Abstract: An extraction process comprising contracting a material to be extracted with an extracting fluid at elevated pressure within a defined space, and separating the extracted fluid and extract as a mass, from the extracted material while reducing the volume of the defined space and while maintaining the elevated pressure within the defined space. Apparatus for carrying out the process is adapted to separate the extracting fluid and the extract, as a mass, from the extracted material, while maintaining elevated pressure and reducing the volume as the point of separation.

Abstract: A process of separating materials is disclosed which comprises contacting a solid material with a fluid at an elevated pressure within a defined space, forming a fluid mixture of said fluid and a component of the solid material at the elevated pressure, separating the fluid mixture from the insoluble portion of the solid material at the elevated pressure and discharging the fluid mixture, as a mass, from a defined space, while simultaneously reducing the volume of the defined space at a rate sufficient to maintain the elevated pressure during the discharge step. Optionally, the insoluble portion of the solid material may be compacted during the separation step. The solid material may be selected from animal, vegetable, and mineral sources and the fluid may be selected from CO.sub.2 and other gases or liquids. Apparatus for carrying out the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to improvements in processes and apparatus for effecting solvent extractions using liquefied gas or gases in the supercritical state as the solvents and specifically to continuous processes for carrying out such extractions at high pressures. Further, the present invention relates to an apparatus which is a long vertical cylinder of relatively small diameter, wherein the solvent gas and the material to be extracted are continuously circulated through the long vertical reactor.

Abstract: Soluble materials are continuously extracted from solids using extracting solvents such as carbon dioxide by circulating a mixture of the solids in carbon dioxide at elevated pressure through a closed loop pipeline. A mixture of extracts dissolved in carbon dioxide is continuously removed from the system and material to be extracted is continually added. Multiple extraction stages are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to improvements in an apparatus for effecting solvent extractions using liquefied gas or gases in the supercritical state as the solvents and specifically to an apparatus for separating solids from fluids at high pressures.

Abstract: An extraction process comprises contacting a material to be extracted with an extracting fluid at elevated pressure within a defined space, and separating the extracting fluid and extract, as a mass, from the extracted material while reducing the volume of the defined space and while maintaining the elevated pressure within the defined space. Apparatus for carrying out the process is adapted to separate the extracting fluid and the extract, as a mass, from the extracted material, while maintaining elevated pressure and reducing the volume at the point of separation.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to improvements in processes and apparatus for effecting solvent extractions using liquefied gas or gases in the supercritical state as the solvents and specifically to continuous processes for carrying out such extractions at high pressures. Further, the present invention relates to an apparatus which is a long vertical cylinder of relatively small diameter, wherein the solvent gas and the material to be extracted are continuously circulated through the long vertical reactor.

Abstract: Wheat germ oil is treated by degumming with phosphoric acid and water, bleaching with activated clay and distilled in a centrifugal molecular still at 140.degree.-200.degree. C. at pressures below 50 milli-torr. The free fatty acids which are removed by the distillation step may be recovered as valuable by-products. The phospholipids removed in the degumming step may be recovered as valuable by-products. A vitamin E concentrate may be prepared by further distilling the purified wheat germ oil at 220.degree.-300.degree. C. at pressures below 25 milli-torr.

Abstract: An extruded defatted wheat germ food product has an expanded open-cell structure with a crisp, crunchy palatable nut-like flavor is stable in the presence of air at room temperatures. The product is produced by defatting wheat germ, increasing the moisture to 12-25% by weight, and extruding the moist wheat germ into atmospheric pressure, where the wheat germ is permitted to expand. The extruded product is dried to a moisture level below about 8%.