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Bulk density and flowability of nonfat dry milk and skim milk powder

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 Bulk density and flowability of nonfat dry milk and skim milk powder

A. k. Abdalla1,2, K. Smith2, and J. Lucey2

1
Department of Food Science, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt.
2
Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison,

WI 53706, USA

SUMMARY

The objectives of this study were to determine bulk density and flowability of commercial

nonfat dry milk (NFDM) and skim milk powder (SMP). Samples of NFDM/SMP were obtained

from four U.S. producers. Bulk densities at 0-, 100-, 625- and 1250-taps were determined and

Hausner ratio (HR) values were calculated as indicator of powders flowability. No significant

differences were apparent in bulk density between NFDM/SMP. Differences were noted in bulk

density of samples between manufacturers suggesting differences in processing conditions

between them. HR values indicated that only 5 of the 23 powders samples were considered to be

of medium flowability category after 1250-taps. The remaining 18 samples fall in the difficult

flowability category of which two powders were close to the very difficult flowability category.

The significant differences in the bulk density and flowability among powders may influence

their functional properties.

KEYWORDS: NFDM/SMP, Bulk density, Hausner ratio, flowability.

Citation; Abdalla, A.K., K. Smith, and J. Lucey (2017). Bulk density and flowability of nonfat

dry milk and skim milk powder. Egypt. J Dairy Sci., 45. pp. 17-24
 INTRODUCTION

Bulk density is the weight of a volume unit of powder and is typically expressed in g/cm³ or

g/ml. Bulk density of milk powder is important property from an economical and functional

perspective (Anonymous, 2001). Producers aim to ship large amounts of their product in small

container in order to reduce costs of shipping and packaging (Tamime, 2009). For further

processing of powders users may require higher bulk density powder for the improved

flowability or a lower bulk density for instant properties (Servais et al., 2002).

The bulk density of NFDM/SMP is a composite property that influenced by several factors

such as: density of solids, particle density and the shape of the particle (Tamime, 2009;

Anonymous, 2001). The air entrapped within the particle and the density of the solids determine

the particle density, while the air in between individual particles with the particle density

constitute the bulk density of the powder (Anonymous, 2001). Processing conditions influencing

bulk density of powder include atomization method (type of nozzles/wheels, pressure), heat

treatment of the milk, inlet temperatures (thermodynamic conditions of the air temperature,

relative humidity, velocity), type of dryer, concentration and composition of the incoming raw

milk, and characteristics of the concentrate before spraying (Schuck, 2009, Sharma et al., 2012,

Tamime, 2009).

Controlling bulk density can be achieved by controlling the amount of occluded air (Tamime,

2009), since the occluded air increases the particle volume increases and in turn decreases the

particle density and bulk density. The amount of occluded should be kept low If a high bulk

density product is required. In contrast, low bulk density can be accomplished by increasing

occluded air or by utilizing agglomeration (Anonymous, 2001).

 The level of whey proteins denaturation, affects the amount of occluded air in the powder.

Low heat powders tend to have a higher amount of occluded air as compared to high heat

powder due the higher content of un-denatured whey proteins which are responsible for

increasing foamability of powder (Anonymous, 2001; Westergaard, 2004). As a result, high heat

treatments tend to increase bulk density by reducing foamability and thus the amount of occluded

air (Westergaard, 2004).

Adhesion between particles and flow properties are important for discharging, conveying,

metering and packaging of powders (Ortega-Rivas, 2008). Bulk density determination is one of

the practical tests used to characterize the flow properties of powders (Fitzpatrick et al., 2004).

Hausner ratio (HR) is the ratio of tapped bulk density to loose bulk density (Abdullah and

Geldart, 1999). Determining the HR value is a suitable method for measuring powder flowability,

and tapping device is not expensive (Abdullah and Geldart, 1999, Saw et al., 2015). HR value can

be influenced by size, shape, surface area, moisture content, and cohesiveness of the powder

(Silva et al., 2013, Ilari, 2002). Recently, HR have become an easy, fast, and accepted method for

predicting powder flow characteristics. In addition, HR is considered to be one of the standard

methods to evaluate the flowability of a particulate system (Ortega-Rivas, 2008).

Factors that change with tapping and influence the Hausner ratio (HR) include particle shape

and size distribution (Ortega-Rivas, 2008). Fine powders will have higher attractive forces

between particles as compared to coarser powders and therefore fine powders will typically be a

more difficult flowing product (Ilari and Mekkaoui, 2005; Abdullah and Geldart, 1999). In

addition, irregularly shaped particles tend to adhere on other particles and also be less free

flowing than more spherical particles.

The flowability of powders may be improved by the addition of anti-caking agents which
coat the coarser particle and thereby preventing the particles from clumping together.

Agglomerating powder is another method of improving flowability, however, the agglomerates

should be spherical rather than long chained (Dhanalakshmi et al., 2011, Ortega-Rivas, 2008,

Szulc and Lenart, 2010).

The objective of this work was to characterize variations in bulk density and flowability of

U.S. produced NFDM/SMP powders, and to discuss factors that affect these properties of

powder.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Milk powder samples

This study covered twenty three powder samples (NFDM/SMP) from four U.S. producers.

Powder samples were 50 pound bags of low-, medium- and high- heat NFDM/SMP that were not

agglomerated or instantized and were approximately 6 to 9 month old.

Bulk density

Bulk density of NFDM/SMP powders was determined according to the ISO/IDF standard

method (ISO8967/IDF134, 2005). Briefly, 100 g powder were weighed into a graduated glass

cylinder and tapped at 0-, 100-, 625- and 1250-taps using tapped density analyzer device

(Quantachrome Instruments, FL, USA). Results were reported as g/ml.

Hausner Ratios (HR)

The Hausner ratio (HR) values were determined by dividing the tapped density to the loose

poured bulk density (Saw et al., 2015) and used to describe flow properties of powder samples.

Statistical analysis

All of the analyses were done at least in duplicates and data are presented as mean ± standard

deviation. To establish significant differences, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was determined

using the software Statistical Analysis Systems, SAS version 9.2 for Windows (SAS Institute

Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Mean comparisons were performed using the Tukey’s multiple

comparison test in SAS. The probability level of 5% (α = 0.05) was used to indicate the

significance.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Bulk density

Tapped bulk density

Bulk density was determined by exposing a given volume of powder to compaction by

standardized tapping. The number of taps differs between methods; however, the IDF Standard

134 uses 625 taps to represent a tapped-to-extreme density (ISO8967/IDF134, 2005). Also

powders can be tapped by different numbers and expressed as loose bulk density, poured density,

and apparent density. Table 1 gives the bulk density of the powders at 0-(loose bulk density),

100-, 625- and 1250- taps for samples obtained from the different producers. Significant

differences were found between processors at 0- taps (Table 1 and 3). The loose bulk density of

the processor 3 powder was lower than that for powders from the other processors. The low

loose bulk density of the processor 3 powder would be a disadvantage in the area of packaging

and shipping costs. In addition products from processor 3 and processor 2 showed the greatest

variability in loose bulk density which may reflect differences in production facilities,

nozzles/atomizers used or processing conditions (Tamime, 2009; Westergaard, 2004). Also, the

heat treatment used for the manufacture of powder should affect bulk density (Westergaard,

2004), but this was not supported by the present results. Also, differences in loose bulk density

between NFDM and SMP were not significant (Table 3).

The bulk density at l00-taps

 The bulk density for NFDM/SMP at l00-taps is given in Table 1. The high bulk densities of

powder from processor 1, processor 4 and processor 2 suggested that dryers using nozzles had

been used in the powder manufacture while the low bulk density values for products from

processor 3 are more typical of dryers with rotary atomizers (Sharma et al., 2012, Westergaard,

2004). Tapping may break the larger particles into smaller pieces there by increasing the bulk

density of the NFDM/SMP. The more easily the powder is shattered, the greater will be the

increase in bulk density for a given powder (Ortega-Rivas, 2008). Again, processor 3 products

have the lowest but wider range of bulk densities. For products within a given processor there

may be some trending towards higher densities with higher heat treatments.

Bulk densities at 625- and 1250-taps

Bulk densities for 625-taps (Table 1) follow a similar trend as the results for 0- and l00-

taps. The differences in bulk density of products from different processors tended to be narrow

for 625-taps. Densities for NFDM/SMP at 1250-taps are given in Table 1. Trends remain to be

the same as seen for 100- and 62S-taps. Densities for powders from different processors and

within the same processor were more similar.

Rankings of low to high bulk density for the NFDM/SMP from different processors remained

the same as the amount of tapping increased.

Bulk density and heat treatment

It has been reported that heat treatment of skim milk affects its bulk density (Westergaard,

2004). Figure 1 shows the relation between WPNI and bulk density at 1250-taps. A single data

point from processor 3 was excluded as it makes viewing the data on the graph more difficult.

From Figure 1. It could be seen that very few of the NFDM/SMP powders follow the curve

and in fact, the line of best fit. All of the processor 3, processor 4 and processor 2 products were
higher in bulk density than predicted. The processor 3 powders typically were closest to the line.

One sample from processor 2 was on the line and the other powders were all higher in bulk

density.

The processor 1 and processor 3 (with the exception of one sample) products tended to be the

most tightly clustered. Processor 4 had only two samples so it is not possible to draw any

conclusions about variability. The processor 2 products had the widest spread. The most likely

explanation for the variability within processors is that the same production facility was used in

the manufacture of powders of different heat classes by processor 1, processor 3 and processor 4

while powder from processor 2 came from the use of different facilities. The low heat powders

varied in fill (0-tap) bulk density although the increase in bulk density with tapping was similar

for all powders. The results for 625- and 1250-taps were very similar for a given powder

indicating that the powders are close to maximum density. The fill (0-tap) bulk densities for the

medium heat powders were very similar. This result may be a reflection of the large number of

processor 2 products in the category. The two processor 2 SMP products showed a lower

increase in bulk density with increased tapping indicating less fracture of the powder particles

with tapping as compared to the NFDM products (Ortega-Rivas, 2008).

The variability of the high heat powders at fill (0-tap) bulk density was similar to the low

heat products. Again, the overall change with increased tapping was similar for all powders

unlike the results seen for the medium heat powders. No apparent differences were found

between medium and high heat powders in bulk density at 0-taps (Table 3). Also, there is much

less variability in fill density for medium heat powders as compared to low and high heat

powders. Despite the medium and high heat products having a greater fill bulk density as

compared to low heat NFDM/SMP, the medium and high heat products had a greater increase in
bulk density after 1250-taps. This result reflects a greater tendency for the medium/high heat

particles to shatter in comparison to low heat powders.

Hausner Ratios (HR)

The Hausner ratio is extremely sensitive to the shape of the particle. Typical ranges for

Hausner ratio that characterize flowability HR 1.0 < 1.1 free flowing powder, 1.1 < 1.25 medium

flowing powder, 1.25 < 1.4 difficult flowing powder, and HR> 1.4 very difficult flowing powder

(Ortega-Rivas, 2008, Saw et al., 2015). When a low number of taps was used to calculate the

ratio, the Hausner ratio is an indication of the degree of agglomerate rearrangement within a

container (Abdullah and Geldart, 1999; Ortega-Rivas, 2008; Stanley-Wood, 1993). The ratio

calculated with a higher number of taps reflects attrition (particle breakdown by fragmentation or

abrasion) of the agglomerates (Ortega-Rivas, 2008; Stanley-Wood, 1993). Using Hausner ratio

values for powders tapped to a constant bulk density (625- and 1250-taps) indicate flowability.

The Hausner ratios for NFDM/SMP samples at l00-taps are given in Table 2. The closer the

ratio to one, the less the agglomerates have been rearranged (Abdullah and Geldart, 1999). There

was no clear pattern either between companies (Table 2) or heat treatments for the resulting ratio.

A low heat NFDM from processor 4 and two medium heat SMPs from processor 3 had the least

rearrangement. None of the powders can be considered free flowing at l00-taps. One powder,

processor1 (NFDM, high heat) is in the difficult to convey category and had considerable

changes to the particle structure after l00-taps.

Hausner ratios for NFDM/SMP samples based on processor at 1250-taps are given in Table

2. Values for powders at 1250-taps indicate the degree of attrition of powder particles. The

increase in Hausner ratios may be the result of particles breaking into finer pieces or the particles

becoming more irregular in shape (Ortega-Rivas, 2008). Particle attrition was evident for all
powders. The processor 1 and processor 2 powders had the greatest range in Hausner ratios while

processor 3 powders showed the highest average Hausner ratio. Only 5 of the 23 powders were

considered medium flowability after 1250-taps. The remaining 18 samples were in the difficult

flowability category and of these 18 powders; two powders were close to being in the very

difficult flowability category. From Table 2 it could be seen that processor 3 powders had the

greatest increase in Hausner ratios while processor 1, processor 4 and processor 2 were similar

and had a much lower increase. Processor 3 also had 100% of their powders change from

medium flowability to difficult flowability after 1250-taps. All other Processors had a lower

percentage of their powders change from medium to difficult flowability. It appears that the

powders produced by processor 3 are more susceptible to breakage or more irregular in shape

after breaking than powders produced by processor 1, processor 4 and processor 2.

Hausner ratios for low heat powders from processor 3 showed the greatest change in Hausner

ratio with increased tapping. With the exception of the processor 3 powders and one processor 4

powder, the low heat NFDM/SMP were relatively similar in Hausner ratios (Table 2). The

Hausner ratios for medium heat NFDM/SMP with low, medium and high levels of tapping

Showed that only 1 sample of processor 2 was the only product out-of-line with the other

powders. The degree of change was similar to that seen with the low heat powders. The SMP

powders were similar to the NFDM products. The Hausner ratios for high heat NFDM/SMP

indicated that the two high heat samples from processor 2 had the greatest change in Hausner

ratio (Table 2). Other powders in this category showed similar results.

It appears that a change of approximately 0.10 between low and high number of tapping for a

Hausner ratio was typical for NFDM/SMP regardless of heat treatment. There also seem to be

powders that have much greater changes in Hausner ratio/flowability. Heat treatment does not
seem to be a factor behind the increased change. Other factors would need future study to

determine what factor may be leading to this difference.

CONCLUSION

Differences in bulk density and flowability of powder samples were observed both between

manufacturers and products produced by the same manufacturer which may influence the

functional properties of powders.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This study was supported by Dairy Research Institute, USA

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 Table 1. Bulk densities (g/ml) for the NFDM/SMP samples at 0-( P0), 100-( P100), 625-(
P625) and 1250-taps (P1250) (Mean ± SD).
Product type NFDM
Heat class HH MH
Processor Processor 1 Processor 2 Processor 3 Processor 2
P0 0.60±0.0 0.66±0.0 0.69±0.0 0.69±0.0 0.42±0.0 0.58±0.0 0.65±0.0 0.67±0.0 0.63±0.0
P100 0.77±0.0 0.78±0.0 0.81±0.0 0.81±0.0 0.49±0.0 0.69±0.0 0.80±0.0 0.81±0.0 0.74±0.0
P625 0.81±0.0 0.83±0.0 0.86±0.0 0.85±0.0 0.58±0.0 0.81±0.0 0.84±0.0 0.86±0.0 0.86±0.0
P1250 0.84±0.0 0.85±0.0 0.88±0.0 0.87±0.0 0.60±0.0 0.81±0.0 0.85±0.0 0.88±0.0 0.88±0.0
Product type NFDM
Heat class LH
Processor Processor 1 Processor 2 Processor 3 Processor 4
P0 0.65±0.0 0.64±0.0 0.53±0.0 0.64±0.0 0.64±0.0 0.53±0.0 0.53±0.0 0.58±0.0 0.65±0.0
P100 0.75±0.0 0.75±0.0 0.65±0.0 0.76±0.0 0.75±0.0 0.61±0.0 0.63±0.0 0.70±0.0 0.74±0.0
P625 0.80±0.0 0.80±0.0 0.68±0.0 0.80±0.0 0.79±0.0 0.71±0.0 0.72±0.0 0.77±0.0 0.78±0.0
P1250 0.81±0.0 0.81±0.0 0.69±0.0 0.80±0.0 0.80±0.0 0.72±0.0 0.73±0.0 0.78±0.0 0.78±0.0
Product type SMP
Heat class MH LH
Processor Processor 1 Processor 2
P0 0.66±0.0 0.67±0.0 0.65±0.0 0.66±0.0 0.61±0.0
P100 0.80±0.0 0.80±0.0 0.74±0.0 0.74±0.0 0.70±0.0
P625 0.83±0.0 0.83±0.0 0.77±0.0 0.78±0.0 0.73±0.0
P1250 0.86±0.0 0.85±0.0 0.79±0.0 0.80±0.0 0.74±0.0
 Table 2. Hausner ratios (HR) for NFDM/SMP samples at 100-(HR 100), 625-(HR 625) and
1250-taps (HR 1250) (Mean ± SD).
Product type NFDM
Heat class HH MH
Processor Processor 1 Processor 2 Processor 3 Processor 2
HR 100 1.28±0.0 1.18±0.0 1.17±0.0 1.17±0.0 1.16±0.0 1.18±0.0 1.23±0.0 1.21±0.0 1.17±0.0
HR 625 1.34±0.0 1.24±0.0 1.24±0.0 1.23±0.0 1.38±0.0 1.38±0.0 1.29±0.0 1.28±0.0 1.36±0.0
HR 1250 1.39±0.0 1.28±0.0 1.26±0.0 1.26±0.0 1.41±0.0 1.38±0.0 1.31±0.0 1.31±0.0 1.38±0.0
Product type NFDM
Heat class LH
Processor Processor 1 Processor 2 Processor 3 Processor 4
HR 100 1.16±0.0 1.18±0.0 1.21±0.0 1.18±0.0 1.18±0.0 1.16±0.0 1.19±0.0 1.20±0.0 1.14±0.0
HR 625 1.23±0.0 1.25±0.0 1.27±0.0 1.24±0.0 1.24±0.0 1.34±0.0 1.36±0.0 1.32±0.0 1.19±0.0
HR 1250 1.25±0.0 1.27±0.0 1.30±0.0 1.26±0.0 1.26±0.0 1.36±0.0 1.38±0.0 1.34±0.0 1.20±0.0
Product type SMP
Heat class MH LH
Processor Processor 1 Processor 2
HR 100 1.20±0.0 1.20±0.0 1.15±0.0 1.13±0.0 1.15±0.0
HR 625 1.25±0.0 1.25±0.0 1.18±0.0 1.19±0.0 1.21±0.0
HR 1250 1.29±0.0 1.27±0.0 1.21±0.0 1.21±0.0 1.23±0.0
Table 3: Summary of statistical analysis for effect of source, type and heat class of powders
on the bulk densities and flowability of powders.

Parameter Source Type(NFDM/SMP) Heat class

P0 SN(<.0001) NSN SN(0.031)
P100 SN(<.0001) NSN SN(0.021)
P625 SN(0.0003) NSN SN(0.0085)
P1250 SN(<.0001) NSN SN(0.0044)
HR 100 SN(<.0001) NSN NSN(0.482)
HR 625 SN(<.0001) SN(0.001) NSN(0.143)
HR 1250 SN(<.0001) SN(0.002) NSN(0.143)
SN= significant (P<0.05)
NSN=not significant

Figure 1. Effect of WPNI on bulk density at 1250-taps. The vertical dashed lines on the
graph corresponding to heat class of powder samples (low, medium and high heat
treatment). The solid line is a best fit line for the NFDM/SMP samples results.
P1=Processor1, P2=Processor2, P3=Processor3, P4=Processor4, LH (Low heat), MH
(Medium heat), HH (High heat).
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‫الكثافت الكليت والقابليت للخذفق للبه الفزسالمجفف‬

‫حم دراست ومقاروت الكثافت الكليت والقابليت للخذفق لمجمىعت مه عيىاث اللبه الفزس المجفف عالى ومخىسط ومىخفض المعاملت‬

‫الحزاريت مه مصادر مخخلفت فى الىالياث المخحذة‪ .‬أظهزث وخائج الكثافت الكليت للعيىاث وجىد اخخالفاث معىىيت بيه العيىاث مه‬

‫حيث المصذروكذلك مه حيث المعاملت الحزاريت حيث وجذ أن العيىاث مىخفضت المعاملت الحزاريت كاوج اقل كثافت مقاروت‬

‫بالعيىاث عاليت المعاملت الحزاريت‪ .‬اظهزث وخائج اخخبارالقابليت للخذفق وجىد اخخالفاث معىىيت فى معامل الخذفق بيه العيىاث‬

‫حيث حذرجج العيىاث مه حيث الخذفق مه عيىاث قابلت للخذفق الى عيىاث صعبت الخذفق‪.‬‬

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