Abstract: A steam stripping process particularly useful for separating the volatile components of immiscible materials. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention peel oil emulsion, e.g., from a citrus juice extractor, is heated under pressure by the injection of steam while the emulsion is flowing. The major portion of the pressure on the flowing emulsion is then dropped through a back pressure valve, and the resultant vapor-liquid mixture is passed through a long turbulent passage under a slowly decreasing pressure where thorough mixing is provided and d-limonene, the volatile component of the peel oil emulsion, is stripped from the emulsion by the ad-mixed steam. The mixture is discharged at atmospheric pressure into a vapor collecting tank where the spent liquor is separated and drained off. The collected vapors are passed to a condenser, and the condensate therefrom is directed to a decant tank where the di-limonene is decanted off.

Abstract: A steam stripping process particularly useful for separating the volatile components of immiscible materials. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention peel oil emulsion, e.g., from a citrus juice extractor, is heated under pressure by the injection of steam while the emulsion is flowing. The major portion of the pressure on the flowing emulsion is then dropped through a back pressure valve, and the resultant vapor-liquid mixture is passed through a long turbulent passage under a slowly decreasing pressure where thorough mixing is provided and d-limonene, the volatile component of the peel oil emulsion, is stripped from the emulsion by the ad-mixed steam. The mixture is discharged at atmospheric pressure into a vapor collecting tank where the spent liquor is separated and drained off. The collected vapors are passed to a condenser, and the condensate therefrom is directed to a decant tank where the d-limonene is decanted off.

Abstract: A system for processing citrus fruit includes a juice extractor and finisher from which wet peel and pulp and finished juice are obtained. The stream of wet peel pulp is separated into press liquor and press cake components. The press cake is introduced into a dryer where it is contacted by superheated steam so that the press cake is elevated to a high temperature without oxidation, and moisture is driven from the press cake to provide surplus steam and dried pulp from the dryer. The press liquor is conducted to an evaporator where moisture is removed providing a molasses concentrate. The finished juice is conducted to another evaporator where moisture is removed providing a juice concentrate. The surplus steam is directed from the dryer to both of the evaporators to provide the heat for evaporation. The remainder of the steam from the dryer is directed to a heat exchanger where it is superheated without dilution with noncondensible gases for a subsequent passage through the dryer.

Abstract: Citrus peels discharged from a juice extractor are first comminuted with water to form a slurry, and thereafter the slurry of comminuted peels and water is screened to separate from the slurry a larger particle size fraction consisting mainly of the flavedo portion of the peels and a smaller particle size fraction consisting mainly of the albedo portion of the peels. A preferred apparatus for separating peels into albedo and flavedo fractions includes a comminutor which utilizes a cutting action to reduce the peels to finely divided particles. Water is added to the comminutor to fluidize the peels so as to facilitate their movement through the comminutor and also to facilitate subsequent screening. The slurry of water and comminuted peels is sifted using a vibratory screen having an upper screen of a 20 Tyler mesh size to remove the flavedo fraction from the slurry and having a lower screen of a 60 Tyler mesh to separate the albedo fraction from the remaining slurry.

Abstract: Citrus peels discharged from a juice extractor are first comminuted and thereafter the comminuted peels are screened to separate a larger particle size fraction consisting mainly of the flavedo portion of the peels and a smaller particle size fraction consisting mainly of the albedo portion of the peels. A preferred apparatus for separating peels into albedo and flavedo fractions includes a comminutor which utilizes a cutting action to reduce the peels to finely divided particles. Water is added to the comminutor to fluidize the peels so as to facilitate their movement through the comminutor and also to facilitate subsequent screening. The slurry of water and comminuted peels is sifted using a vibratory screen having an upper screen of a 20 Tyler mesh size to remove the flavedo fraction from the slurry and having a lower screen of a 60 Tyler mesh to separate the albedo fraction from the remaining slurry.

Abstract: A steam stripping process particularly useful for separating the volatile components of immiscible materials. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention peel oil emulsion, e.g., from a citrus juice extractor, is heated under pressure by the injection of steam while the emulsion is flowing. The major portion of the pressure on the flowing emulsion is then dropped through a back pressure valve, and the resultant vapor-liquid mixture is passed through a long turbulent passage under a slowly decreasing pressure where thorough mixing is provided and d-limonene, the volatile component of the peel oil emulsion, is stripped from the emulsion by the ad-mixed steam. The mixture is discharged at atmospheric pressure into a vapor collecting tank where the spent liquor is separated and drained off. The collected vapors are passed to a condenser, and the condensate therefrom is directed to a decant tank where the d-limonene is decanted off.