Patent ID: 6111119
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: A23L,B01D,C11B

Abstract:
A process for removing oil from food solids comprising the steps of:charging an extraction vessel with a first quantity of food solids having an oil content;drawing a vacuum on said extraction vessel to remove substantially all oxygen in said extraction vessel;extracting a portion of said oil from said first quantity by passing a liquid organic solvent through said extraction vessel during a first extraction phase;withdrawing substantially all of said liquid organic solvent from said extraction vessel and vaporizing the remaining portion of said liquid organic solvent to form organic solvent vapor in said extraction vessel;providing a vapor recovery tank initially having a pressure less than the pressure of said extraction vessel after the step of vaporizing the remaining portion of said liquid organic solvent;establishing fluid communication between said vapor recovery tank and said extraction vessel for a time sufficient for the pressure of said vapor recovery tank and the pressure of said extraction vessel to reach equilibrium, thereby allowing a portion of said organic solvent vapor to be introduced from said extraction vessel to said vapor recovery tank;curtailing said fluid communication;removing said first quantity of said food solids from said extraction vessel and charging said extraction vessel with a second quantity of food solids;reducing the pressure of said extraction vessel to a pressure less than the pressure of said vapor recovery tank after said portion of said organic solvent vapor is introduced to said vapor recovery tank; andre-establishing said fluid communication for a time sufficient for the pressure of said vapor recovery tank and the pressure of said extraction vessel to reach equilibrium, to allow a percentage of said portion of said organic solvent vapor to return from said vapor recovery tank to said extraction vessel for a second extraction phase subsequent to said first extraction phase.