Abstract: Disclosed is a method for processing wastewater after de-sizing. The method includes the step of executing a preliminary treatment on the wastewater to intercept slurry and to stabilize the quality of the wastewater, the step of reducing the pH of the wastewater to a range between 6.0 and 7.5, the step of providing a refractory degradation material 30 for hydrolyzing and hence liquidating starch slurry in the wastewater, the step of separating solids from liquid of the wastewater; and the step of recycling the liquid.

Abstract: A process for modifying starch comprises atomising an aqueous slurry of non-pregelatinised starch into an internal chamber in a bi-fluid nozzle of a spray dryer and treating the atomized slurry, in the internal chamber, with superheated steam to cause partial gelatinisation of the starch. The aqueous slurry containing partially gelatinised starch is discharged through an outlet in the internal chamber into a reactor where the droplets containing the partially gelatinised starch are subjected to further treatment with superheated steam, resulting in the completion of the gelatinisation of the starch in the reactor. Also disclosed is a bi-fluid nozzle for use in spray drying starch which comprises a nozzle body, a nozzle cap and an internal chamber located between the nozzle body and the nozzle cap.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improvements in the steeping process of corn wet milling and a steeping system therefore. The process for steeping corn includes subjecting corn situated in a battery of no less than four steeping tanks to a countercurrent flow of steep water. The first steeping tank defines a new corn receiving tank and the last steeping tank defines a discharge tank. The countercurrent flow of steep water includes sulfur dioxide and flows in a direction from the discharge tank to the new corn receiving tank. The sulfur dioxide concentration in the steep water of the first steeping tank is greater than the sulfur dioxide concentrations in a plurality of the remainder of the steeping tanks, which maintain sulfur dioxide levels that are substantially equivalent.

Abstract: Methods and systems for continuous multistage processing of particulate solids that can control the distribution of residence times of processed particles. One disclosed method includes admitting fluidizing gas into transfer tunnels between fluidized bed vessel stages, using gas inlets located in or outputting directly into the transfer tunnel to promote flow of the fluidized solids through the transfer tunnel. A common gas distributor plate can supply gas to the stage vessels and to any transfer tunnels having gas inlets. The distributor plate can be separable from the system or openable to provide access for removal of obstructions and for maintenance. A common base plate can incorporate lower portions of the stage vessels and the sides and roofs of the transfer tunnels, the bottoms of the vessels and tunnels optionally being provided by the gas distributor plate. Some multistage systems and processing methods have from 15 to 200 or more stages.

Abstract: The reactor pump for hydrolytic splitting of cellulose is configured to pump cellulose, under high pressure, with low availability of sugar into a reactor. The reactor has an upstream transition segment connected to a downstream reaction chamber. The transition segment has an inlet that is smaller than the outlet. The inner walls taper outward. The chamber has an inlet that is larger than the discharge outlet. The inner walls taper inward. The transition segment outlet has an area that is substantially the same as the area of the chamber inlet. Back pressure in the chamber forms a cellulose plug within the inlet of the transition segment. The plug stops cellulose from escaping out the inlet. High pressure pumping forms a cellulose plug within the discharge outlet of the chamber. The plug slows downstream movement of the cooking cellulose giving the cellulose time to cook. Cooking cellulose begins to breakdown under heat and the injection of acid, if required.

Abstract: A reactor for hydrolytic splitting of cellulose under high pressure and heat has an inlet and outlet each with a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the reactor. The pressure and heat in the reactor forms a cellulose plug within the inlet and the outlet. The inlet plug stops cellulose from escaping out the inlet. Cellulose begins to breakdown under heat, pressure, and if required an acid or a lubricant. The outlet plug slows downstream movement of cooking cellulose. Cellulose may be pre-treated by the addition of water, a weak acid, a lubricant, or a combination of the foregoing. The outer surface of the plug cooks faster than the inner core of the plug, becomes a liquefied slurry, and slides faster towards the outlet than the inner core.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with an apparatus and method for continuous fluidization which comprises at least two cells connected by an aperture permitting the solid material to be introduced into the next downstream cell by fluidized horizontal flow, an isolated freeboard within each cell, at least two filter sticks contained within the isolated freeboard of each cell, and at least one blow back valve contained within each filter stick. The apparatus allows processing of materials that are typically difficult to fluidize by maintaining a substantially constant pressure difference between each isolated freeboard.

Abstract: A process of preparing indigestible heteropolysaccharides which features dissolving starch decomposition products and at least one kind out of monosaccharides excluding glucose, homo-oligosaccharides excluding gluco-oligosaccharides, and hetero-oligosaccharides into water and to which an inorganic acid was added, then powdering and heating the powder in an anhydrous condition thereof.

Abstract: The method allows in particular the continuous swelling of granular, starchy raw materials subject to mechanically increased hydraulic pressure. Extraction is very effective because the steep and the raw material flow in opposite directions. The opposed currents are produced because the swelling section is upright, so that gravity forces the heavier raw material down through the rising steep.

Abstract: The plant comprises a single reactor divided into adjacent cells which communicate together with a limited passage opening. An inlet for a primary starch fraction and an inlet for a starch-reducing product open into one end-cell, an outlet for the glue connects to the other end-cell and an inlet for a secondary starch fraction opens into an intermediate cell. In this intermediate cell a baffle-plate is mounted. A stirrer is mounted in the reactor and comprises in each cell a stirring disc extending eccentrically relative to the geometrical reactor axis.

Abstract: Corn is steeped in a process in which corn is continuously added at the top of a cylinder of a height of at least 1.5 to 2.5 times its diameter, water is continuously circulated upward through downflowing corn. This water, comprising a combination of steep water moving with steeped corn together with fresh mill and water containing corn solubles, is continuously withdrawn from the top of the tank. A conical bottom of the tank of specific dimensions aids in the continuous down-flow of corn.

Abstract: Device for gluten washing including a cylinder of increasing diameter having protruding helical flights. The cylinder presents an outward surface of peaked, elbow-shaped ridges. The cylinder and its helical wings are encompassed by a cylindrical, screen stator and the whole set at an angle above the horizontal in an enclosing tank. The bottom end of the stator is partially open to communicate with a feed hopper while the upper end, along with the cylinder, is subject to spray nozzles. A recirculation system conducts liquid from the bottom to the top of the tank.

Abstract: Apparatus for carrying out fluidized operations including a housing defining an upper chamber and a lower chamber, with each of the chambers containing agitating means therein to insure a high degree of homogeneity in each of the chambers, a plurality of tubes enclosed in a jacket positioned between the upper and lower chambers and communicating therewith, the tubes providing large heat transfer surfaces, inlet means to supply a fluidizable material to the one chamber and outlet means to remove fluidizable material from the other chamber, and means to supply a fluidizing gas to the lower chamber whereby the fluidizing gas passes upwardly through the lower chamber and through the tubes into the upper chamber while fluidizing the material in each of the upper chamber, the tubes and the lower chamber. The apparatus of the invention is particularly well suited for converting starches to dextrin.