Method and apparatus for separating a protein membrane and shell material in waste egg shells
AssigneeThe Penn State Research Foundation
InventorJoseph H. MacNeil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for abrading the membrane portion of waste egg shells from the hard mineral portion thereof, is provided. The linking structure between the membrane and shell is initially abraded such that the membrane particles and shell particles can be passively dissociated thereafter.
Claims27
An apparatus for separating a membrane attached to egg shells, the apparatus comprising:
- a device for abrading the linking structure attaching the membrane to the egg shells, said device constructed and arranged to output abraded membranes and egg shell particles;
- a tank containing a liquid for receiving the abraded membranes and egg shell particles, said liquid providing an environment whereby the abraded membranes and egg shell particles passively disassociate such that clean egg shell particles sink and abraded membranes remain entrained in the liquid;
- a membrane recovery device communicating with said tank;
- and
- an egg shell particle recovery device communicating with said tank.
A method for separating a membrane attached to egg shells comprising the steps of:
- processing a size of egg shells so as to yield egg shell particles and abraded membranes, the egg shells having a linking structure that attaches the membrane to the egg shells, wherein the linking structure is abraded from the egg shell particles;
- directing the egg shell particles and abraded membranes into a tank containing a liquid, the abraded membranes passively dissociating from the egg shell particles by primarily remaining entrained in the liquid and the clean egg shell particles settling to the bottom of the tank;
- collecting the abraded membranes entrained in the liquid;
- and
- collecting the clean egg shell particles.
The method of claiming 20 further including the step of stirring the egg shell particles and abraded membranes wherein the abraded membranes are passively dissociated from said egg shell particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.