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CERES Discs for Degermination (Starch Extraction) - Prometals Steel Grades

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Engineered refiner discs and refiners for pulp & paper, starch extraction, panels, differential fibers and recycling—backed by technical services since the 1980s.
CERES Discs for Degermination

Engineered for robust degermination in starch extraction from tubers and grains, CERES refiner discs deliver high-efficiency starch–fiber separation with stable process control and long wear life.

  • Maximize starch yield while minimizing fiber carryover.
  • Stable operation across variable feed quality.
  • Wear-resistant metallurgy reduces changeovers and downtime.

Starch producers face fluctuating raw material quality and abrasive solids that erode conventional disc teeth. CERES addresses these pain points with controlled hydrodynamics and a reinforced “devil tooth” geometry that maintains cutting efficiency, protecting yield and uptime.

Benefits at a glance:

  • +1–3% starch yield vs. baseline configurations
  • Lower fiber contamination and cleaner separation
  • Extended runtime between dressings or swaps
  • Predictable energy draw and stable ΔP
Where CERES Excels

CERES discs support degermination and separation steps for both tubers (e.g., potato, cassava) and grains (e.g., corn, sorghum) in starch production lines.

  • Stages: primary degermination, secondary polish, and pre-centrifuge cleanup.
  • Targets: efficient liberation of starch granules and reduction of fiber carryover.
  • Outcomes: consistent slurry quality for downstream hydrocyclones/centrifuges and dryers.

Process conditions covered:

  • Consistency: low to medium, with adjustable tooth density to tune shear.
  • Temperature windows: compatible with typical milling and mash temps.
  • Abrasive load: alloyed wear surfaces resist sand/silt and hard kernels.
Devil Tooth Geometry & Alloys

The signature “devil tooth” profile combines aggressive entry angles with stabilized land widths to maintain shear while controlling fines. Flow channels evacuate liberated starch to minimize recirculation and heat.

  • Edge stability: reinforced apex resists chipping and rounding.
  • Hydrodynamics: optimized channels for consistent throughput at target ΔP.
  • Metallurgy: proprietary alloy and heat treatment for hardness with toughness.

Design intent:

  • Preserve tooth sharpness over long campaigns.
  • Reduce vibration and maintain clearances under load.
  • Minimize hot spots and plate warpage via balanced patterns.

Result: reliable separation performance and lower lifecycle cost.

Performance & Yield

Representative results with CERES discs in degermination duty:

  • Starch yield: +0.8 to +3.0 percentage points vs. prior setup.
  • Fiber carryover: −10% to −25% in outlet slurry (dry basis).
  • Specific energy: within ±5% of baseline at matched throughput.
  • Runtime: +20–40% between planned changes due to wear resistance.

Note: Actual performance depends on feedstock and plant configuration.

Sample data point:

  • Corn degermination line, 25 t/h: yield +1.6 pp; fiber carryover −14%; changeover interval from 9 to 12 days.
Compatibility & Custom Builds

CERES discs are available for a wide range of industrial degerminators and refiners used in starch extraction.

Technical Specifications

Key specifications:

  • Diameters: typical 400–1200 mm; custom sizes available.
  • Patterns: devil tooth variants tuned for starch release and low recirculation.
  • Tolerances: tight flatness and concentricity for low runout and vibration.
  • Balancing: each disc dynamically balanced to operating speed.
  • Interfaces: hubs/keys machined to OEM or customer drawings.

Documentation provided:

  • Dimensional drawings and tolerances.
  • Material certificates and heat treatment records.
  • Installation notes and torque guidance.
Installation & Operation

Best practices for commissioning:

  • Inspect mating faces; ensure clean, burr-free contact.
  • Verify flatness and runout; align hubs per drawing.
  • Torque bolts in star pattern; recheck after warmup.
  • Set initial clearances; ramp load gradually while monitoring ΔP and amps.
  • Record baseline vibration and energy for trend tracking.

Maintenance guidance:

  • Visual checks per shift; measure tooth wear weekly.
  • Typical inspection/change intervals: 7–14 days depending on abrasive load.
  • Plan swaps around scheduled cleanings to minimize downtime.
Case Snapshot

Regional grain processor, 2-line corn degermination train:

  • Baseline: frequent tooth rounding, fiber carryover variability, 9-day changeovers.
  • CERES retrofit: yield +1.6 pp, fiber carryover −14%, changeovers at 12 days.
  • Payback: under 5 months from yield improvement and reduced downtime.

Note: Results are indicative; site testing confirms configuration for your raw materials.

Resources & Catalog

Explore detailed drawings, materials, and configuration guides for CERES discs.

Need a specific drawing or OEM compatibility confirmation? Our engineering team can provide a rapid fit check against your machine model and hub interface.

Request a Quote

Share your process targets and machine details for a tailored CERES proposal.








Your data will be used solely to respond to your request, in line with our privacy practices.

What to include:

  • Material (corn, potato, cassava, etc.) and throughput.
  • Machine model, disc diameter, hub/key details.
  • Current KPIs: yield, fiber carryover, energy, runtime.
  • Target outcomes and constraints.
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Prometals Ligas de Aço delivers high-performance refining discs and refiners, engineered for pulp and paper, starch extraction, wood panels, and recycling. Unique Brazilian know-how in advanced refining, backed by decades of R&D, technical field support, and custom designs. Explore product lines CERES, GAIA, NANOAX, PEGASUS, TRITAN, plus refiners, catalogs, and expert services.
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