Abstract: A method is described for minimizing material mixing of a first fluid material and a second fluid material in a material processing system that includes a pipeline. The method includes introducing into an upstream portion of the pipeline a sufficient amount of a material mixing inhibitor using, in some instances a cartridge for delivery of the material mixing inhibitor composition to the material processing system.

Abstract: A method of minimizing material mixing in a piping system during a transition between a first material and a second material includes providing a plurality of pipe pigs in a first pipe section with the plurality of pipe pigs being sufficient to substantially fill a cross-section of the first pipe section and to define a plug having a leading edge and a trailing edge such that the leading edge is in contact with a first material and the trailing edge is in contact with a second material. Each pipe pig has a nominal size that is smaller than an effective diameter of the first pipe section. The plug is moved through the piping system by moving the second material. Advantageously, mixing of the first material and the second material is inhibited by the plug.

Abstract: A material mixing inhibitor composition, a method of minimizing material mixing of a first fluid material and a second fluid material in a material processing system that includes a pipeline, and a cartridge for delivery of a material mixing inhibitor composition to the material processing system are described.

Abstract: A hydrophobic separating plug is used to separate and inhibit mixing between a first material and a second material. The plug may be formed of a hydrophobic material or may be formed of a plurality of pigs that are a solid or semi-solid material that may be hydrophobic or may have a hydrophobic or superhydrophobic surface. The plurality of pigs may be disposed within a hydrophobic fluid and the pigs may be neutrally buoyant in the hydrophobic fluid. The hydrophobic separating plug has dimensions sufficient to substantially fill the cross-section of pipe sections in which it is located and to define a leading edge and a trailing edge such that the leading edge is in contact with a first material and the trailing edge is in contact with a second material. Advantageously, mixing between the first material and the second material is inhibited by the plug.

Abstract: A method of minimizing material mixing in a piping system during a transition between a first material and a second material includes providing a plurality of pipe pigs in a first pipe section with the plurality of pipe pigs being sufficient to substantially fill a cross-section of the first pipe section and to define a plug having a leading edge and a trailing edge such that the leading edge is in contact with a first material and the trailing edge is in contact with a second material. Each pipe pig has a nominal size that is smaller than an effective diameter of the first pipe section. The plug is moved through the piping system by moving the second material. Advantageously, mixing of the first material and the second material is inhibited by the plug.

Abstract: A method of minimizing material mixing in a piping system during a transition between a first material and a second material includes providing a plurality of pipe pigs in a first pipe section with the plurality of pipe pigs being sufficient to substantially fill a cross-section of the first pipe section and to define a plug having a leading edge and a trailing edge such that the leading edge is in contact with a first material and the trailing edge is in contact with a second material. Each pipe pig has a nominal size that is smaller than an effective diameter of the first pipe section. The plug is moved through the piping system by moving the second material. Advantageously, mixing of the first material and the second material is inhibited by the plug.

Abstract: A process and system to extract essential oil from an essential oil-containing food material is described. The process includes subjecting the essential oil-containing food material to a pulsed electric field; extracting the essential oil into water to form a first fluid mixture that contains essential oil, an essential oil-water emulsion, and water; and separating the first fluid mixture into a waste mixture and a second fluid mixture, where the concentration of essential oil in the second fluid mixture is greater than the concentration of essential oil in the first fluid mixture.

Abstract: A process and system to extract essential oil from an essential oil-containing food material is described. The process includes subjecting the essential oil-containing food material to a pulsed electric field; extracting the essential oil into water to form a first fluid mixture that contains essential oil, an essential oil-water emulsion, and water; and separating the first fluid mixture into a waste mixture and a second fluid mixture, where the concentration of essential oil in the second fluid mixture is greater than the concentration of essential oil in the first fluid mixture.

Abstract: A hydrophobic separating plug is used to separate and inhibit mixing between a first material and a second material. The plug may be formed of a hydrophobic material or may be formed of a plurality of pigs that are a solid or semi-solid material that may be hydrophobic or may have a hydrophobic or superhydrophobic surface. The plurality of pigs may be disposed within a hydrophobic fluid and the pigs may be neutrally buoyant in the hydrophobic fluid. The hydrophobic separating plug has dimensions sufficient to substantially fill the cross-section of pipe sections in which it is located and to define a leading edge and a trailing edge such that the leading edge is in contact with a first material and the trailing edge is in contact with a second material. Advantageously, mixing between the first material and the second material is inhibited by the plug.

Abstract: A method of minimizing material mixing in a piping system during a transition between a first material and a second material includes providing a plurality of pipe pigs in a first pipe section with the plurality of pipe pigs being sufficient to substantially fill a cross-section of the first pipe section and to define a plug having a leading edge and a trailing edge such that the leading edge is in contact with a first material and the trailing edge is in contact with a second material. Each pipe pig has a nominal size that is smaller than an effective diameter of the first pipe section. The plug is moved through the piping system by moving the second material. Advantageously, mixing of the first material and the second material is inhibited by the plug.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for forming at least a portion of a beverage from a co-milled powdered composition. An amount of a co-milled powdered composition is combined with a fluid to produce at least a portion of a beverage. The co-milled powdered composition is obtained from co-milling together at least one powdered ingredient having a difficult to disperse or dissolve portion with one or more dispersion facilitator components to form a co-milled powder effective to enhance the dispersion or dissolving of the powder when forming a food or beverage.

Abstract: A coffee milling process comprising the steps of: a) introducing particles of a roasted coffee precursor into a milling chamber; b) introducing particles of soluble coffee into the milling chamber; c) jetting a gas into the milling chamber to mobilise the particles of the roasted coffee precursor and soluble coffee; d) thereby producing a milled and blended coffee product by comminuting the particles of the roasted coffee precursor by self-collision of the particles of the roasted coffee precursor and by collision of the particles of soluble coffee with the particles of the roasted coffee precursor within the milling chamber. Processes and products incorporating milled and blended coffee products are also described.

Abstract: One aspect relates to a process for the preparation of a chocolate tablet by co-milling a dry precursor and the chocolate tablet producible by the process. The dry precursor comprises (i) cocoa nibs and/or particulate cocoa butter and/or particulate cocoa butter equivalent/substitute; (ii) a solid bulk sweetener; and (iii) optionally dairy powder. The dry precursor is co-milled to obtain a powdered composition having a particle size of <10 ?m (mean) and/or <30 ?m (d90); and subsequently compressed at a pressure of at least 7000 kPa to obtain the chocolate tablet. Another aspect relates to a chocolate product comprising a filling sealed within a shell and a process for its production. The filling comprises a first chocolate composition and the shell comprises a second chocolate composition. The first chocolate composition has a melting point of 37° C. or less and the second chocolate composition has a melting point of greater than 37° C.

Abstract: Methods and systems for continuously producing foaming compositions from powders, granules, and/or particulate are provided and/or powders, granules, and/or particulates that contains high pressure gas. The methods and systems are configured to reduce energy costs and overall processing time and, thus, provide advantages over the prior batch processes that have lengthy temperature ramp-up and cool-down times due to the shortcomings of using a large pressure vessel.

Abstract: A coffee milling process comprising the steps of: a) introducing particles of a roasted coffee precursor into a milling chamber; b) introducing particles of soluble coffee into the milling chamber; c) jetting a gas into the milling chamber to mobilize the particles of the roasted coffee precursor and soluble coffee; d) thereby producing a milled and blended coffee product by comminuting the particles of the roasted coffee precursor by self-collision of the particles of the roasted coffee precursor and by collision of the particles of soluble coffee with the particles of the roasted coffee precursor within the milling chamber. Processes and products incorporating milled and blended coffee products are also described.

Abstract: Methods and systems for continuously producing foaming compositions from powders, granules, and/or particulate are provided and/or powders, granules, and/or particulates that contains high pressure gas. The methods and systems are configured to reduce energy costs and overall processing time and, thus, provide advantages over the prior batch processes that have lengthy temperature ramp-up and cool-down times due to the shortcomings of using a large pressure vessel.

Abstract: A coffee milling process comprising the steps of: a) introducing particles of a roasted coffee precursor into a milling chamber; b) introducing particles of soluble coffee into the milling chamber; c) jetting a gas into the milling chamber to mobilise the particles of the roasted coffee precursor and soluble coffee; d) thereby producing a milled and blended coffee product by comminuting the particles of the roasted coffee precursor by self-collision of the particles of the roasted coffee precursor and by collision of the particles of soluble coffee with the particles of the roasted coffee precursor within the milling chamber. Processes and products incorporating milled and blended coffee products are also described.

Abstract: A coffee milling process comprising the steps of: a) introducing particles of a roasted coffee precursor into a milling chamber; b) introducing particles of soluble coffee into the milling chamber; c) jetting a gas into the milling chamber to mobilise the particles of the roasted coffee precursor and soluble coffee; d) thereby producing a milled and blended coffee product by comminuting the particles of the roasted coffee precursor by self-collision of the particles of the roasted coffee precursor and by collision of the particles of soluble coffee with the particles of the roasted coffee precursor within the milling chamber. Processes and products incorporating milled and blended coffee products are also described.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine is provided that is arranged and configured to dispense infant formula or children's beverages from a liquid concentrate with a consistent temperature in a receiving receptacle. In one form, the beverage preparation machine operates to provide a beverage in a receiving receptacle consistently and reliably at or near a predetermined final temperature based on the beverage type, such as formula or children's beverage, and independent of environmental conditions.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine is provided that is arranged and configured to dispense infant formula or children's beverages from a liquid concentrate with a consistent temperature in a receiving receptacle. In one form, the beverage preparation machine operates to provide a beverage in a receiving receptacle consistently and reliably at or near a predetermined final temperature based on the beverage type, such as formula or children's beverage, and independent of environmental conditions.