Process and apparatus for production of decaffeinated raw coffee bean extracts and caffeine using adsorber resins and dichloromethane, and corresponding uses
AssigneeANKA Angewandte Kaffeetechnologie GmbH
InventorsOliver SÜSSE-HERRMANN, Jan Christoph SCHWITAL, Felix PESCHUTTER, Julia DESQUÉ DE GUZMAN
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Abstract
What is described is a process for producing decaffeinated green coffee beans. One process step here comprises the extraction of caffeine from green coffee beans by means of an aqueous extraction liquid, a further process step comprises the binding of caffeine from the extraction liquid on an adsorber resin, and a further process step comprises the dissolving of caffeine from the caffeine-laden adsorber resin with dichloromethane (DCM).
Claims15
A process for producing decaffeinated green coffee beans, comprising the following steps:
- (S1) contacting an amount of caffeinated green coffee beans with an aqueous extraction liquid so as to extract caffeine from the caffeinated green coffee beans into the extraction liquid,
- (S2) contacting the caffeine-enriched aqueous extraction liquid that arises in step S1 with an adsorber resin so as to bind caffeine from the extraction liquid to the adsorber resin, wherein the adsorber resin used is a macroporous adsorber resin selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polydivinylbenzene and copolymers thereof with one another,
- (S3) contacting the caffeine-laden adsorber resin that arises in step S2 with dichloromethane so as to dissolve caffeine in dichloromethane.
An apparatus for production of decaffeinated green coffee beans, comprising
- an extractor fillable with an amount of green coffee beans for contacting the amount of caffeinated green coffee beans with an aqueous extraction liquid,
- an adsorption unit containing an adsorber resin, wherein the adsorber resin is a macroporous adsorber resin selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polydivinylbenzene and copolymers thereof with one another, for contacting an aqueous, caffeine-enriched extraction liquid with the adsorber resin, wherein the extractor is connected to the adsorption unit such that aqueous, caffeine-enriched extraction liquid can be passed from the extractor into the adsorption unit,
- wherein an adsorber resin is used that has been preladen with individual or multiple noncaffeine coffee constituents selected from the group consisting of acids, minerals, aromas, compounds convertible to aromas by Maillard reaction, and antioxidants,
- a reservoir vessel for aqueous extraction liquid, connected to the extractor such that aqueous extraction liquid can be passed from the reservoir vessel for aqueous extraction liquid into the extractor,
- a reservoir vessel for dichloromethane, connected to the adsorption unit such that dichloromethane can be contacted with the adsorber resin,
- one or more control devices
- for controlling the supply of aqueous extraction liquid and/or of dichloromethane within the apparatus.
A method of removing caffeine from an adsorber resin laden with caffeine and further coffee constituents, comprising:
- contacting a caffeine-laden adsorber resin with dichloromethane such that caffeine is dissolved in the dichloromethane,
- wherein the adsorber resin is a macroporous adsorber resin selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polydivinylbenzene and copolymers thereof with one another.
A method of using an adsorber resin,
- wherein the adsorber resin is a macroporous adsorber resin selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polydivinylbenzene and copolymers thereof with one another, the method comprising:
- adsorbing caffeine from a caffeine-enriched aqueous extraction liquid in a process for producing decaffeinated green coffee beans, wherein the caffeine-laden adsorber resin with caffeine extracted from the green coffee beans is treated with dichloromethane such that caffeine is dissolved in dichloromethane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.