than the conventional method and can easily be implemented in industrial breweries. This new method relies on the use of a refractometer to directly determine the extract content of spent grains. The present invention further provides an apparatus for separating saccharified mash into clear wort and spent grains, said apparatus comprising: • a solid- liquid separation device having an inlet for saccharified mash; an outlet for clear wort; and an outlet for spent grains; and • an inline refractometer disposed in the outlet for spent grains or downstream of said outlet of spent grains.