| Linseed, flaxseed | [German version] |
Table of contents |
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| General: | ||
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Product information | |
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Packaging | |
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Transport | |
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Container transport | |
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Cargo securing | |
Product information
Product name
| German | Leinsaat, Flachssaat |
| English | Linseed, flax seed |
| French | Graine de Lin |
| Spanish | Linaza |
| Scientific | Linum usitatissimum |
| CN/HS number * | 1204 00 ff. |
(* EU Combined Nomenclature/Harmonized System)
Product description
Linseed or flaxseed is the seed from the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum), which is a member of the Linaceae family and is a source of both oil and fiber. The seed is of a flattened, elongated oval shape with a brown-yellowish color and a glossy surface. The plant is native to West Asia and the Mediterranean.
The dimensions of the seed are approx.:
| Dimensions | Fiber flax | Oil flax |
|---|---|---|
| Length [mm] | 3.0 – 4.9 | 4.8 – 6.4 |
| Width [mm] | 1.8 – 2.6 | 2.5 – 3.4 |
| Thickness [mm] | 0.5 – 1.0 | 0.9 – 1.6 |
The spherical fruit capsules contain two smooth, brownish seeds in each of 5 compartments.
Oil content:
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30 – 47.8% [1] |
|
37 – 40% [11] |
Quality / Duration of storage
Quality degradation occurs in particular with excessively moist and excessively hot product and may be recognized from internal discoloration of the seed and a musty odor.
At a water content of 9 – 10.5%, linseed has a storage life of more than 12 months.
The most favorable time for shipment is shortly after harvest.
Intended use
Linseed is used for oil extraction (linseed oil is used as a raw material in the paints and coatings industry), as seed and as bird and livestock feed.
Figures
(Click on the Figures to enlarge them.)
 Figure 1 |
 Figure 2 |
 Figure 3 |
Countries of origin
This Table shows only a selection of the most important countries of origin and should not be thought of as exhaustive.
| Europe | Black Sea region, Baltic states |
| Africa | |
| Asia | Black Sea region, Baltic states |
| America | USA, La Plata basin |
| Australia |
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Packaging
Linseed has the characteristic of germinating or sprouting easily (the easiest of all oilseeds) and is thus mainly packaged as break-bulk cargo in, among other things, flat jute fabric bags (65 kg). Transport as a bulk cargo is very rare due to the stated characteristic.
| Marking of packages | ||
 Keep dry |
 Use no hooks |
 Keep away from heat (solar radiation) |
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Transport
Symbols
 General cargo |
 Bulk cargo (rare) |
Means of transport
Ship, truck, railroad
Container transport
Ventilated containers (coffee containers), if the lower limits set for the water content of goods, packaging and container flooring and the oil content of the goods are complied with.
Cargo handling
In damp weather (rain, snow), the cargo must be protected from moisture, since it may lead to mold, spoilage and self-heating as a result of increased respiratory activity.
Hooks must not be used in handling bagged goods as they subject the cargo to point loads, so damaging the bags. Due to their shape, plate or bag hooks apply an area load and are thus more suitable for handling bags.
Stowage factor
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1.70 m³/t (jute bags, 65 kg) [1] |
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1.59 – 1.70 m³/t (bags) [11] |
Stowage space requirements
Cool, dry, good ventilation. In order to avoid rancidity due to contact with metal components of the ship, the product should be covered with wooden dunnage, mats or jute coverings.
Segregation
Fiber rope, thin fiber nets
Cargo securing
In the case of maritime transport of bulk cargo, the IMO (International Maritime Organization) „Code of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk Cargoes“ must be complied with.
Of all oilseeds, linseed is the cargo which shifts most readily. Appropriate securing measures must therefore be taken when transporting the product as a bulk cargo (e.g. installation of additional bulkheads, bins and feeders).
Bagged cargo must be stowed and secured in the means of transport in such a manner that it cannot slip or shift during transport. If loss of volume and degradation of quality are to be avoided, the packages must not be damaged by other articles or items of cargo.
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Risk factors and loss prevention
RF Temperature
Linseed requires particular temperature, humidity/moisture and ventilation conditions (SC VII) (storage climate conditions).
Favorable travel temperature range: 5 – 25°C [1]
Temperatures > 30°C should not prevail for an extended period, as such temperatures promote respiration of the cargo and may cause self-heating. The cargo should be stowed away from sources of heat.
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RF Humidity/Moisture
Linseed requires particular temperature, humidity/moisture and ventilation conditions (SC VII) (storage climate conditions).
| Designation | Humidity/water content | Source |
| Relative humidity | 70% | [1] |
| Water content | 9 – 10.5% | [1] |
| Maximum equilibrium moisture content | 65% | [1] |
Linseed must be protected from all forms of moisture (seawater, rain and condensation water), since moisture promotes hydrolytic/enzymatic fat cleavage, which then results in self-heating due to increased respiration.
The sorption isotherm for linseed shows that, at a water content of 9 – 10.5%, it is at equilibrium with a relative humidity of 79 – 75%, i.e. the mold growth threshold is already reached.
 Figure 4 |
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RF Ventilation
Linseed requires particular temperature, humidity/moisture and ventilation conditions (SC VII) (storage climate conditions).
Recommended ventilation conditions: air exchange rate at least 10 changes/hour (airing)
It is advisable to stow so as to leave trenches, so that, where necessary, water vapor and heat may be removed by suitable ventilation measures.
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RF Biotic activity
Linseed displays 2nd order biotic activity.
It is a living organ in which respiration processes predominate, because its supply of new nutrients has been cut off by separation from the parent plant.
The fat decomposition which takes place during the course of hydrolytic/enzymatic fat cleavage increases the risk of the cargo undergoing self-heating, possibly ultimately resulting in a cargo fire.
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RF Gases
In linseed, metabolic processes continue even after harvesting. The linseed absorbs oxygen and excretes carbon dioxide (CO2).
Respiration may cause life-threatening CO2 concentrations (TLV: 0.49 vol.%) or O2 shortages in the hold/container. Therefore, before anybody enters the hold, it must be ventilated and a gas measurement carried out.
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RF Self-heating / Spontaneous combustion
Oil content:
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30 – 47.8% [1] |
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37 – 40% [11] |
Linseed’s elevated oil content promotes its tendency towards self-heating.
Because of its tendency to self-heating/spontaneous combustion, linseed may behave like substances from Class 4.2 of the IMDG Code. See also IMO Code of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk Cargoes.
Fat decomposition in linseed leads to the risk of self-heating and, finally, to a cargo fire.
Fat decomposition may proceed as follows:
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by hydrolytic/enzymatic fat cleavage or |
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by oxidative fat cleavage |
Hydrolytic/enzymatic fat cleavage:
If the critical water content of linseed is exceeded, this promotes hydrolytic/enzymatic fat cleavage. Fat-cleaving enzymes are activated by the elevated water content. The additional action of light and heat may accelerate this process. Free fatty acids sometimes have an unpleasant odor and taste. In the event of extended storage or improper cargo care, these cause the cargo to become rancid.
The free fatty acids formed are consumed by respiration processes in the linseed to form carbon dioxide and water, a process which is associated with considerable evolution of heat.
Self-heating of linseed is an extremely vigorous process, as the consumption of fatty acids by respiration processes is associated with a considerably greater evolution of heat than is the case with the respiration equation for carbohydrates. Here too, as with cereals, the spoilage process proceeds in a type of chain reaction, because heat and water are formed by the fatty acids consumed by respiration, which in turn contribute to an intensification of the process.
The self-heating of linseed requires only a small seat of moisture, so that within just a few hours heating may occur at moist points for which weeks or months would be required in goods dry on shipment.
Fresh linseed with a high moisture content tends rapidly towards self-heating and may also ignite. Self-heating of linseed leads not only to a reduction in the utility value of this product (rancid odor and taste) but also has a qualitative and quantitative effect on oil yield. The color and bleachability of the oils are also negatively affected. The oil obtained complicates refining of the crude oils in subsequent processing, because a higher free fatty acid content makes decolorization substantially more difficult.
Hydrolytic/enzymatic fat cleavage and respiration may be limited by low temperatures; however, this may only be affected to a limited degree during transport. It is therefore important to ensure storage stability by complying with the limit values for the water content of the goods.
Oxidative fat cleavage:
Food components frequently react with atmospheric oxygen in spoilage reactions. Atmospheric oxygen may enter into an addition reaction with unsaturated fatty acids through the simultaneous assistance of light, heat and certain fat companion substances, and possibly also traces of heavy metals. It is therefore absolutely essential to store linseed in the dark and to protect it from oxygen and metal parts, since otherwise it becomes brown-colored and develops a rancid odor and taste.
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RF Odor
| Active behavior | Linseed has a slight, unpleasant odor, which is of a highly specific nature. |
| Passive behavior | Linseed should be stowed away from strong-smelling goods, such as turpentine, onions, fruit. |
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RF Contamination
| Active behavior | The high oil content of the goods frequently causes dark fat stains to appear on the bags, which must therefore be kept from coming into contact with goods sensitive to contamination, such as baled goods, tea chests, marble etc.. Linseed in bags must not be stowed together with fibers or fibrous materials, either, since oil-impregnated fibers accelerate self-heating processes. Linseed originating from the Near East in particular often contains a large proportion of fine sand. Linseed flows very easily, passing through jute bags, so resulting in considerable contamination and sweepings. |
| Passive behavior | Linseed is sensitive to dirt, fats and oils. The holds or containers must accordingly be clean and in a thoroughly hygienic condition before loading. |
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RF Mechanical influences
Point loads applied for example by hooks may result in damage (tears) to the bags and thus to losses of volume. Plate or bag hooks, which, due to their shape, distribute the load and reduce the risk of damage, should thus be used.
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RF Toxicity / Hazards to health
Respiration may cause life-threatening CO2 concentrations (TLV: 0.49 vol.%) or O2 shortages in the hold/container. Therefore, before anybody enters the hold, it must be ventilated and a gas measurement carried out.
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RF Shrinkage/Shortage
Torn bags may lead to slight losses in volume.
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RF Insect infestation / Diseases
Typical pests of oil-bearing seeds/fruits are, for example, merchant grain beetles, peanut weevils, sawtoothed grain beetles, flour beetles, meal moths, dried fruit moths and mites, which may cause depreciation and weight losses.
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