Abstract: Methods of refining palm oil in order to produce a refined, bleached and deodorized palm oil with reduced level of 3-monochloropropane-1, 2-diol (3-MCPD) ester are disclosed. The methods may include premixing a palm oil with an acid to chelate metals and form a reaction mixture, and subjecting the reaction mixture to hydrodynamic cavitation mixing for less than 1 second.

Abstract: Methods of refining palm oil in order to produce a refined, bleached and deodorized palm oil with reduced level of 3-monochloropropane-1, 2-diol (3-MCPD) ester are disclosed. The methods may include premixing a palm oil with an acid to chelate metals and form a reaction mixture, and subjecting the reaction mixture to hydrodynamic cavitation mixing for less than 1 second.

Abstract: Methods of refining palm oil in order to produce a refined, bleached and deodorized palm oil with reduced level of 3-monochloropropane-1, 2-diol (3-MCPD) ester are disclosed. The methods may include premixing a palm oil with an acid to chelate metals and form a reaction mixture, and subjecting the reaction mixture to hydrodynamic cavitation mixing for less than 1 second.

Abstract: A method for refining vegetable oil is used to reduce formation of soaps. An acid-treated vegetable oil mixture is passed through a low shear mixing device prior to being fed to a static hydrodynamic reactor. The static hydrodynamic reactor induces a neutralization reaction that forms soaps in a pressurized vegetable oil mixture. The reacted mixture is discharged from the reactor to a downstream system for separating the formed soaps from the reacted mixture to form a refined vegetable oil having reduced soaps content.

Abstract: A method for refining vegetable oil is used to reduce formation of soaps. An acid-treated vegetable oil mixture is passed through a low shear mixing device prior to being fed to a static hydrodynamic reactor. The static hydrodynamic reactor induces a neutralization reaction that forms soaps in a pressurized vegetable oil mixture. The reacted mixture is discharged from the reactor to a downstream system for separating the formed soaps from the reacted mixture to form a refined vegetable oil having reduced soaps content.

Abstract: A method for refining vegetable oil is used to reduce formation of soaps. An acid-treated vegetable oil mixture is passed through a low shear mixing device prior to being fed to an static hydrodynamic reactor. The static hydrodynamic reactor induces a neutralization reaction that forms soaps in a pressurized vegetable oil mixture. The reacted mixture is discharged from the reactor to a downstream system for separating the formed soaps from the reacted mixture to form a refined vegetable oil having reduced soaps content.

Abstract: A cavitation device and method for using the same is useful for cavitationally treating fluids by generation of hydrodynamic cavitation in the fluid followed by the subsequent collapse of cavitation bubbles. The passage of fluid through slot openings in a cylindrical insert mounted in a housing provides fluid jets in an annular cavity to induce hydrodynamic cavitation of the fluid. Fluid is discharged from the annular cavity into a downstream portion of the housing to collapse cavitation bubbles under static pressure.

Abstract: A method for refining vegetable oil is used to reduce formation of soaps. An acid-treated vegetable oil mixture is passed through a low shear mixing device prior to being fed to an static hydrodynamic reactor. The static hydrodynamic reactor induces a neutralization reaction that forms soaps in a pressurized vegetable oil mixture. The reacted mixture is discharged from the reactor to a downstream system for separating the formed soaps from the reacted mixture to form a refined vegetable oil having reduced soaps content.

Abstract: A system and method for degumming oil is used to increase oil yield and reduce impurities such as phosphorus. An oil feedstock, water and enzyme mixture is passed through a high shear mixing device prior to being fed to an agitated reactor equipped with a recirculation system. The recirculation system includes a second high shear mixing device that further mixes the oil mixture in the reactor during processing. The reacted mixture is discharged from the reactor to a downstream post-reaction system for separating the degummed oil from the reacted mixture. The separation step can be used to remove the phosphatides and other impurities from the reacted oil to form a purified oil product.

Abstract: A device for generating controlled formation and collapse of cavitation bubbles in a fluid. The device includes a rotor having a plurality of bore holes and a stator having a plurality of bore holes. Fluid flows into the device and passes through a space between the stator and rotor to expose the fluid to the bore holes of each component. The rotor can be rotated relative to the stator to pass the rotor bore holes across the openings of the stator bore holes to generate and collapse cavitation bubbles in the stator bore holes. The rotor bore holes may have the same diameter as the stator bore holes and the rotor bore holes preferably have depth equal to or less than the depth of the stator bore holes.

Abstract: Devices for the removal of gases and/or volatilizable contaminants from liquids are described. In one example device, a liquid fluid containing dissolved gases and/or volatilizable contaminants are passed through at least one local constriction in a flow-through chamber at a sufficient pressure and flow rate to create cavitation bubbles in the liquid flow. The dissolved gases and/or volatilizable contaminants migrate into the cavitation bubbles. The velocity of the liquid flow is then reduced, which allows for the cavitation bubbles in the liquid flow to coalesce. The velocity of the liquid flow can then be reduced further, resulting in additional coalescing of the cavitation bubbles. The cavitation bubbles that contain the gases and/or volatilizable contaminants can then be separated from the liquid flow. The separation generally leaves a liquid flow product that may have a concentration of one or more gases or volatilizable contaminants lower than the starting liquid flow.

Abstract: A system and method for degumming oil is used to increase oil yield and reduce impurities such as phosphorus. An oil feedstock, water and enzyme mixture is passed through a high shear mixing device prior to being fed to an agitated reactor equipped with a recirculation system. The recirculation system includes a second high shear mixing device that further mixes the oil mixture in the reactor during processing. The reacted mixture is discharged from the reactor to a downstream post-reaction system for separating the degummed oil from the reacted mixture. The separation step can be used to remove the phosphatides and other impurities from the reacted oil to form a purified oil product.

Abstract: A homogenization device having an inlet valve, a flow-through chamber and a discharge valve. A baffle element reciprocatingly moves between an upstream portion and a downstream portion of the flow-through chamber. When the baffle element moves downstream, the inlet valve opens and liquid is admitted into the upstream portion. When the baffle element moves upstream, the inlet valve closes, the liquid in the upstream portion is pressurized and forced to flow downstream through a gap or local constriction between the outer perimeter of the baffle element and the inner surface of the chamber, causing cavitation bubbles to form and collapse.

Abstract: A method and device for processing a liquid with cavitation uses a channel element with passageways having local constrictions and a moving rotor surrounding the channel element. The rotor contains a plurality of rotor channels that are moved during rotation to periodically line up with the passageways in the channel element. To operate the device, liquid is passed through the local constriction in the passageway into an outlet channel at a velocity of at least 1.4 m/s at the exit of the outlet channel to form cavitation bubbles. Cavitation bubbles in the liquid in the outlet channel are collapsed by subjecting the cavitation bubbles to a water hammer hydraulic pulse pressure resulting from periodically rapidly closing of the outlet channel by rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A process for increasing ethanol yield from grain that includes mixing grain, water and cavitated enzymes to form a grain-based liquid medium wherein the cavitated enzymes have increased activity and promote increased ethanol yield form the grain. The enzymes are passed individually through a cavitation apparatus at a velocity and pressure capable of generating a cavitation activation energy of at least 0.4 kJ per kilogram of liquid medium to enhance enzyme activity and increase ethanol yield.

Abstract: An improved process for dispersing filler particles in a resin composition is disclosed. The filler particles, for instance electrically conductive or metal particles, are mixed with a resin material or blend of materials including a resin material to form a mixture that is subjected to an acceleration force. The acceleration force can be generated by passing the mixture through a static nozzle having particular dimensions to generate an acceleration of the mixture in the nozzle in excess of 400,000 m/sec2. The treated particles become uniformly dispersed in the resin composition and a reduction in average particle size of the filler material can be achieved.

Abstract: A homogenization device having an inlet valve, a flow-through chamber and a discharge valve. A baffle element reciprocatingly moves between an upstream portion and a downstream portion of the flow-through chamber. When the baffle element moves downstream, the inlet valve opens and liquid is admitted into the upstream portion. When the baffle element moves upstream, the inlet valve closes, the liquid in the upstream portion is pressurized and forced to flow downstream through a gap or local constriction between the outer perimeter of the baffle element and the inner surface of the chamber, causing cavitation bubbles to form and collapse.

Abstract: A method of producing graphene sheets and plates from graphitic material including (a) mixing graphitic material particles in a liquid medium to form a suspension; (b) compressing the suspension; (c) directing the compressed suspension through a local constriction into an area of reduced pressure to decompress the suspension in less than 2×10?6 second to a pressure less than 20% of the compression pressure, thereby exfoliating graphene sheets and plates from the graphitic material.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic cavitation method for degumming triglyceride oil is used to increase oil yield and reduce impurities. The residence time of the oil for degumming in the cavitation field is reduced to enhance removal of impurities such as phosphorus without prolonged exposure of the oil to cavitation conditions. The mass transfer of impurities from an oil phase to non-oil components or water is carried out in a non-cavitational, mass transfer reactor positioned downstream of a hydrodynamic cavitation device. A separation step can be used to remove the phosphatides and other impurities from the treated oil to form a purified oil product.

Abstract: A cavitation device and method for using the same is useful for cavitationally treating fluids by generation of hydrodynamic cavitation in the fluid followed by the subsequent collapse of cavitation bubbles. The passage of fluid through slot openings in a cylindrical insert mounted in a housing provides fluid jets in an annular cavity to induce hydrodynamic cavitation of the fluid. Fluid is discharged from the annular cavity into a downstream portion of the housing to collapse cavitation bubbles under static pressure.