Process for the production of useful products from orange peel
AssigneeTropicana Products, Inc.
InventorJames M. Bonnell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved process is provided for the recovery of useful products from orange peels derived from the processing of oranges. The peel is contacted with a solution comprising a non-aqueous water-miscible solvent to extract the sugars, essential oils, and bioflavanoids contained therein. The solvent-extracted peel is dried to produce a product high in cellulose and pectin. The extract is diluted with an aqueous solution to render the essential oils insoluble, with the essential oils being recovered from the extract, causing the bioflavanoids to precipitate and permit their recovery by filtration. The remaining portion of the extract may be recovered and purified to provide a sugar syrup.
Claims15
A process for the recovery of useful products from citrus fruit peels comprising:
- subjecting the citrus fruit peel to countercurrent solvent extraction in a solvent extraction zone with a solution comprising a non-aqueous water-miscible solvent selected from the group consisting of lower alcohols, lower ketones, and mono and dialkyl ethers of ethylene glycol, said solution as it is fed to said solvent extraction zone comprising said water-miscible solvent in substantially undiluted form, said peel being contacted with said solution for a period of time sufficient to provide an aqueous extract containing substantially all of the sugars, essential oils and bioflavanoids from the peel which are present therein;
- removing said solvent-extracted peel from contact with said solution;
- drying the solvent-extracted peel to produce a solid product which is high in cellulose and pectin;
- diluting said extract from the solvent extraction step with sufficient aqueous diluent to render insoluble the essential oils contained in the extract;
- separating the essential oils from the extract;
- removing the non-aqueous solvent from the extract to render insoluble the bioflavanoids present in the extract;
- separating the insoluble bioflavanoids from the extract;
- and
- purifying the resulting extract to produce a sugar syrup product.
A process for the recovery of a useful product from citrus fruit peels comprising:
- subjecting the citrus fruit peel to countercurrent solvent extraction in a solvent extraction zone with a solution comprising a non-aqueous water-miscible solvent selected from the group consisting of lower alcohols, lower ketones, and mono and dialkyl ethers of ethylene glycol, said solution as it is initially fed to said solvent extraction zone comprising said water-miscible solvent in substantially undiluted form such that it contains less than 15 percent by weight of water, said citrus fruit peel being contacted with said solution for a period of time sufficient to provide an aqueous extract containing substantially all of the sugars, essential oils and bioflavanoids from the peel which are present therein;
- removing said solvent-extracted peel from contact with said solution;
- and
- drying the solvent-extracted peel to produce a solid product which is high in cellulose and pectin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.