Abstract: A process and system for extracting a solute from a solid material, such as oil from oil-bearing foodstuffs, utilize a substantially tubular membrane filter to separate a mass of the extracting medium and the foodstuffs into a miscella and foodstuffs of reduced oil content. In a batch or continuous process, after each extracting stage, the mass from the extraction vessel is conveyed to a membrane filter, which has pores along its cylindrical walls suitably sized to allow a miscella to pass as the permeate, while causing the foodstuffs of reduced oil content to be conveyed axially along the tubes and out of its ends as the retentate. In a continuous process, extractor cells, or stages, consisting of an extraction vessel, pump, and membrane filter, are used in sequential stages, preferably using a miscella from the subsequent stage as the extracting medium. In a batch process, miscella storage tanks may be used to store miscella from the final stage for use in the next batch.

Abstract: A process and system for extracting a solute from a solid material, such as oil from oil-bearing foodstuffs, utilize a substantially tubular membrane filter to separate a mass of the extracting medium and the foodstuffs into a miscella and foodstuffs of reduced oil content. In a batch or continuous process, after each extracting stage, the mass from the extraction vessel is conveyed to a membrane filter, which has pores along its cylindrical walls suitably sized to allow a miscella to pass as the permeate, while causing the foodstuffs of reduced oil content to be conveyed axially along the tubes and out of its ends as the retentate. In a continuous process, extractor cells, or stages, consisting of an extraction vessel, pump, and membrane filter, are used in sequential stages, preferably using a miscella from the subsequent stage as the extracting medium. In a batch process, miscella storage tanks may be used to store miscella from the final stage for use in the next batch.

Abstract: A process and system for extracting a solute from a solid material, such as oil from oil-bearing foodstuffs, utilize a substantially tubular membrane filter to separate a mass of the extracting medium and the foodstuffs into a miscella and foodstuffs of reduced oil content. In a batch or continuous process, after each extracting stage, the mass from the extraction vessel is conveyed to a membrane filter, which has pores along its cylindrical walls suitably sized to allow a miscella to pass as the permeate, while causing the foodstuffs of reduced oil content to be conveyed axially along the tubes and out of its ends as the retentate. In a continuous process, extractor cells, or stages, consisting of an extraction vessel, pump, and membrane filter, are used in sequential stages, preferably using a miscella from the subsequent stage as the extracting medium. In a batch process, miscella storage tanks may be used to store miscella from the final stage for use in the next batch.

Abstract: A process and system for extracting a solute from a solid material, such as oil from oil-bearing foodstuffs, utilize a substantially tubular membrane filter to separate a mass of the extracting medium and the foodstuffs into a miscella and foodstuffs of reduced oil content. In a batch or continuous process, after each extracting stage, the mass from the extraction vessel is conveyed to a membrane filter, which has pores along its cylindrical walls suitably sized to allow a miscella to pass as the permeate, while causing the foodstuffs of reduced oil content to be conveyed axially along the tubes and out of its ends as the retentate. In a continuous process, extractor cells, or stages, consisting of an extraction vessel, pump, and membrane filter, are used in sequential stages, preferably using a miscella from the subsequent stage as the extracting medium. In a batch process, miscella storage tanks may be used to store miscella from the final stage for use in the next batch.

Abstract: A process for recovering oil from oil-bearing food products includes storing the organic solvent vapor used as the extracting medium in a vapor recovery tank between extraction phases. After a liquid organic solvent, such as propane, is used to extract oil from the oil-bearing food products, the solvent is vaporized, and at least some of the solvent remaining on the defatted food solids is recovered, for example by opening a valve leading to a vapor recovery tank which has a pressure lower than the pressure of the extraction vessel. More preferably, at least one vacuum tank can be used to increase the percentage of organic solvent vapor delivered to the tank or vessel to which the vapor is being introduced. Preferably, several solvent or miscella tanks, for storing substantially pure solvent and solvent of varying oil concentration, are used during an extraction phases.