Predictive model of the alveografic parameters in flours obtained from Romanian grains

Abstract

One hundred flour samples of Romanian wheat, from the crops of the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 have been tested by determining the main physical and chemical quality parameters (moisture, wet gluten, gluten index, protein, ashes, Falling number) and viscoelastic parameters, specific to the alveographic method. Our results were included into a mathematical simulation, in order to elaborate predictive models for estimating the value of the alveographic parameters - mechanical work (W), resistance (P) and extensibility (L) - based on main physical and chemical quality parameters. Two predictive multifactorial models were developed, having the multiple determination coefficients (R 2 ) bigger than 0.965, for each of the alveographic parameters. As for the mechanical work (W), all the physical and chemical parameters of the flour may be significant regressors for the predictive simulation of its value. The extensibility (L) parameter can also be estimated, taking into consideration all the parameters, excepting the gluten index parameter, which is an insignificant regressor. The alveographic resistance (P) can be modelled taking into consideration the parameters: Moisture, Protein, Falling number and ashes; the parameters Gluten index and Wet Gluten are insignificant regressors.