Patent ID: 9476021
Filing Date: 2016-10-25
CPC Classification: B01D,B01J,C12H

Claim Text:
1. A method of regenerating polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) particles in preparing a yeast fermented beverage, comprising: (a) fermenting wort with a biologically active yeast to produce a fermented liquid containing yeast, alcohol, polyphenols and protein; (b) optionally removing yeast from the fermented liquid; (c) mixing the fermented liquid with single use grade PVPP particles to bind at least a fraction of the polyphenols and/or the proteins contained in the fermented liquid to the PVPP particles, wherein at least 80 wt. % of the PVPP particles have a diameter of 5-150 μm; (d) filtering the fermented liquid containing the PVPP particles over a first membrane filter having a pore size of 0.1-5 μm without employing a filter aid to produce a clarified fermented liquid and a first retentate containing PVPP particles; (e) combining the first retentate with an aqueous regeneration liquid to desorb polyphenols and/or protein from the PVPP particles, the aqueous regeneration liquid having a pH of at least 10.0; (f) filtering the combination of first retentate and regeneration liquid over a second membrane filter having a pore size in the range of 0.1-10 μm without employing a filter aid to produce a second retentate containing regenerated PVPP particles; and (g) optionally further refining the regenerated PVPP particles contained in the second retentate, and recirculating the regenerated PVPP particles to step (c); wherein macromolecular components contained in the first retentate of step (d) and/or retained on the second filter of step (f) are degraded using an oxidant.