Dewatering gluten with nonionic surfactants

• US 5,283,322 A
• Filed: 08/12/1992
• Issued: 02/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BetzDearborn Inc. (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Original Assignee: Betz Laboratories, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Martin, Roy W., Denton, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shain, Howard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOUZEAU, LYNN
• Application Number:
  US07/929,648
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 530/374, 530/427
• US Class Current: 530/374
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 3/18 from wheat

Abstract

Methods of enhancing the dewatering of gluten are disclosed. The methods comprise adding a nonionic surfactant to the wet gluten prior to dewatering, as in vacuum dewatering equipment. Particularly effective surfactants are oxyalkylated sorbiton R surfactants when R is monooleate, trioleate, monostearate, tristearate, monopalmitate and monolaurate.

Claims

1. A method of enhancing the dewatering of gluten which comprises adding to an aqueous gluten solution prior to dewatering, an effective dewatering amount of a nonionic surfactant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said nonionic surfactant is a polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan R surfactant wherein R is selected from the group consisting of monooleate, trioleate monostearate, tristearate, monolaurate, and monopalmitate.

3. A method of enhancing vacuum dewatering of wet corn milling gluten which comprises adding to said wet gluten, prior to vacuum dewatering, an effective dewatering amount of a nonionic surfactant.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said nonionic surfactant is a polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan R surfactant wherein R is selected from the group consisting of monooleate, trioleate, monostearate, tristearate, monolaurate, and monopalmitate.