BEVERAGE MANUFACTURE, PROCESSING, PACKAGING AND DISPENSING USING ELECTROCHEMICALLY ACTIVATED WATER

• US 20090199872A1
• Filed: 02/06/2009
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Radical Waters International Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Radical Waters International Ltd.
• Inventors: Kirkpatrick, Robin Duncan
• Application Number:
  US12/366,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20090199872A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/22.11
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/50 by irradiation or electric treatment without heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/08 the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect substances used, see the relevant classes
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/08 Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/20 by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought washing or rinsing crockery or tableware A47L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4618 for producing "ionised" acidic or basic water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 by electrooxydation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46185 only anodic or acidic water, e.g. for oxidizing or sterilizing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46195 characterised by the oxidation reduction potential [ORP]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46145 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46185 Recycling the cathodic or anodic feed
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/04 Oxidation reduction potential [ORP]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/06 pH
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/16 Regeneration of sorbents, filters
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/20 Prevention of biofouling

Abstract

A system using electrochemically-activated water (ECAW) for manufacturing, processing, packaging, and dispensing beverages including: (a) using ECAW to neutralize incompatible residues when transitioning from the production of one beverage to another; (b) using ECAW to rehabilitate and disinfect granular activated charcoal beds used in the feed water purification system; (c) producing a carbonated ECAW product and using the carbonated ECAW for system cleaning or disinfecting; (d) using ECAW solutions in the beverage facility clean-in-place system to achieve improved microbial control while greatly reducing water usage and reducing or eliminating the use of chemical detergents and disinfectants; (e) further reducing biofilm growth in the processing system, and purifying ingredient water without the use of chlorine, by adding an ECAW anolyte to the water ingredient feed stream; and/or (f) washing the beverage product bottles or other packages with one or more ECAW solutions prior to packaging.

Claims

1. A method of transitioning at least a portion of a beverage processing system from processing a first beverage to processing a second beverage wherein said first beverage includes a material which is not compatible with said second beverage, said material is a substance which imparts a flavor, a substance which imparts a color, an alcohol, a substance which imparts a smell, or a combination thereof, and an amount of said material remains in said portion of said beverage processing system after processing said first beverage, said method comprising the steps of:

a. delivering an amount of an electrochemically-activated water anolyte solution through said portion of said beverage processing system effective for oxidizing at least a portion of said material therein and then

b. processing said second beverage in said portion of said processing system,

wherein, said second beverage has a release requirement for taste, smell, color, alcohol content, or a combination thereof and said portion of said material oxidized by said electrochemically-activated water anolyte solution in step (a) is an amount sufficient such that said material will not prevent said second beverage from meeting said release requirement.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, when in undiluted form, said electrochemically-activated water anolyte solution has a pH in a range of from about 4.5 to about 7.5 and an oxidation-reduction-potential of at least +650 mV.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said electrochemically-activated water anolyte solution is delivered through said portion of said beverage processing system in step (a) as an aqueous dilution of said electrochemically-activated water anolyte solution.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein, when in undiluted form, said electrochemically-activated water anolyte solution has a free active oxidant content of less than 300 ppm.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said portion of said beverage processing system comprises a fill line for filling bottles or other product packages.