12 SULPHUR BLEACHING OF COMMEECIAL OATS AND BAELEY. 



GAIN BY INCREASED MOISTURE CONTENT. 



As shown in figure 3, the average increase in moisture by bleaching 

 was 1.79 per cent, as determined by samples taken as the grain was 

 being drawn from the bleaching tower. It was found, however, that 

 in "running" and cooling the oats prior to loading into cars, approxi- 

 matel}' one-half of 1 per cent of moisture was lost by evaporation, 

 leaving a net increase in the moisture content of 1.29 per cent, which 

 is equivalent to 1.48 per cent increase in weight.*^ 



NET GAIN RESULTING FROM BLEACHING. 



The cost of bleaching grain with sulphur depends largely upon the 

 facilities available for handling and the quantity of grain bleached. 



The average capacity 

 of a bleacher is about 

 3,000 bushels per hour. 

 The cost of the sulphur 

 (20 to 30 pounds) re- 

 quired to bleach 1,000 

 bushels of grain should 

 not exceed 50 cents. 

 The steam required for 

 the process is not an 

 expensive item, as it 

 is usually at hand for 

 running other elevator 

 machinery. From esti- 

 mates obtained from 

 various persons engaged in this line of work the cost of bleach- 

 ing, when the plants are running full eapacit}', varies from about one- 

 eighth to one-quarter of 1 cent per bushel. 



Computed on a basis of 54 cents per bushel for the oats (the average 

 price at the time of bleaching), the gain in weight of 1.48 per cent 

 shows an average gain in the price received of 0.78 of 1 cent per 

 bushel from the addition of moisture alone, which, added to the aver- 

 age gain of 1.73 cents per bushel from advanced grades by reason of 

 the improved appearance of the oats, shows an average gross gain of 

 2.51 cents per bushel. Deducting from this the greatest estimated 

 cost of bleaching (one-quarter of 1 cent per bushel), the net profit due 

 to the process of bleaching would be 2.26 cents per bushel, which, on 

 the average carload of 1,600 bushels, would amount to $36. 



o Circular 32, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, entitled 

 "Moisture Content and Shrinkage of Grain," explains the reason for this difference 

 and how it is calculated. 

 [Cir. 74) 



Fig. 4.— Diagram comparing the price per bushel of oats 

 before and after bleaching. 



