Recovery Of Vaporized Fraction, E.g., Distillate Patents (Class 426/494)
  • Publication number: 20150041305
    Abstract: An integrated facility for the co-production of ethanol and renewable diesel fuel is provided. Corn oil, an ethanol production by-product, is utilized as a feedstock for a renewable diesel plant operating within the same general facility as the corn ethanol plant. By-products of the renewable diesel plant, such as fuel gas, steam, and/or naphtha, can be utilized in various parts of the ethanol plant to increase the operating efficiency thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: WB Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Rachel Overheul, Bowe Wingerd
  • Patent number: 8906204
    Abstract: Systems and methods for separating an alcohol, and in particular butanol, from a fermented feed and concentrating thin stillage into syrup includes operation of one or more alcohol recovery distillation columns using the heat supplied by steam generated from concentration of the thin stillage in a multi-train, multi-effect evaporation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventor: Yihui Tom Xu
  • Publication number: 20130243922
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide apparatuses and methods for removing alcohol from alcoholic beverages. In certain embodiments, the apparatus includes a vessel, a fluid conduit configured to be inserted into a beverage, the fluid conduit configured to allow the beverage to flow into the vessel, a heating system comprising a distribution surface within the vessel, the distribution surface configured to receive the beverage and to heat the beverage, and a vacuum system configured to apply a vacuum to the beverage while the beverage is heated by the distribution surface. In certain embodiments, the method includes using the apparatuses described herein to reduce the alcohol content of an alcoholic beverage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: Judd B. Lynn, Kelli Lynn Fuller
  • Patent number: 8329241
    Abstract: Treated Brassica seeds and their extracts for use as a flavor and/or a flavor modifier in consumables. Treatment includes heating, and optionally grinding methods and/or recovery methods. Consumables include foods, beverages, health-care products, oral hygiene and oral care products, beauty-care products, and tobacco products. The extract contains elevated amounts of flavor and flavor modifier. One flavor modifier of the extract may be 2-furfurylthiol (“FFT”). A process for producing treated Brassica seeds extract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Givaudan SA
    Inventors: Eva Binggeli, Klaus Gassenmeier, Jeff Molnar, Peter Schieberle
  • Patent number: 8328994
    Abstract: Processes for the recovery of ethanol, useful as a fuel, from various cellulosic feedstock materials fermented to produce ethanol-containing beer are disclosed. The present invention provides a method and a system for ethanol recovery from highly viscous fermented citrus waste biomass. The systems overcome various challenges, including effectively stripping the ethanol from biomass beer in an energy efficient and economical manner that may allow for the further dehydration of the ethanol/water mix in a traditional rectifier distillation column. In certain embodiments, a series of flash stages and beer stripping columns are capable of operating with highly viscous slurries and/or feedstocks containing high levels of solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventor: David A. Stewart
  • Patent number: 8287698
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a system for producing alcohol by distillation with energy optimization using split-feed technology. The process of the present invention comprises the steps of: a) splitting a stream of wine to feed two depuration columns , the depuration column generating a stream of phlegma and the depuration column generating a stream of phlegma and a stream of vinasse; b) feeding the stream of phlegma into at least one rectification column generating a top flow and a stream of hydrated alcohol; c) effecting the heat exchange between the top flow from at least one rectification column and the stream of vinasse from the depuration column in at least one heat exchanger; and d) feeding the stream of phlegma into a rectification column generating a stream of hydrated alcohol. The present invention further relates to hydrated alcohol produced by the process described above and to a process for producing anhydrous alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignees: Siemens Ltda., Dedini S/A Industrias de Base
    Inventors: Flávio Martins De Queiroz Guimarães, Carlos Eduardo Fontes Da Costa E Silva, Adler Gomes Moura
  • Patent number: 8257769
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovering volatile compounds from an aqueous tea extract by distilling the said extract by fractional distillation comprising condensing of vapors, separating the oil phase condensate from the aqueous phase and refluxing the substantially oil-free aqueous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Sameer Harnam Israni, Vijay Mukund Naik, Gurmeet Singh, Suranjan Sircar
  • Patent number: 8172987
    Abstract: An energy-efficient extractive distillation process for producing anhydrous ethanol from aqueous/ethanol feeds containing any range of ethanol employs an extractive distillation column (EDC) that operates under no or greatly reduced liquid reflux conditions. The EDC can be incorporated into an integrated process for producing anhydrous ethanol used for gasoline blending from fermentation broth. By using a high-boiling extractive distillation solvent, no solvent, is entrained by the vapor phase to the EDC overhead stream, even under no liquid reflux conditions. The energy requirement and severity of the EDC can be further improved by limiting ethanol recovery in the EDC. In this partial ethanol recovery design, ethanol which remains in the aqueous stream from the EDC is recovered in a post-distillation column or the aqueous stream is recycled to a front-end pre-distillation column where the ethanol is readily recovered since the VLE curve for ethanol/water is extremely favorable for distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignees: AMT International Inc., CPC Corporation, Taiwan
    Inventors: Fu-Ming Lee, Tzong-Bin Lin, Jyh-Haur Hwang, Hung-Chung Shen, Kuang-Yeu Wu, Lindsey Vuong, Fong-Cheng Su, Po-Sung Cheng, Tai-Ping Chang
  • Patent number: 8002953
    Abstract: An energy-efficient extractive distillation process for producing anhydrous ethanol from aqueous/ethanol feeds containing any range of ethanol employs an extractive distillation column (EDC) that operates under no or greatly reduced liquid reflux conditions. The EDC can be incorporated into an integrated process for producing anhydrous ethanol used for gasoline blending from fermentation broth. By using a high-boiling extractive distillation solvent, no solvent is entrained by the vapor phase to the EDC overhead stream, even under no liquid reflux conditions. The energy requirement and severity of the EDC can be further improved by limiting ethanol recovery in the EDC. In this partial ethanol recovery design, ethanol which remains in the aqueous stream from the EDC is recovered in a post-distillation column or the aqueous stream is recycled to a front-end pre-distillation column where the ethanol is readily recovered since the VLE curve for ethanol/water is extremely favorable for distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignees: AMT International Inc., CPC Corporation, Taiwan
    Inventors: Fu-Ming Lee, Kuang-Yeu Wu, Lindsey Vuong, Fong-Cheng Su, Tzong-Bin Lin, Jyh-Haur Hwang, Hung-Chung Shen, Po-Sung Cheng, Tai-Ping Chang
  • Patent number: 7879379
    Abstract: Method of pretreating citrus waste to break cell structure, pasteurize or sterilize citrus waste solids and remove inhibitory peel oil components (e.g., limonene) involving optionally reducing the particle size of the citrus waste prior to preheating, preheating the citrus waste through indirect heating in a preheater reactor to form preheated citrus waste and conveying the preheated citrus waste to a main reactor, heating the citrus waste through a combination of (simultaneous) indirect heating and direct heating to produce treated citrus waste solids that are pasteurized and a vapor containing water and peel oil components, separating the pasteurized citrus waste solids and the vapor containing water and peel oil components, and collecting the separated vapor containing water and peel oil components by condensation. The method optionally includes cooling the pasteurized citrus waste solids followed by saccharifying with enzymes and fermentation to produce ethanol or other products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture, Renewable Spirits LLC
    Inventors: Wilbur Widmer, David Stewart, Karel Grohmann, Mark Wilkins
  • Patent number: 7828977
    Abstract: This relates to an apparatus and method for removing solutes from a solution using nano-filtration to provide a treated wine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventor: Bryan R. Tudhope
  • Patent number: 7744727
    Abstract: A method for distilling ethanol from a mash includes feeding a fluid to a first distillation column. The fluid and a distillate of the first distillation column are delivered to a second distillation column. The fed fluid and/or distillate of the second distillation column is/are purified in a first and/or last step of the method by a membrane separation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignees: 2S-Sophisticated Systems Limited, Buss-SMS-Canzler GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Rüdiger Blum, Bernhard Kaiser
  • Patent number: 7670634
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in a vacuum stripping process having a first stripping vessel (2); at least one second further downstream stripping vessel (3), said at least one second further downstream stripping vessel (3) containing at least two trays (12), (13), (14) and (15) each provided with sparging (16), (17), (18) and (19) respectively, and further having a collector (4) connecting said first stripping vessel (2) and said at least one second stripping vessel (3), said collector (4) being provided with inlet openings above each said tray (12), (13), (14) and (15) and said collector (4) being connected to a pump (5) with a discharge into said first stripping vessel (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: De Smet Engineering N.V.
    Inventors: Marc Kellens, Dimitri De Suray
  • Publication number: 20100047422
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for enriching the aroma profile of beverages, especially beer and wine, by means of extraction, using pervaporation, of aromas from the original beverage and subsequent addition of the extracted aromas to the beverage, after total or partial dealcoholization. The original beverage (1) is fed to the membrane separation module (4) wherein the permeate side (5) is under vacuum, provided by a vacuum pump (12). The feed contacts with the membrane surface and the aromas are selectively permeated to the permeate side of the membrane, where they suffer evaporation. The vapor permeate stream (5) is condensed (10) at an appropriate temperature, which can be cryogenic. After the aroma extraction, the beverage (6) is fed to a dealcoholization unit (14) for obtaining a non-alcoholic drink (15), however depleted in aroma compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Adélio Miguel Magalhães Mendes, Luis Miguel Palma Madeira, Margarida Dias Catarino
  • Patent number: 7666282
    Abstract: The invention is a process for the purification of ethanol. In one embodiment the process includes boiling a degassed beer feed (106) in a pre-boiler (110) to provide a vapor by-pass fraction (112) that by-passes the conventional beer column and is fed into the rectifier column (124). The process allows free capacity in the rectifier column of new or established plants to be filled by ethanol-water vapor and/or condensate streams that do not originate from the beer column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Robert G. Sylvester, Stephen Thomas Breske, David A. Culver, Bruce M. Vrana
  • Patent number: 7651616
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for removing solutes from a solution using nano-filtration means to provide a treated wine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Inventor: Bryan R. Tudhope
  • Publication number: 20090324796
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a system for producing alcohol by distillation with energy optimization using split-feed technology. The process of the present invention comprises the steps of: a) splitting a stream of wine (1) to feed two depuration columns (2, 3), the depuration column (2) generating a stream of phlegma (4) and the depuration column (3) generating a stream of phlegma (5) and a stream of vinasse (6); b) feeding the stream of phlegma (4) into at least one rectification column (7) generating a top flow (8) and a stream of hydrated alcohol (9); c) effecting the heat exchange between the top flow (8) from at least one rectification column (7) and the stream of vinasse (6) from the depuration column (3) in at least one heat exchanger (10); and d) feeding the stream of phlegma (5) into a rectification column (11) generating a stream of hydrated alcohol (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Flávio Martins De Quieroz Guimaraes, Carlos Eduardo Fontes Da Coata E Silva, Adler Gomes Moura
  • Patent number: 7632530
    Abstract: The present invention provides an isolation process of the pure sterols from the SODD by simple acid catalyzed esterification and the separation of the reagents by distillation and water washing followed by the crystallization of phytosterols and purification. Soybean oil deodorizer distillate (SODD) and distillate from other vegetable oil refining contain free sterols, in addition to steryl esters, tocopherols squalene and unknown compounds. The process is also applicable to other vegetable oil distillate containing more than 1% phytosterols in the free form. Phytosterols thus obtained is of high purity (95-99%) and high yield (80-90%) and contains ?-sitosterol, Stigmasterol and campesterol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Chami Arumughan, Das Retna Sobankumar, Andikkannu Sudaresan, Sreeja Sadasivan Nair, Kannan Yohesh, Leelavathy Rajam
  • Patent number: 7622140
    Abstract: Processes for preparing extracts of natural products such as plant material, and for preparing purified extracts from crude extracts of natural products, by extraction with hot gas. Apparatus suitable for use in preparing extracts of natural products are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: GW Pharma Limited
    Inventors: Brian Whittle, Geoffrey Guy, David Downs, David Pate
  • Patent number: 7572353
    Abstract: A process arrangement for distilling fuel grade ethanol include a distillation portion which distills beer to produce thin stillage and hot ethanol vapor. In an evaporation portion, a set of first effect evaporators which are heated either by plant steam or hot ethanol vapor, concentrate thin stillage into mid stillage while producing first effect steam. The first effect steam from the first effect evaporators provides heat to a set of second effect evaporators which concentrate the mid stillage into a syrup for further drying. The second effect evaporators produce second effect steam which is used to heat the distillation portion of the process arrangement. The multiple evaporators of the first and second effects of the evaporation portion can be selectively taken off-line for maintenance while the evaporation portion and the remainder of the process arrangement continue to operate at full capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: ICM, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Lee Vander Griend
  • Patent number: 7416756
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the recovery of a phytolipid composition from a vegetable oil by-product. The phytolipid composition produced comprises squalene, phytosterols, mixed tocopherols and tocotrieneols, and vegetable wax and is useful as an emollient. The phytochemical composition may be applied directly to the skin to provide emolliency. Alternatively, the phytolipid composition may be formulated in various aqueous or anhydrous cosmetic compositions such as creams, lotions, gels, ointments, lip balms, sticks, or pencils for treatment of the skin and lips. The phytolipid composition also may be incorporated into foods, beverages, and nutraceuticals to provide health benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: George Chester Zima, Terry Ann Oldfield, Suzanne Winegar Dobbs, Phillip Michael Cook, Charles Everette Kelly, Mary Caraway Crow, Craig Alan Hoyme
  • Patent number: 7101582
    Abstract: A process for releasing a volatile honey components form a liquid honey is described wherein water is added to honey, extracting the volatile component and optionally adding the honey component to dried honey. The volatile honey product obtained by the process can be used in food and pharmaceutical products. The invention relates to a process for treating honey comprising the steps of adding water to the liquid honey; releasing a volatile honey component from the liquid honey by evaporation to product a residual partially dried honey; and collecting the volatile honey component, the volatile honey component may be then added to dried honey solids to improve the flavor and aroma or the volatile honey component can be added to food or medicaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Huny Hunks Ltd.
    Inventor: Rick Green
  • Patent number: 6838104
    Abstract: This invention relates to processes for the production of tocotrienol compounds from biological sources such as palm oil, cereals, grains, and grain oils. The tocotrienol products are recovered in high yields. These tocotrienols are useful as pharmaceuticals, in foodstuffs and as dietary supplements. These compositions are hypocholesterolemic, antioxidizing, antithrombotic, antiatherogenic, antiinflammatory and immunoregulatory in nature. Tocotrienols are known to lower the levels of low density lipoproteins in the bloodstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Archer Daniels Midland Company
    Inventor: Lewis Jacobs
  • Patent number: 6753028
    Abstract: A method for removing essential oil from industrially-produced non-concentrated orange juice wherein raw orange juice is submitted to a heat exchanger for heating, then directed to a vacuum chamber where vapors from the essential oil and other substances of the orange essence are produced and condensed wherein the liquid collected therein is subjected to a phase separation stage wherein an oily phase thus produced is removed and an aqueous phase is aggregated with the orange juice passing through the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Inventors: Roberto Tacao Iada, Kátia Casimiro, Luis Roberto Pontes
  • Publication number: 20010005519
    Abstract: Blends of glycerides and/or fatty acids comprising 20 to 65 wt % C16:1 fatty acid, balance other fatty acids with 12 to 24 C-atoms and having a C16:1 to C16:0 fatty acid ratio of more than 2.0 and an C16:1 to C18:1 fatty acid ratio of more than 1.2 perform well in food applications and can be made by a process involving a partial enzymic hydrolysis of materials derived from fish oil using an enzyme with specificity for C16:1, removal of the fatty acids and a fractionation of the acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventors: Frederick William Cain, Sietze Bouwer, Michel Henricus Wilhelmus van den Hoek, Andreas Menzel
  • Patent number: 6183806
    Abstract: A process for the recovery of valuable products from citrus peel includes comminuting the peel, belt filter pressing to remove contained liquid and solvent extraction to remove organic compounds. The dried, milled flour is useful as an ingredient in breads and other baked products, replacing part of the grain flour conventionally used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent G. Ficca, Michael Grossman, Thomas Rohmann
  • Patent number: 6090427
    Abstract: Natural cocoa flavor and aroma compositions are prepared by passing a natural aroma gas, preferably from cocoa beans, through one or more condensers to remove water and substantially all the acetic acid present therein. The aroma gas may then be placed into a cryogenic collector in which liquid nitrogen is sprayed directly into the aroma gas stream to rapidly condense the aroma frost suspended in a stream of nitrogen gas, while minimizing contract of the cooled gas with the walls of the collector. The suspension of aroma frost particles in gaseous nitrogen is passed through a tubular porous filter to remove the aroma frost particles which collect on the outer surface of the tubular filter, with the nitrogen gas passing through the porous filter and being exhausted from the collector. The aroma particles recovered are suitable for incorporation in various food products where a natural cocoa or chocolate flavor is desired, including soluble cocoa products, cake mixes, confectionery products, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Nestec SA
    Inventors: Robert Mazurek, Maria Temperini, David Barfuss, Dean Rushmore
  • Patent number: 5985344
    Abstract: A simple and cost effective enrichment process for enhancing antioxidant content of rice bran oil from crude rice bran oil (CrRBO) is described. The process comprises extracting the CrRBO using alcohol at 25-77.degree. C., obtaining the enriched rice bran oil (ERBO) from alcohol extracts which contain 74 to 300 percent more antioxidants than the starting CrRBO. The anti-oxidant enriched rice bran oil is useful in pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and dietary preparations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: The RiceX Company
    Inventors: Reddy Sastry V. Cherukuri, Rukmini Cheruvanky, Ike Lynch, Daniel L. McPeak
  • Patent number: 5976595
    Abstract: Process for flavouring an edible oil by incorporating into a recipient oil flavour substances of which a part has been derived from liquid/liquid extraction, particularly using an ethanol/water mixture of a flavour source liquid, characterized in that another part of the flavour substances has been derived from gas/liquid extraction using an extraction gas which is conducted first through a heated flavour oil and then through a cooler recipient oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings
    Inventors: Keshab L. Ganguli, Anton R. van Immerseel, George C. Michaelides, Karel P. van Putte, Hessel Turksma
  • Patent number: 5955135
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for stripping volatiles from a feed stream and concentrating the volatiles in the overhead vapors forming a condensate product and simultaneously producing a low percent volatiles outlet stream as a concentrate product. The volatiles separator and concentrator, ("VSC"), unit has many applications in the reduction and the concentration of volatiles in the beverage, fuel, and industrial alcohol industries, as well as in chemical applications for removing or stripping volatiles from heat sensitive feed substrates which require low temperatures and a short residence time to prevent degradation of the product. The preferred embodiment of the VSC unit utilizes a short feed stream preheat contact time in combination with turbulent high velocity flow at temperatures below 100.degree. F. to provide flash vaporization for volatiles separation with reboil capability to adjust volatiles concentration in the residue and product. The application of high vacuum in the range of 27" to 28.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Vendome Copper & Brass Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Armand R. Boucher, Philip N. Hambrick
  • Patent number: 5897904
    Abstract: Methods for producing a liquor having a high alcohol content are disclosed. Such methods employ mild conditions for increasing the alcohol content of the liquor, resulting in decreased levels of by-products that may adversely affect the taste. The high proof liquor generated by the methods disclosed herein is suitable for the preparation of alcoholic beverages such as brandy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: TFE Partnership
    Inventors: Andrew J. Friedman, Brian L. Nordwall
  • Patent number: 5624534
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for stripping volatiles from a feed stream and concentrating the volatiles in the overhead vapors forming a condensate product and simultaneously producing a low percent volatiles outlet stream as a concentrate product. The volatiles separator and concentrator, ("VSC"), unit has many applications in the reduction and the concentration of voiatiles in the beverage, fuel, and industrial alcohol industries, as well as in chemical applications for removing or stripping volatiles from heat sensitive feed substrates which require low temperatures and a short residence time to prevent degradation of the product. For heat sensitive applications, the VSC unit utilizes a short feed stream preheat contact time in combination with turbulent high velocity flow to separate and concentrate volatile and nonvolatile components at temperatures below 100.degree. F. utilizing flash vaporization for volatiles separation with reboil capability to adjust volatiles concentration in the residue and product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Inventors: Armand R. Boucher, Philip N. Hambrick
  • Patent number: 5496579
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing flavoring compositions by subjecting a thin film of fat or oil to an elevated temperature of about 600.degree. F. in the presence of oxygen. The elevated temperature causes the oil or fat to undergo a phase change to produce an exothermic gaseous material. The gaseous material is cooled rapidly to produce a liquid phase and a vapor containing an aerosol. The liquid phase is collected as a first flavorant and the vapor phase passed through a condenser to recover the aerosol as a flavorant with a more intense grill flavor. The remaining smoke or vapor is exhausted from the apparatus to remove the tarry and acrid flavor notes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Kraft Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: C. Steve Weigandt, Jerry J. Carter, Anthony V. DiMaiolo
  • Patent number: 5480665
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for the treatment of fluids, particularly wine, to remove unwanted substances. The wine is treated in a reverse osmosis (R.O.) treatment unit, generating a retentate and a raw permeate. The membrane for the R.O. unit is selected to pass in the permeate the unwanted substances, such as volatile acidity (ethyl acetate and acetic acid). The raw permeate is subjected to a treatment column. In the case of volatile acidity, this is an anion exchange column, which removes the acetic acid from the permeate by anion exchange and removes the ethyl acetate by base hydrolysis. This produces a purified permeate, which is depleted in volatile acidity, but contains other components desirable for the wine. The purified permeate is then recombined with the retentate from the R.O. column, and the result is wine with the volatile acidity and little else removed. This wine may be recirculated through the system to remove yet more of the volatile acidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Inventor: Clark R. Smith
  • Patent number: 5468511
    Abstract: A method for extraction and removal of cholesterol from untreated liquid egg yolk with simultaneous production of cholesterol as a by-product. The removal of cholesterol from the untreated liquid egg yolk is achieved by the extraction of cholesterol into a vegetable oil by ultra high pressure homogenization producing liquid egg yolk having reduced amount of cholesterol. The cholesterol extracted into the vegetable oil is further removed from the oil by steam stripping method, allowing a recycling of the steam stripped extraction oil. Cholesterol is recovered as the extraction by-product from the aqueous steam stripping distillate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Gideon Zeidler
  • Patent number: 5458739
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for stripping volatiles from a feed stream and concentrating the volatiles in the overhead vapors forming a condensate product and simultaneously producing a low percent volatiles outlet stream as a concentrate product. The volatiles separator and concentrator, ("VSC"), unit has many applications in the reduction and the concentration of volatiles in the beverage, fuel, and industrial alcohol industries, as well as in chemical applications for removing or stripping volatiles from heat sensitive feed substrates which require low temperatures and a short residence time to prevent degradation of the product.The preferred embodiment of the VSC unit utilizes a short feed stream preheat contact time in combination with turbulent high velocity flow at temperatures below 100.degree. F. to provide flash aporization for volatiles separation with reboil capability to adjust volatiles concentration in the residue and product. The application of high vacuum in the range of 27" to 28.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Vendome Copper & Brass Works
    Inventors: Armand R. Boucher, Philip N. Hambrick
  • Patent number: 5425962
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for refining peppermint oil containing compositions. Additionally, the present invention provides a method for making chewing gum having a peppermint flavor. To this end, a method for refining a peppermint oil containing composition that includes sulfur compounds to remove at least a portion of the sulfur compounds is provided. The method comprises the step of subjecting the composition to a distillation process that removes at least a portion of the sulfur compounds from the composition, but does not remove more than 3% of the total composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Sonya S. Johnson, Michael J. Greenberg
  • Patent number: 5417993
    Abstract: A method for producing a coffee aroma component is disclosed, which comprises the steps of feeding an aqueous solution containing from 10 to 80% by weight of ethanol and an inert gas into roasted and milled coffee beans heated to 80.degree. to 20.degree. C., contacting the mixture with the coffee beans, and then condensing and collecting a volatile aroma component evolving from the coffee beans. According to the present invention, the preferable aroma of fresh milled coffee beans after roasted can be perfectly collected. Further, the method of the present invention requires neither any complicated apparatus nor any special conditions. Namely, this method can be easily and inexpensively embodied. Further, it is an advantageous method from an industrial viewpoint. The coffee aroma component obtained by the method of the present invention suffers from little change in aroma during the processing and over prolonged storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Takasago International Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Takano, Hiroshi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 5385647
    Abstract: A process for reducing the alcohol content of alcohol-containing beverages, in particular of beer or wine, wherein the alcohol is partially or completely removed by way of pervaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Deutsche Carbone AG
    Inventors: Hartmut E. A. Brueschke, Walter H. Schneider, Guenter F. Tusel
  • Patent number: 5141861
    Abstract: A multi-stage reactor-separator for the fermentative production of volatile inhibitory products from non-volatile substrate includes a stirred tank reactor and a packed or tray-type gas-liquid contacting column separator. Each reactor and separator form a stage and a plurality of stages may be stacked into a tower, or otherwise placed to operate consecutively, forming a reactor-separator in which stages having gas flowing cocurrent to the liquid flow in the separator portion form an enriching section, and stages having gas flowing countercurrent to the liquid flow in the separator portion form a stripping section. In a method of using the reactor-separator, a volatile fermentation product is produced and simultaneously separated into a gas phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Bio Process Innovation, Inc.
    Inventor: M. Clark Dale
  • Patent number: 5093141
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of alcohol-free wine, i.e. wine containing less than 1% by volume of alcohol, and of wines containing reduced concentrations i.e. 1 to 7% by volume of alcohol with the simultaneous production of brandy by using continuous vacuum film distillation with continuous introduction of carbon dioxide and/or an inert gas, producing thereby a dynamic atmosphere of carbon dioxide and/or an inert gas, at the temperature of at most 100.degree. C., preferably 40.degree.-100.degree. C. and in a vacuum of 6.45-25.80 kPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignees: Magyar Szenhidrogenipari Kutato-Fejleszto Intezet, Jonathan MgTsZ
    Inventors: Laszlo Nemeth, Bela Jover, Sandor Doleschall, Pap Geza, Gyula Gati, Istvan Juhasz, Imre Sapi, Sandor Kovtacs, Gizella C. Horvath
  • Patent number: 5035776
    Abstract: A thermally-integrated extractive distillation process for recovering anhydrous ethanol from fermentation or synthetic feedstocks has a distillation train of four columns. Two columns are preconcentrators operated in parallel. The remaining columns are an extractive distillation dehydrating tower, and an entrainer-recovery column. The two preconcentrators and the dehydrating tower are operated at three successively increasing pressures so that the condensing vapors of the overhead product of the dehydrating tower supply the necessary heat to the reboiler of the intermediate-pressure preconcentrator. The overhead vapors of this preconcentrator are, in turn, used to supply the required heat to the reboiler of the lowest-pressure preconcentrator. The bottom product from each preconcentrator is used to preheat the dilute feed. Additional energy savings are accomplished by the appropriate heat exchange between the various feeds, overheads, and bottoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Knapp
  • Patent number: 5034238
    Abstract: In a process for the reduction of the alcohol content of alcoholic beverages, in which aromatic substances are extracted with liquid or supercritical CO.sub.2, alcohol is separated by distillation and the extracted aromatic substances are at least partially recycled to the beverage with reduced alcohol content, the feedstock, especially wine or beer, is first subjected to a distillation under subatmospheric pressure. The distillate is subjected to an extraction with liquid or supercritical CO.sub.2, after which the extract is partially expanded to separate the aroma, and then under the residual pressure is recycled to the bottom product of the distillation in a collecting tank for the end product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Schoeller-Bleckmann Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Helmut Seidlitz, Eduard Lack, Heinz Lackner
  • Patent number: 4995945
    Abstract: A counter-current contacting device which includes a number of features which increase the efficiency and/or increase the pressure differential across the device is disclosed. Systems for reducing the alcohol content of an alcohol containing beverage or wine, for stripping aroma and flavor from a fruit juice and for desulphuring a liquid containing dissolved sulphur dioxide are also disclosed. Each of these systems incorporate a counter-current contact device of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Flavourtech Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew J. M. Craig
  • Patent number: 4976974
    Abstract: In this invention, both a grape juice concentrate and a grape juice drink are produced by first preparing the raw material for a year's production during vintage, transferring grape juice so produced to a vacuum concentrating column before it ferments, heating the grape juice in the column and subjecting it to a low pressure (vacuum) to separate it into a distillate and a first stage grape juice concentrate which has a Baume of about 35, separate storing the first stage grape juice concentrate, remixing some of the stored concentrate with the distillate to produce a low calorie grape juice drink and further concentrating the first stage concentrate to produce a food product having a Baume above 35.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Chateau Yaldara PTY. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hermann Thumm
  • Patent number: 4942045
    Abstract: In this invention, a grape juice concentrate is produced by crushing grapes to extract grape juice (10, 11), subjecting the grape juice to a first stage vacuum concentration (19) before it ferments by heating the grape juice and subjecting it to a low pressure (vacuum) to separate it into a distillate and a grape juice concentrate which has a Baume between 25 and 40, subsequently subjecting the concentrate to a second stage of vacuum concentration (31), also by heating under vacuum conditions, and packaging (42) the second stage concentrate when its Baume lies between 38 and 55. The second stage concentrate can be creamed (43) by high speed agitation before packaging, provided it is sufficiently fluent (e.g. a Baume of 40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Chateau Yaldara Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hermann J. Thumm
  • Patent number: 4908219
    Abstract: In the fermentation process, the vapors emitted from the fermentation vat, resulting from fermentation and entrained by the CO.sub.2, are subjected to condensation. This condensation is effectuated fractionally in at least two successive stages (5, 7) operating at temperatures of about -5.degree. C. to -15.degree. C. in the first stage and -15.degree. C. to -50.degree. C. in the second stage. The process is effective to improve the quality and/or the quantity of fermentation product, in particular of wine in the case of grapes fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Societe Cooperative Agricole de Canet
    Inventors: Marcel Modot, Philippe De Lapasse, Francois Maistre
  • Patent number: 4902518
    Abstract: A method for the production of low alcohol wine comprising separating a fruit juice into a high sugar fraction and a low sugar fraction, stripping volatile components, such as high-boiling point esters, from the fruit juice or from the high sugar fraction and adding them to the low sugar fraction, and fermenting the low sugar fraction. A preferred method of separating the fruit juice into high and low sugar fractions is by fractional crystallization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignees: Bioquip Australia Pty. Limited, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
    Inventors: Timothy R. Lang, Donald J. Casimir
  • Patent number: 4867997
    Abstract: A process is described for preparing in particular alcohol-free wine in which by extraction with supercritical CO.sub.2 firstly a specific aroma fraction with limited ethanol content is separated from the starting wine. The residual wine is then subjected to a vacuum distillation in which apart from the complete separation of the ethanol from the residual wine a fraction of more difficulty extractable aromatic substances not affected by the extraction is recovered which in the end together with the extract is added to the dealcoholized residual wine again to obtain an alcohol-free wine. The method permits an almost complete removal of the alcohol content without detrimentally affecting the basic wine and with retention of all the aromatic and flavoring substances characteristic of the wine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Peter Eckes KG MBH
    Inventors: Alfred Wiesenberger, Rolf Marr, Erich Kolb, Jens A. Schildmann, Reinhard Weisrock
  • Patent number: 4846935
    Abstract: A heavy concentration of volatile substances and high degree of purity are achieved in a short time in a closed system by transferring the volatile substances from a vessel containing the gas phase into a condensation vessel by means of a capillary with a small inner diameter. Preferably there is a temperature drop from the vessel containing the gas phase to the condensation vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Degussa Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gunter Giesselmann, Andreas Hartmann, Karl-Heinz Bruckner