How To Split Lentils?

Lentils, a highly nutritious and protein-rich legume, have gained popularity worldwide due to their versatility in various cuisines. To meet the increasing demand for split lentils, manufacturers utilize sophisticated lentil splitting lines. In this blog post, we will take a detailed look at the step-by-step process of how a lentil splitting line works, from raw material intake to the final packaged product.

Step 1: Pre-Cleaning

Raw Material Reception: Raw lentils are received at the processing facility in bulk. They are sourced from farms, suppliers, or warehouses.

Cleaning and Destoning: The lentils are first passed through cleaning equipment, which includes air aspirators, sieves, and gravity separators. These machines remove large impurities such as stones, twigs, dust, and other foreign

materials.

Magnetic Separation: In this step, magnetic separators are used to remove any metal contaminants that might be present in the lentils.

Aspiration: The lentils are subjected to an airflow to remove lighter impurities like chaff and husk.

Step 2: Dehulling

Conditioning: The cleaned lentils are conditioned to achieve the optimal moisture content for dehulling. This involves controlled moistening or passing the lentils through a steam chamber.

Dehulling Machine: The conditioned lentils are fed into a dehulling machine. This machine uses mechanical friction or shearing action to remove the outer hull or seed coat from the lentils, revealing the cotyledons (split halves).

Separation: After dehulling, the separated hulls are removed from the processing line, leaving behind the dehulled lentil cotyledons.

Step 3: Splitting

Inspection: The dehulled lentil cotyledons are carefully inspected to ensure that no hull fragments or impurities remain.

Sizing: The lentil cotyledons are sorted based on their size using sizing equipment. Uniformly sized lentils ensure consistent splitting.

Splitting Machines: The dehulled and sized lentils are fed into the splitting machines. These machines have rollers or blades that exert gentle pressure, causing the lentils to split open along their natural center line.

Sorting and Grading: The split lentil halves, known as "splits," are sorted and graded based on their size, shape, and appearance. Broken or irregularly shaped splits are removed, and only high-quality splits proceed to the next stages.

Step 4: Post-Processing

Polishing: Some lentil splits may undergo a polishing stage to remove any remaining surface impurities, resulting in a cleaner and shinier appearance.

Color Sorting: Lentil splits may be subjected to color sorting machines that use optical sensors to detect and remove any discolored or defective splits, ensuring a uniform and visually consistent final product.

Step 5: Packaging and Storage

Packaging: The sorted and processed lentil splits are ready for packaging. They are sealed in bags or bulk containers, suitable for distribution to wholesalers, retailers, or other end-users.

Storage: Proper storage is crucial to maintain the quality and freshness of the lentil splits. They are stored in climate-controlled facilities to protect them from moisture, pests, and temperature fluctuations.

Conclusion

The lentil splitting line is a carefully orchestrated process, involving numerous steps to transform raw lentils into high-quality, split lentil products. Each stage, from pre-cleaning to packaging, plays a critical role in ensuring the consistency and desirability of the final product. As the demand for nutritious and versatile legume products continues to grow, the efficiency and precision of lentil splitting lines become paramount to meeting consumer needs worldwide.