Process and apparatus for treating oleaginous seed material

In a process for treating a defatted oleaginous seed material to extract soluble non-proteinaceous materials therefrom to form after desolventizing a protein concentrate, the steps comprising:

• a. passing said oleaginous seed material in concurrent contact with a first carbohydrate selective extraction solvent flow under conditions to extract a portion of said non-proteinaceous materials;
• b. expressing the slurry of solids of step (a) to separate a first miscella stream from a first solids-solvent stream;
• c. passing said first solids-solvent stream of step (b) in concurrent flow with a second carbohydrate-selective extraction solvent flow under conditions to extract substantially the remaining said non-proteinaceous material therefrom;
• and
• d. expressing the slurry of solids of step (c) to separate a second miscella stream from a second solids-solvent stream.

An apparatus for the treatment of a defatted oleaginous seed material which is comprised of:

• a. a first contacting means for contacting said oleaginous seed material with a first extraction solvent flow;
• b. a first expression means for separating a first extraction solvent stream from a first solids-solvent stream;
• c. a first conduit means connecting said first contacting means with said first expression means;
• d. a second contactiing means for contacting said first solid-solvent stream with a second extraction solvent flow:
• e. a second conduit means connecting said first expression means with said second contacting means;
• f. a second expression means for separating a second solvent stream from a second solids-solvent stream;
• and
• g. a third conduit means connecting said second contacting means with said second expression means.

In a process for treating oleaginous seed material from which a soluble material has been extracted therefrom by an extraction solvent, the steps of removing residual quantities of solvent from an extraction solvent containing solids material, the steps comprising:

• a. introducing said solvent pre-treated seed material into a first contact zone maintained at about atmospheric pressure and subjecting said solvent pre-treated seed material to an indirect contact with steam to vaporize solvent therefrom;
• b. withdrawing a solid material from said first contact zone;
• c. introducing said solid material into a second contact zone maintained at a pressure lower than that of said first contact zone and subjecting said solid material to direct contact with steam to vaporize substantially all the remaining to extraction solvent in said solid material;
• and
• d. withdrawing a substantially solvent free solid material from said second contact zone.

A process for treating miscella to recover extraction solvent therefrom which comprises:

• a. introducing miscella into a first fractionating zone in which said miscella contacts reboiled vapors;
• b. withdrawing a portion of said extraction solvent as overhead from said first fractionating zone;
• c. withdrawing bottoms from said first fractionating zone and introducing said bottoms into a second fractionating zone in which said bottoms contact reboiled vapors, said second fractionating zone being operated at a pressure higher than said first fractionating zone;
• d. withdrawing a bottoms from said second fractionating zone;
• and
• e. withdrawing a second portion of said solvent as overhead from said second fractionating zone and passing said overhead to said first fractionating zone as a source of reboiled vapors therefor.