Method for crystallization of fructose
AssigneeA. E. Staley Manufacturing Company
InventorsGin C. Liaw, James M. Gaddy, Frank M. Mallee, Steven J. Reust
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Abstract
A method for producing anhydrous crystalline fructose by crystallizing from solution is provided. A highly supersaturated aqueous solution of fructose is added to a heel of crystalline fructose and dry seed. The temperature of the solution is then lowered to crystallize fructose from the solution to form a massecuite. The massecuite is divided into a product portion and a heel portion, the product portion being treated to isolated crystalline fructose which is then classified into product cuts on the basis of particle size of the fructose crystals, each product cut having a substantially typical particle size distribution.
Claims4
A batch method for producing crystalline fructose from an aqueous solution comprised of fructose comprising:
- crystallizing fructose from a solution of fructose to produce a first massecuite of crystalline fructose product and mother liquor,
- separating a major portion of said first massecuite from a minor portion of said first massecuite,
- mixing said minor portion of said first massecuite with i) a first dry crystalline fructose seed having a mean particle size smaller than said crystalline fructose product in said massecuite and ii) a solution of fructose at a first elevated temperature, to yield a first crystallizing mixture,
- lowering the temperature of said first crystallizing mixture to crystallize fructose from said solution and produce a second massecuite of crystalline fructose product and mother liquor,
- separating a major portion of said second massecuite from a minor portion of said second massecuite,
- mixing said minor portion of said second massecuite with i) a second dry crystalline fructose seed having a mean particle size smaller than said crystalline fructose product in said second massecuite and ii) a solution of fructose at a first elevated temperature to yield a second crystallizing mixture, and
- classifying said crystalline fructose of said major portion of said second massecuite into two or more product cuts, each product cut having a mean particle size within a predetermined range, said predetermined range being different for each product cut.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.