Abstract: This invention concerns apparatus for the preferably continuous separation of fatty substance from a food material and in particular butter, wherein molten butter is irradiated with microwaves, characterized in that a layer of molten butter in a condition of laminar flow is irradiated, the thickness of said layer being less than the depth of penetration of the microwaves and the amount of energy imparted to the molten butter by the microwaves being such that irradiation raises the temperature of the molten butter only by a few degrees Celsius at maximum.

Abstract: This invention concerns a process for the continuous separation of fatty substance from butter, wherein molten butter is irradiated with microwaves. A layer of molten butter in a condition of laminar flow is irradiated, the thickness of said layer being less than the depth of penetration of the microwaves and the amount of energy imparted to the molten butter by the microwaves being such that irradiation raises the temperature of the molten butter only by a few degrees Celsius at maximum.

Abstract: A contaminating product is packaged within a leak-tight sheath and transferred through a lock-chamber which is rigidly fixed to a leak-tight partition-wall. The device comprises a sleeve having a central cavity for establishing a communication between the lock-chamber and the sheath while ensuring tightness against outleakage to the environment. A seal plug having a double wall is placed within the cavity for preventing said communication. The seal plug and the sleeve are cut simultaneously in order to close-off the lock-chamber and the sheath separately by means of each wall of the seal plug.