Abstract: A surface-worked granular product is produced by supplying raw granular material to a cylindrical retainer having apertures and retaining sites, floating the granular material by suctioning air from the cylindrical retainer, rotating a rotary working device installed in the cylindrical retainer, and contacting working protrusion protruding from the working device with the granular material to remove foreign substances and to perform surface-working of the granular material so as to form a rough surface without causing degeneration, denaturation or substantial removal of useful ingredients, wherein the surface-worked granular product has surface characteristics different from raw granular material.

Abstract: A process for extracting antioxidants from a plant, including contacting a plant material from a guayusa plant for a first time with a solvent, thereby obtaining a first slurry, filtering said first slurry, thereby obtaining a first extract, contacting said plant material for a second time with said solvent, thereby obtaining a second slurry, filtering said second slurry, thereby obtaining a second extract, combining said first extract and said second extract, thereby generating an third extract containing at least antioxidants, xanthines, and amino acids, and substantially drying said third extract.

Abstract: A process for extracting antioxidants from a plant, including contacting a plant material from a guayusa plant for a first time with a solvent, thereby obtaining a first slurry, filtering said first slurry, thereby obtaining a first extract, contacting said plant material for a second time with said solvent, thereby obtaining a second slurry, filtering said second slurry, thereby obtaining a second extract, combining said first extract and said second extract, thereby generating an third extract containing at least antioxidants, xanthines, and amino acids, and substantially drying said third extract.

Abstract: A process for extracting antioxidants from a plant, including contacting a plant material from a guayusa plant for a first time with a solvent, thereby obtaining a first slurry, filtering said first slurry, thereby obtaining a first extract, contacting said plant material for a second time with said solvent, thereby obtaining a second slurry, filtering said second slurry, thereby obtaining a second extract, combining said first extract and said second extract, thereby generating an third extract containing at least antioxidants, xanthines, and amino acids, and substantially drying said third extract.

Abstract: A feedstock granular substance (7) is fed into a cylindrical retention tube (3) provided with a multiplicity of retention parts (8) for retaining a granular substance (7) moving along the inner circumference thereof. In the state of having the feedstock granular substance (7) retained by the retention parts (8) of the retention tube (3), a grinding device (4) having multiple flexible long grinding materials (6) radially extending from the rotational axis extending along the axial center of the retention tube (3) is rotated to thereby realize rotation with the distal ends of the long grinding materials (6) brought into contact with the surface of the granular substance (7) and surface treats the granular substance (7). Thus, production of a surface-treated granular substance is attained.

Abstract: An improved method for producing a coffee bean extract containing beneficial compounds.

Abstract: A raw material is fed through a raw material supply channel into a raw material introduction part between a fixed grinding disc and a moving grinding disc. The moving grinding disc is provided on a drive shaft and the gap between the same and the fixed grinding disc is adjusted by means of a gap adjusting mechanism. Heat transfer from the drive unit is prevented while power is transmitted to the drive shaft to rotate the moving grinding disc. The raw material while being transferred through the coarse grinding distributing channel is coarsely ground and any raw material of low grindability is crushed by the crushing part, distributed to the microgrinding part and microground to thereby attain the production of ground matter.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing, analyzing and sorting materials, which allows such procedures as analysis and sorting of materials present as independent pieces at a high efficiency and a high accuracy, by securing individual pieces 5 of materials in receptacles 4 of a holder 1 at a definite posture using a light-hardenable adhesive at a uniform hardening strength and a uniform but brief hardening time by cold hardening under identical hardening conditions without causing denaturation of the material, wherein the receptacles 4 are arranged on the holder 1 in a definite arrangement and a definite posture, whereby it is able to process each individual material piece after the hardening of the adhesive, by, for example, cutting and so on, to uniformly form on each material piece an analyzing surface for which the analysis is performed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a processed organic product containing organic matters having a superior nutrient balance and exhibiting high performances in water retention and gas permeation. The process involves supplying the raw material 26 containing organic fibrous substance to a reactor 1 provided therein with a plurality of main screws 6, 7 arranged side by side so as to confront the peripheral edges of the screw threads of neighboring screws with each other such that each acts to forward the reaction mixture in substantially the same direction at a velocity different from each other, effecting a biological or biochemical reaction therein while subjecting the organic fibrous substance to axial splitting and breaking by the main screws 6, 7 and taking out a processed organic product via a processed product exit port 31, which is then dewatered in a dewatering means 35 before being dried in a dryer 38 to obtain the processed product in a dried solid form.

Abstract: A process for producing a freeze-dried product in a bonded or stratified state by a simple apparatus and by simple operations, without suffering from denaturation by oxygen, enzymes, heat and so on, while maintaining the original quality, properties and so on, by bonding or stratifying materials to be treated before being subjected to freeze-drying; an apparatus therefor; and a freeze-dried product obtained therefrom are provided. The freeze-dried product is obtained by stratifying materials 7a, 7b and 7c of the same or a different kind to be treated into a multilayer under interposition of dry ice 6b, 6c partly in between the layers; pressing the multilayer from both sides by pressurizing elements 13 and 16 under intermediation by dry ice 6a and 6d to effect bonding of the materials to be treated with each other, while, at the same time, freezing the multilayer; and subjecting the frozen product to vacuum drying.

Abstract: A crushing apparatus for crushing, blending, homogenizing and transferring materials is made up of a first pressing element having a first pressing face with protrusions provided thereon in the form of isolated islands surrounded by depressed marginal spaces and a second pressing element to be held in engagement with the first pressing element and having a second pressing face with protrusions provided thereon in a similar pattern to the first pressing face. The protrusions of the first and second pressing faces are disposed in relation to each other such that the protrusions of the first or the second pressing element will engage with corresponding depressed marginal spaces on the second or first pressing face of the respective pressing element.

Abstract: Described are reduced calorie edible plastic fat compositions based on mixtures of triglycerides being various combinations of short (C2 to C4), saturated long (C16 to C22), and monounsaturated long (C16 to C22) chain fatty acid residues, and the use of such compositions in edible compositions such as shortenings and margarines.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a baked good product comprising about 0.5 to about 5% betaine. It is also directed to a process for improving the organoleptic properties of the baked good by adding, betaine in effective amounts to the uncooked ingredients of the baked goods, mixing said betaine therewith and baking the product. It is also directed to the process of improving the shelf life of a baking good by adding betaine to the uncooked ingredients of the baked good product, mixing the betaine containing ingredient and baking the product. The present invention is directed to a process for retarding the loss of moisture in a baked good by adding an effective amount of betaine to the uncooked ingredients of the baked good product, mixing the betaine containing ingredient and baking the product.

Abstract: A method for making a fried food product having a reduced fat content and the taste and physical properties of a conventional fried food product includes the steps of forming a dough or batter by combining flour, sugar, a leavening agent, water and polydextrose, and frying the dough or batter. The use of polydextrose as a replacement for sugar, and in combination with flour, a leavening agent and water, produces a dough or batter that yields fried food products having a reduced fat content. In another embodiment of the invention, the polydextrose can be used in combination with fiber, such as oat fiber, and soy protein. In yet another embodiment, polydextrose is used in combination with a cellulose derivative and oat flour. A dough for producing a fried food product having a reduced fat content and the taste and physical properties of a conventional fried food product is also disclosed. The dough includes flour, sugar, a leavening agent, water and polydextrose.

Abstract: A process for recovering .gamma.-pyrones such as maltol and/or ethyl maltol from solutions containing other substances involves an elution chromatographic treatment using a stationary phase that separates the .gamma.-pyrones from the other substances by means of ion exclusion, size exclusion, hydrophobic partitioning, and/or chelation. In one embodiment, a cation exchange resin such as sulfonated divinyl benzene-cross-linked polystyrene is employed, and the .gamma.-pyrones obtained can be further purified by crystallization from water and/or other means.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the minimization of the development of off flavor or off odor in caramel colored beverages by hydrogenation of the caramel color prior to incorporation into the beverage.

Abstract: An improved method for producing natamycin by fermentation is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method of obtaining oil from grain materials such as rice bran, wheat mill feed, rapeseed, amaranth, and similar grains.

Abstract: A method of obtaining oil from grain materials such as rice bran, wheat mill feed, rapeseed, amaranth, and similar grains, by stabilizing the oil contained in the grain material (when necessary) while increasing the porosity of such grain material; extracting oil from the grain material by contact with a solvent in vapor form; and, separating extracted oil/solvent compositions into fractions containing various amounts of saturated and unsaturated oils. A solvent in vapor form is also used to remove oils from: previously-extracted oil seeds, which were extracted using a less efficient extraction method; flaked or crushed vegetable matter; and grain-based food products such as chips, crackers and noodles.

Abstract: Apparatus for extraction of edible oils from finely divided oleagenous vegetable matter by flowing solvent vapor through a continuously moving horizontal bed of the vegetable matter at a temperature not greater than about 210.degree. F., to form a miscella of solvent and extracted oil, separating a portion of the miscella from the marc, and blowing a gas through a continuously moving horizontal bed of the marc and remaining miscella to separate additional miscella. The flow of gas through the bed cools the bed to provide cooling for heat exchanger water to be used in the process.