Loading patent…
OwnerHeinz O. Schumacherinventor
Estimating the term…
The desolventizing of solvent-wet extraction residue which is obtained in the extraction of vegetable material such as soybean, rape, nut and other kernel or seed material etc. with organic solvents, such as hexane, benzine etc., is effected in a continuously operating multistage or multi-compartment system of specific construction by means of superheated steam or a fluid containing superheated steam. In this, at least 45%, but particularly 100%, of the superheated steam is introduced below the lowermost bottom plate, which serves exclusively to distribute the steam, and the steam is conducted in opposition to the solvent-wet material. The temperature of the escaping vapors is maintained at about 66.degree.-68.degree. C. (150.8.degree.-154.4.degree. F.). The apparatus is equipped with double bottoms (3) which are steam heated (6') and the bores of which are formed by a plurality of individual distance pieces or spacers (12) interconnecting the upper and lower plates of the bottoms. The lowermost bottom (4) as well as the steam inlet chamber (E) are also capable of being heated by steam.
Process for desolventizing residue material obtained in the extraction of substances with organic solvents so as to remove fire and toxicity hazards affecting shippers and consumers, the desolventizing being effected with superheated steam or superheated steam-containing fluids in continuous operation in countercurrent, wherein the solvent-wet material to be desolventized is conducted in opposition to said steam or steam-containing fluid, falling downwardly by gravity through one treatment stage or a plurality of treatment stages, the individual treatment stages being defined by perforated plates having overflow means, agitating means being moved slightly above said perforated plates, the space below the lowermost perforated plate serving to distribute the steam, said apparatus being characterized in that the perforated plates defining the respective treatment stages are double bottoms capable of being heated by means of steam, said double bottoms having bores formed by individual distance pieces or spacers each having a bore therethrough, the cross-section of said bores being such as to allow the passage of upwardly streaming steam or steam-containing fluid, but not the passage or the entrapment of the material being moved on the bottoms, said process being characterized in that the steam being used for desolventizing is present in superheated form at a temperature of at least 120.degree. C. (248.degree. F.) (normal pressure), particularly at least 130.degree.-180.degree. C. (266.degree.-356.degree. F.), preferably up to 220.degree. C. (428.degree. F.), in that at least 45%, but particularly 100% of said superheated steam is introduced below the lowermost perforated plate, which serves to distribute the steam, and in that the escaping vapors of steam and solvent are obtained at a temperature of about 64.degree.-69.degree. C. (147.2.degree.-156.2.degree. F.).
Process according to claims according to any one of 1-3, characterized in that there is used as the material to be desolventized the hexane-containing residue from the extraction of soy, rape, and sunflower material.
Apparatus for desolventizing flaky or granular residue material obtained in the extraction of substances with organic solvents, said apparatus being adapted to remove the fire and toxicity hazards affecting shippers and consumers of the material, the desolventizing being effected with superheated steam or a superheated steam-containing fluid in continuous operation, wherein the material to be desolventized, falling downwardly by gravity, is contacted with the superheated steam or the superheated steam-containing fluid, said apparatus comprising a vertically arranged reactor which is subdivided into individual treatment stages by perforated bottoms (3) which in their turn are defined by upper (10) and lower (11) plates, said bottoms having overflow means (7), agitator or rabble means (5) which are secured on a common shaft (2) and are moved by the latter slightly above the perforated bottoms (3) defining the treatment stages, said apparatus characterized in that the perforated bottoms defining the treatment stages (A . . . D, etc.) are double bottoms having a vapor space (13) adapted to have steam admitted thereto for heating the bottoms to prevent condensation in the apparatus, said double bottoms (3) having perforations formed by individual idstance pieces or spacers (12) each having a bore (14) therethrough, the cross-section of said bores being such as to allow the passage of the superheated steam or the fluid containing the superheated steam used for desolventizing, but not the passage or the entrapment of the material being moved on said double bottoms (3) and to prevent the formation of steam channels in the residue material;
A reactor adapted to reduce the solvent content of the flaky or granular residue material obtained in the extraction of substances with organic solvents to not more than 0.01%, said reactor comprising:
A process for reducing the solvent content of flaky or granular residue material obtained in the extraction of substances with organic solvents to not more than 0.1%, in a reactor having a perforated bottom said process comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.