Grain quality determination involves important stages such as collection of the representative sample, homogenization, and dilution. The interrelation among sampling, homogenization, and working sample size is essential to the reliability of the information generated. Therefore, this work aimed to analyse the performance of mechanical homogenizers used in the commercialization of grains in Brazil, as a function of the size of the working sample masses during grain classification. The samples were homogenized and diluted in Boerner, 16:1 multichannel splitter, and 4:1 multichannel splitter until reaching masses of 0.025, 0.050, 0.075, 0.100 and 0.125 kg to determine the level of damaged grains. A 3 x 4 x 5 factorial design was used, meaning three treatments relative to homogenizers (Boerner, 16:1 multichannel splitter, and 4:1 multichannel splitter), four dilutions (4, 8, 12 and 16% damaged grains), and five grain sample sizes (0.025, 0.050, 0.075, 0.100 and 0.125 kg) with nine repetitions. The means were compared by Tukey test and to the original means of prepared samples (4, 8, 12, and 16%) by Student’s t-test. Working samples can be utilized with masses between 0.025 and 0.125 kg to classify damaged soybeans grains. The devices Boerner, 16:1 multichannel splitter, and 4:1 multichannel splitter are similar in the reduction and homogenization of soybean samples for different levels of damaged grains and sample sizes.

Graniferous sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is a cereal strongly used in processed foods because it is gluten free, due to the importance of this grain it is necessary to define safe conditions for storage. Thus, the objective was to determine the desorption isotherms for grains of grain sorghum and to determine the safe water content of storage of this product. The grain desorption isotherms were obtained by the static-indirect method, obtaining the product's water activity at temperatures of 10, 20, 30 and 40 ºC, for the moisture content range between 14 to 24 ± 0.1 % on dry basis. The mathematical models used to represent the hygroscopicity of agricultural products were adjusted to the experimental data. To verify the degree of adjustment of the models, the magnitude of the coefficient of determination, the Chi-square test, the relative mean error, estimated mean error, Akaike information criteria (AIC), and Schwarz Bayesian information criteria were considered (BIC). All models represent satisfactorily the desorption isotherms, however, according to the evaluated parameters, the Chung-Pfost model was the most appropriate. For the storage of grain sorghum grains the maximum moisture content limit is 15.69; 15.08; 14.53; 14.03% b.s., for temperatures of 10, 20, 30 and 40 ºC, respectively.

Grain sampling requires the use of appropriate and accurate equipment. This study aimed to compare grain samplers, manual and mechanical, used in the sampling of soybean loads, during their reception by storage units. The used devices were the manual sampler with 1.80 m length and three opening stages, 2.10 m length and three opening stages; and 2.10 m length and one opening stage, besides the mechanical sampler (pneumatic) and the pelican sampler. The analyzed parameters were the contents of impurity, broken grains, pods, immature grains, and moisture. The significance of effect of treatment was determined by F Test and the means were compared by Tukey test (p < 0.05). The devices used for sampling of soybean grains in vehicles, during their reception by storage units, affect the determination of broken grains, pods and immature grains. However, there was no difference between the types of sampling equipment in the determination of impurity content, and the pelican sampler collected greater percentages of pods and immature grains from the sampled vehicles.

Due to the growing demand for nutritious foods and the importance of studying the viability of foods produced from native species of the Cerrado, the present study was conducted to characterize baru almond flours produced from fruits subjected to drying. The fruits were dehydrated at temperatures of 40, 60, 80 and 100 ºC in an oven with forced air circulation until constant weight. The samples were analyzed for moisture content, ash, lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, energy value, pH, acidity, soluble solids, apparent specific mass, minerals, phenolics and total flavonoids, carotenoids, antioxidant capacity; and characterized by Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy. The analyses were performed in triplicate and the results were evaluated by analysis of variance and Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05). Baru almond flours showed moisture content ranging from 4.95 to 3.29 g 100 g-1. Drying at a temperature of 100 ºC caused in the samples an increase in apparent specific mass and reduction in pH, soluble solids, antioxidant activity, total phenolics, contents of total flavonoids and carotenoids. The 40 ºC treatment induced lower losses in antioxidant activity, total phenolics and total flavonoids. The results of the FT-IR analysis show loss of nutrients. Drying did not alter the contents of ash, lipids, energy value, potassium, iron, zinc, copper and manganese. Baru almond flour is rich in nutrients and can be an alternative to enrich gluten-free foods

In the grain market the most diverse equipment is used for homogenization and reduction of the working samples. Thus, this paper aims to analyze the performance of devices used for sample homogenization and reduction for soybean classification. A sample composed of 8% of damaged soybeans with yellow and black coat was previously prepared. Samples were homogenized and reduced in bucket, crate, Boerner, 16:1 multichannel splitter and 4:1 multichannel splitter. The design used was completely randomized with five treatments (homogenizers) and one percentage of damaged grains (8%). Evaluations were subjected to analysis of variance and treatment means were compared to one another by Tukey test (p 0.5) and to the mean of the original sample (8%) by Student s t-test. The devices Boerner, 16:1 multichannel splitter and 4:1 multichannel splitter were similar in the homogenization and reduction of the soybean sample. The crate and bucket showed the worst performance in the grain homogenization because they compromise the result of the product’s qualitative analysis.