Method and system for extraction of zein and/or oil from corn
First Claim
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1. A process for removing zein from corn, the process comprising:
- extracting the zein from the corn using an amount of an ethanol solution to produce an extraction solution including oils, zein, corn solids, and ethanol;
separating corn solids from the extraction solution;
membrane filtering the extraction solution to restrain zein concentrate from the extraction solution and passing a permeate including ethanol, said membrane filtering including ultrafiltration;
wherein a ratio between the amount of ethanol solution and the corn in said extracting is between about 10;
1 and about 1;
1 volume/weight;
wherein the concentration in the ethanol solution in said extracting is between about 60% and about 90% ethanol by volume;
wherein said extracting occurs at a temperature between about 25°
C. and about 65°
C.
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Abstract
A corn product removal process for removing zein and/or oil from dry-milled corn. Oils and/or zein are extracted from corn using ethanol. Corn solids are separated from the ethanol, oil and zein mixture produced by extracting. Thereafter, the ethanol, oil and zein mixture is membrane filtered to restrain zein from the mixture and pass an oil and ethanol mixture. The zein and/or oil may be concentrated and purified.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A process for removing zein from corn, the process comprising:
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extracting the zein from the corn using an amount of an ethanol solution to produce an extraction solution including oils, zein, corn solids, and ethanol;
separating corn solids from the extraction solution;
membrane filtering the extraction solution to restrain zein concentrate from the extraction solution and passing a permeate including ethanol, said membrane filtering including ultrafiltration;
wherein a ratio between the amount of ethanol solution and the corn in said extracting is between about 10;
1 and about 1;
1 volume/weight;
wherein the concentration in the ethanol solution in said extracting is between about 60% and about 90% ethanol by volume;
wherein said extracting occurs at a temperature between about 25°
C. and about 65°
C. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for removing zein from corn, the system comprising:
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an extraction system for extracting the zein from the corn using an amount of an ethanol solution to produce an extraction solution including oils, zein, corn solids, and ethanol;
a separation system for separating corn solids from the extraction solution;
a membrane system for filtering the extraction solution to restrain zein concentrate from the extraction solution and passing a permeate including ethanol, said membrane system including an ultrafiltration membrane;
wherein a ratio between the amount of ethanol solution and the corn in said extraction system is between about 10;
1 and about 1;
1 volume/weight;
wherein the concentration of the ethanol solution in said extraction system is between about 60% and about 90% ethanol by volume;
wherein said extracting occurs at a temperature between 25°
C. and 65°
C. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A process for removing a zein protein from an agricultural substrate, including dry grind corn, the process comprising:
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mixing an ethanol solution with a concentration in the range of from about 60% to about 90% ethanol with the dry grind corn in a ratio of from about 10;
1 to about 1;
1 to form an extraction solution including the ethanol solution, the zein protein, and corn solids;
separating the extraction solution into the corn solids and a filtrate, the filtrate including the ethanol solution and the zein protein;
membrane filtering the filtrate to restrain a zein protein concentrate from the filtrate and passing a permeate of the ethanol solution, said membrane filtering including ultrafiltration; and
purifying the zein protein from the zein protein concentrate. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A process for removing an oil from an agricultural substrate, including a dry grind corn, the process comprising:
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mixing an ethanol solution with a concentration in the range of from about 90% to about 100% ethanol with the dry grind corn in a ratio of from about 10;
1 to about 1;
1 to form an extraction solution including the ethanol solution, the oil, and corn solids;
separating the extraction solution into the corn solids and a filtrate, the filtrate including the ethanol solution and the oil;
membrane filtering the filtrate to restrain an oil concentrate from the filtrate and passing a permeate of the ethanol solution, said membrane filtering including nanofiltration; and
,purifying the oil contained within the oil concentrate. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification