Method of increasing protein content of a waste food product

• US 3,904,768 A
• Filed: 05/08/1974
• Issued: 09/09/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ballantyne Lynn, Gibson Pamela, Karen Hoffman
• Original Assignee: Frank J. Hruby
• Inventors: Hruby, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Raymond N.
• Application Number:
  US05/468,016
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 426/53,59,464
• US Class Current: 426/53
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/12 by fermentation of natural products, e.g. of vegetable material, animal waste material or biomass
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/26 from waste material, e.g. feathers, bones or skin A23K10/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/37 from waste material from hydrolysates of wood or straw A23K10/32; from molasses A23K10/33
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 40/00 Shaping or working-up of animal feeding-stuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/15 containing substances which are metabolically converted to proteins, e.g. ammonium salts or urea
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/87 Re-use of by-products of food processing for fodder production

Abstract

A method of increasing the protein content of a waste food product especially, bagasse and citrus pulp, suitable for livestock feed by comminuting the waste food product, adding urea or other suitable ammonium compound, pressure cooking with steam to sterilize and liquefy the batch, cooling and fermenting, passing air through the batch during fermentation, drying, and comminuting.

Claims

1. A PROCESS OF INCREASING THE PROTEIN CONTENT OF A WASTE FOOD PRODUCT SUITABLE FOR LIVESTOCK FEED, SELECTED FROM TH GROUP CONSISTING OF BAGESSE, CITRUS PULP AND BEET PULP, CONSISTING ESSENTIALY OF THE STEPS OF:

A. FIRST COMMUNICATING SAID FOOD PRODUCT, B. ADDING UREA, AMMONIUM SULFATE, SULPAMIDE OR AMMONIUM NITRATE TO THE WASTE FOOD PRODUCT IN AN AMOUNT EFFECTIVE TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE PROTEIN CONTENT THEREOF AFTER PROCESSING AND MIXING IT THEREWITH, C. COOKING A BATCH OF THE FEED PRODUCT IN A PRESSURE VESSEL AT PRESSURE ABOVE ATMOSPHERIC AND AT TEMPERATURES ABOVE 212* FAHRENHERIT FOR A SUFFICIENT TIME TO STERILIZE AND LIQUEFY SAID BATCH, D. THEREAFTER COOLING THE BATCH TO A TEMPERATURE BELOW 150* FAHRENHEIT, E. ADDING A FERMENTING AGENT TO THE COOLED BATCH, F. THEN FERMENTING THE ENTIRE LIQUEFIED BATCH UNTIL EMISSION OF CARBON DIOXIDE SUBSTANTIALLY STOPS, AND G. SUBSEQUENTLY DRYING SAID FERMENTED BATCH.

2. A process of increasing the protein content of a waste food product suitable for livestock feed, selected from the group consisting of bagasse, citrus pulp and beet pulp, consisting essentially of the steps of:

a. first comminuting said food product;

b. adding urea, ammonium sulfate, sulphamide or ammonium nitrate to the waste food product in an amount effective to significantly increase the protein content thereof after processing and mixing it therewith;

c. cooking a batch of the food product in a pressure vessel at pressure above atmospheric and at temperatures above 212* Fahrenheit for a sufficient time to sterilize and liquefy said batch, d. thereafter cooling the batch to a temperature below 150* Fahrenheit, e. adding a fermenting agent to the cooled batch, f. then fermenting the entire liquefied batch until emission of carbon dioxide substantially stops, g. introducing oxygen under pressure into the liquefied batch during the fermenting step, and h. subsequently drying said fermented batch.

3. A process of producing livestock feed from a waste food product selected from the group consisting of bagasse, citrus pulp and beet pulp, consisting essentially of the steps of:

a. first refining said product by comminuting, b. then batch processing the product by i. feeding a batch of uncooked product into a pressure tank, ii. adding urea, ammonium sulfate, sulphamide, or ammonium nitrate to the batch in an amount effective to significantly increase the protein content of the product after processing, iii. cooking the batch in the pressure tank at pressure above atmospheric and at temperatures above 212* Fahrenheit for a sufficient time to sterilize and liquefy said batch, iv. thereafter cooling the batch to a temperature below 150* Fahrenheit;

v. adding a fermenting agent to the cooled batch, and, vi. then fermenting the entire liquefied batch while introducing air into the batch until emission of carbon dioxide substantially stops;

c. subsequently drying said fermented batch while removing any alcoholic vapors that may be present; and

d. thereafter comminuting said dried batch.

4. A process as set forth in claim 3 wherein the urea, ammonium sulfate, sulphamide or ammonium nitrate added to the batch is equal in weight to approximately 3 percent of the dry weight of the waste food product.

5. A process of producing livestock feed from a waste food product selected from the group consisting of bagasse, citrus pulp and beet pulp consisting essentially in the steps of:

a. refining said waste food product by comminuting;

b. adding urea to the waste food product in an amount that results in a significant increase in the protein content after processing;

c. processing the waste food product by i. feeding a batch of refined waste food product into a pressure tank, ii. adding water to the batch when the batch is not fluid, iii. thereafter sterilizing and liquefying the batch by cooking the batch in a closed vessel under steam at a pressure of between 15 to 25 pounds per square inch gauge at temperatures between 250 and 270* Fahrenheit for approximately two hours, iv. then cooling the batch to a temperature between 50* and 150* Fahrenheit, v. adding a fermenting agent to the cooled batch, and vi. then fermenting the entire liquefied batch while introducing air under pressure into the batch until emission of carbon dioxide substantially stops;

d. subsequently drying said fermented batch while removing any alcoholic vapors that may be present; and

e. thereafter comminuting said dried batch.