Analysis of agave milling in the process of mescal manufacturing [Análisis de la molienda en el proceso de elaboración de mezcal] Article uri icon

abstract

  • In this work, the process of grinding of agave for making mescal, in the factories of the zone of San Luis Potosi, Mexico is presented and analyzed. The mescal factories employ a Chilean mill which has a millstone wheel of that presses the material extracting its juices. The wheel presents problems of skating, which consists of the sliding of the wheel on the material, so the bagasse retains a considerable quantity of syrups and honeys. Several mills are analyzed and the forces exerted on the bagasse are studied, to determine the optimum design and operating conditions. It is concluded that the thickness of the stone has to be as big as possible, the contact area has to be as small as possible, and the channels on the surface of the stone must be directed towards the center of the mill, so that the juice goes out in direction of the forces of the compressed material. © 2007 Centro de Información Tecnológica.

publication date

  • 2007-01-01