Determining the quality of soybeans is a complex process, which includes an assessment of her physical, chemical and biological properties. This is necessary to determine the suitability of soybeans for various purposes: food industry, feed production, technical use.
Main indicators of soybean quality:
- Humidity:
- Determines the suitability of soybeans for storage.
- Excessive humidity can lead to mold growth and spoilage.
- Oil content:
- An important indicator for soybean oil production.
- Determines oil output and its quality.
- Protein content:
- Determines the nutritional value of soybeans.
- Important for the production of soy flour, isolates and concentrates.
- Garbage and oil impurities:
- Determine the purity of soybeans.
- They affect the quality of products and the technological process of processing.
- Varietal purity:
- Determines the conformity of soybeans to the declared variety.
- It is important for seed production and the production of varietal products.
- Pest infestation:
- Determines the safety of soybeans for consumption and storage.
- It affects the quality and output of products.
- GMOs (genetically modified organisms):
- Determines the presence of genetically modified components.
- An important indicator for labeling and compliance with market requirements.
Methods of determining soybean quality:
- Organoleptic analysis:
- Assessment of appearance, color, smell, taste.
- Physico-chemical methods:
- Determination of humidity, oil content, protein, impurity.
- Use of laboratory equipment (chromatography, spectrometry).
- Microbiological analysis:
- Determination of the total number of microorganisms, presence of pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
- Genetic analysis:
- Determination of the presence of GMOs using PCR (polymerase chain reaction).
The importance of determining the quality of soybeans:
- Ensuring product quality and safety.
- Protection of consumer rights.
- Control over compliance with technological processes.
- Increasing the competitiveness of products.