Membrane process for making enhanced flavor fluids

A recycle process for making an enhanced flavor fluid having improved flavor comprising:

• a) (i) contacting a first full flavor feed solution containing flavor components with a surface of a hydrophobic membrane and contacting a pick-up fluid containing less of said flavor components with an opposing surface of said hydrophobic membrane, and
• (ii) extracting flavor components from said feed solution into said pick-up fluid to form said enhanced flavor fluid and an extracted feed solution;
• b) treating said extracted feed solution to remove or substantially remove an undesired component therefrom to form a treated extracted feed solution;
• c) (i) contacting a second full flavor feed solution containing flavor components with a surface of a hydrophobic membrane and contacting a second pick-up fluid, comprising said treated extracted feed solution having an undesired component removed or substantially removed therefrom, with an opposing surface of said hydrophobic membrane, and
• (ii) extracting flavor components from said feed solution into said second pick-up fluid comprising said treated extracted feed solution to form an enhanced flavor fluid having an undesired component removed or substantially removed therefrom and an extracted feed solution;
• and
• d) repeating, in sequence, steps b and c.

A recycle process for making an enhanced flavor low-alcohol brew having improved flavor comprising:

• a) (i) contacting a first full flavor beer feed solution with a surface of a hydrophobic membrane and contacting a low-alcohol brew pick-up fluid with an opposing surface of said hydrophobic membrane, and
• (ii) extracting flavor components from said feed solution into said low-alcohol brew pick-up fluid to form enhanced flavor low-alcohol brew and an extracted beer;
• b) treating said extracted beer to remove or substantially remove ethanol to form a low-alcohol brew;
• c) (i) contacting a second full flavor beer feed solution with a surface of said hydrophobic membrane and contacting a second pick-up fluid, comprising said low-alcohol brew pick-up fluid of step b), with an opposing surface of said hydrophobic membrane, and
• (ii) extracting flavor components from said second beer feed solution into said low-alcohol brew of step b) to form enhanced flavor low-alcohol brew and an extracted beer;
• and
• d) repeating, in sequence, steps b and c.

A recycle process for making an enhanced flavor low-alcohol brew having improved flavor comprising:

• a) (i) contacting a first full flavor beer feed solution with a surface of a supported polymeric hydrophobic liquid membrane and contacting a low-alcohol brew pick-up fluid with an opposing surface of said liquid membrane, and
• (ii) extracting flavor components from said feed solution into said low-alcohol brew pick-up fluid to form enhanced flavor low-alcohol brew and an extracted beer;
• b) treating said extracted beer to remove or substantially remove ethanol to form a low-alcohol brew;
• c) (i) contacting a second full flavor beer feed solution with a surface of a supported polymeric hydrophobic liquid membrane and contacting a second pick-up fluid, comprising said low-alcohol brew pick-up fluid of step b), with an opposing surface of said liquid membrane, and
• (ii) extracting flavor components from said second feed solution into said low-alcohol brew of step b) to form enhanced flavor low-alcohol brew and an extracted beer;
• and
• d) repeating, in sequence, steps b and c, wherein said supported polymeric hydrophobic liquid membrane comprises a microporous support having a hydrophobic liquid oligomer or polymer immobilized therein.