Process for producing vinegar

• US 4,770,881 A
• Filed: 09/21/1987
• Issued: 09/13/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tamanoi Vinegar Corporation Limited
• Original Assignee: Tamanoi Vinegar Corporation Limited
• Inventors: Kato, Hiroyuki, Matsuda, Hiroki, Kubota, Terumasa, Tanijiri, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Cintins, Marianne
• Application Number:
  US07/098,991
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 426/7, 426/17, 426/127, 426/478-479, 426/495, 426/489-490, 426/493, 426/592, 435/140, 435/823, 435/161, 435/162
• US Class Current: 426/17
• CPC Class Codes: C12J 1/00 Vinegar; Preparation or purification thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 47/12 Purification C12M47/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/06 Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A process for producing vinegar is disclosed wherein cereals or fruits are subjected to alcoholic fermentation thereby resulting in an alcohol fermentation product which is subsequently purified by ultra-filtration membranes to obtain purified alcohol. The purified alcohol is subjected to acetic acid fermentation and vinegar is recovered therefrom.

Claims

1. A process for producing vinegar, which comprises subjecting cereals or fruits to alcohol fermentation whereby an alcohol fermentation product containing sugar and protein high molecular weight substances is obtained, purifying the obtained alcohol fermentation product by ultra-filtration using ultra-filtration membranes which are sufficient to remove said sugar and protein high molecular weight substances from the alcohol fermentation product to produce a purified alcohol, subjecting the purified alcohol to acetic acid fermentation whereby an acetic acid fermentation product is obtained, and recovering vinegar from the acetic acid fermentation product.

2. A process for producing vinegar as defined in claim 1, wherein the sugar and protein high molecular weight substances removed have molecular weights of greater than 30,000.