Patent GB-373658-A (GB)
Title: Improved process in the preparation of food, medicinal and other powders, from animal, fish and vegetable matter
IPC: A23C1/06
Filed: 1931-02-25
Abstract: Organic material is sterilized by ultra-violet rays whilst at a very low temperature.  Animal, fish, or vegetable matter is frozen solid by immersion in a non-freezing refrigerant or by evaporation of liquid air or the like, the frozen material is mechanically crushed, and then subjected to a preliminary partial desiccation by subjection to pressure sufficiently high to liquefy water at the low temperature employed at this stage, preferably -18 DEG  to -40 DEG  C.  A salt, such as a chloride of sodium, calcium or magnesium, or a liquid, such as alcohol or glycerin, serving to lower the freezing-point of water may be added during this step, and the mixture subjected to sterilization by ultra-violet rays.ALSO:Animal, fish, or vegetable matter in powdered form is prepared by freezing solid the initial material by immersion in a non-freezing refrigerant or by evaporation of liquid air or the like, mechanically crushing the frozen material, and then desiccating the powder by adsorption, the temperature being maintained below -12 DEG  C. throughout the process.  The initial freezing is preferably to a temperature of -50 DEG  C. to -60 DEG  C. and the crushed material may be subjected to a preliminary partial desiccation by subjection to pressure sufficiently high to liquefy water at the low temperature employed at this stage, preferably -18 DEG  C. to -40 DEG  C.  A salt, such as a chloride of sodium, calcium or magnesium, or a liquid, such as alcohol or glycerin, serving to lower the freezing-point of water may be added during this step, and the mixture may be subjected to sterilization by ultra-violet rays, or to centrifugal separation, lixiviation or dialysis.  The press cake obtained is again finely crushed and is then mixed with a graular adsorbent such as charcoal, activated carbon, alumina or, preferably, silica gel, and the mixture subjected to vacuum. After desiccation the granular particles of adsorbent may be removed from the fine dry powder by sifting.  The adsorbent may, before use, be caused to adsorb an antiseptic such as formalin, quinosol or an alkaline hypochlorite.  Examples of materials to be treated are meat, thyroid or suprarenal glands, spleen, bile, serum, juices, fruit, and milk, and it is stated that active constituents, such as vitamines, diastases, tannins, pigments, &c. present in the original material are not destroyed.ALSO:Animal, fish, or vegetable matter in powdered form is prepared by freezing solid the initial material by immersion in a non-freezing refrigerant or by evaporation of liquid air or the like, mechanically crushing the frozen material, and then desiccating the powder by adsorption, the temperature being maintained below - 12 DEG  C. throughout the process.  The initial freezing is preferably to a temperature of - 50 DEG  C. to - 60 DEG  C. and the crushed material may be subjected to a preliminary partial desiccation by subjection to pressure sufficiently high to liquefy water at the low temperature employed at this stage, preferably - 18 DEG  C. to - 40 DEG  C.  A salt, such as a chloride of sodium, calcium or magnesium, or a liquid, such as alcohol or glycerin, serving to lower the freezing-point of water may be added during this step, and the mixture may be subjected to sterilization by ultra-violet rays, or to centrifugal separation, lixiviation or dialysis.  The press cake obtained is again finely crushed and is then mixed with a granular adsorbent such as charcoal, activated carbon, alumina or, preferably, silica gel, and the mixture subjected to vacuum.  After desiccation the granular particles of adsorbent may be removed from the fine dry powder by sifting.  The adsorbent may, before use, be caused to adsorb an antiseptic such as formalin, quinosol, or an alkaline hypochlorite.  Examples of materials to be treated are meat, thyroid or suprarenal glands, spleen, bile, serum, juices, fruit, and milk, and it is stated that active constituents, such as vitamins, diastases, tannins, pigments, &c., present in the original material are not destroyed.