Extraction of compounds from dairy products
AssigneeFonterra Co-Operative Group Limited
InventorsAndrew Fletcher, Katrina Fletcher, Owen Catchpole, John Grey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to processes for the treatment of dairy products and dairy process streams to produce lipids and substantially defatted protein streams. More specifically it relates to the use of near critical fluid extraction techniques to extract lipids from liquid dairy products and dairy process streams. Preferred solvents for use in the described near critical extraction techniques are ether based solvents that are partially miscible with water. A particularly preferred solvent for use in the invention is dimethyl ether.
Claims18
A method for treating a dairy product or dairy process stream comprising at least the steps of:
- a) contacting said dairy product or dairy process stream with an ether based solvent that is gaseous at room temperature and that is partially miscible with water, said ether based solvent being at a near critical temperature and pressure, to produce a near critical fluid phase containing lipids;
- b) separating the near critical fluid phase from the dairy product or dairy process stream to produce a substantially defatted dairy product or dairy process stream;
- wherein the dairy product or dairy process stream has a moisture content of greater than 75%;
- and
- c) reducing the pressure of the near critical fluid phase to recover the lipids.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.