A model for the prediction of beta-glucanase activity and beta-glucan concentration during mashing

A mathematical model describing the effect of the mashing temperature program on dissolution and hydrolysis of beta-glucans is presented. In the model, dissolved beta-glucans are degraded by dissolved beta-glucanases in the liquid phase. Increasing mashing temperature increases the amount of soluble beta-glucans in the malt grist phase. Measurements from laboratory scale mashings with different temperature profiles were used for the estimation of the model parameters for a malt produced from the Finnish barley variety, Kustaa. The differences between the predicted and measured wort beta-glucan concentrations at the end of mashing were 0.04-0.12 g litre(-1) in laboratory scale mashings with different malts and in an industrial scale mashing experiment. beta-Glucanase activity in the liquid phase during mashing could be predicted with sufficient accuracy in all cases analysed. The simulation results showed that the lowest beta-glucan concentration was achieved when the mashing-in temperature was 48 degrees C. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited.