Evaluation of a new multipurpose centrifugal mechanism for nut process

• Small farmers for economic reasons are often forced to sell their products at low prices before high cost processing.
• This machine can do the three-step of processing: Peeling, washing and moisture removing.
• Evaluation results showed that the machine is capable to remove the pistachio green hull partly (67%).
• Evaluation results showed that the machine is capable to remove the walnut green hull completely (100%).
• The removed skin is being led to the outside of the device without hand interfering.
• The machine can remove the water/moisture from the washing process, perfectly.

Post processing and transportation of pistachio have great effects on its food value, physical properties and marketability of this product. Any applicable research for processing of pistachio have direct and indirect effects on developing technology of this industry. In this study, various methods of pistachio and other nut processing in recent years have been investigated and after that, new suitable and multipurpose centrifugal mechanism for nut processing have been presented. The mechanism is able to do hulling, washing and draining, all in one. The machine has been constructed in the laboratory and loaded with pistachio in two treatments and with walnuts in four treatments. In both hulling and draining processes good results are obtained. Time did not play as an important role for hulling process. Bigger nuts with higher inertia like walnuts were hulled better in this system.