Method for recovering insoluble solids from a mixture

• US 6,793,826 B1
• Filed: 03/01/2001
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Welch Foods Inc. (National Grape Co-Operative Association, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Welch Foods Inc. (National Grape Co-Operative Association, Inc.)
• Inventors: Western, Richard M., Currit, David, Barth, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Popovics, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/797,045
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 426/495, 426/330.3, 426/330.4, 426/330.5, 426/599, 992/77, 992/771, 210/739, 210/803, 210/85, 210/92, 210/96.1, 210/740, 210/745, 210/746, 73/32.R, 73/530.1, 73/614.1, 73/617.1, 73/645.6
• US Class Current: 210/739
• CPC Class Codes: C12F 3/06 from beer and wine C12F3/02 takes precedence; removal of yeast C12G1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/14 Beverages

Abstract

Methods for recovery of tartrate-containing, insoluble solids from an essentially settled grape-based mixture. More generally, methods for the recovery of insoluble solids, that have a predetermined characteristic from essentially settled mixtures are disclosed. The methods include performing proxy analyses on samples taken from the mixtures in order to determine at what time recovery should begin and end. Performing titration is detailed as a particular proxy analysis.

Claims

1. A method for recovery of tartrate-containing, insoluble solids from an essentially settled grape-based mixture, the mixture housed in a container, the container having a sidewall, a bottom, a vertical axis, a valved gutter port capable of providing access to container contents through the bottom, and a plurality of valved access ports capable of providing access to container contents through the sidewall, the access ports disposed upon the sidewall at heights defined as distances from the bottom measured along the vertical axis, the method comprising:

choosing a siphoning port from among the plurality of valved access ports;

attaching a first pumping system to the siphoning port;

opening a siphoning port valve to provide fluid communication between container contents resident essentially above a siphoning height and the first pumping system through the sidewall;

activating the first pumping system;

extracting a first container contents portion resident essentially above the siphoning height;

attaching a second pumping system to the valved gutter port, the second pumping system comprising;

a conduit permitting samples of an extracted second container contents portion to be analyzed outside of the container;

opening a gutter port valve to provide fluid communication between container contents and the second pumping system through the bottom;

activating the second pumping system;

generating data over time regarding the extracted second container contents portion being collected;

ascertaining when to begin recovery, when to begin recovery determined to be when data generated indicates that the extracted second container contents portion is, essentially, tartrate-containing material; and

recovering tartrate-containing insoluble solids.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein choosing further comprises:

sampling, container contents extracted from specific access ports to generate sampling data; and

analyzing the sampling data in order to designate one of the plurality of access ports as the siphoning port.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein sampling further comprises determining a volume percentage of insoluble solids as sampling data;

and wherein analyzing further comprises comparing volume percentages of insoluble solids obtained from ports so as to select the siphoning port as the port from which extracted container contents equals a lowest percentage, the lowest percentage defined to be a lowest percentage in excess of a predetermined volume percentage of insoluble solids.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the predetermined volume percentage of insoluble solids is approximately one volume percent.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein, in generating, data is obtained by subjecting extracted second container contents to titration.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein, in ascertaining, extracted second container contents portion is, essentially, tartrate-containing material when data generated from titration indicates no less than approximately 2.0% citric acid by weight.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein, after extracting, the first pumping system is detached from the siphoning port and, acting as a second pumping system, is, in attaching, attached to the valved gutter port.

8. A method for recovery of insoluble solids from an essentially settled mixture, the solids having a predetermined percentage of insoluble solids, the mixture housed in a container, the container having a sidewall, a bottom, a vertical axis, a valved gutter port capable of providing access to container contents through the bottom, and a plurality of valved access ports capable of providing access to container contents through the sidewall, the access ports disposed upon the sidewall at heights defined as distances from the bottom measured along the vertical axis, the method comprising:

choosing a siphoning port from among the plurality of valved access ports;

attaching a first pumping system to the siphoning port;

opening a siphoning port valve to provide fluid communication between container contents resident essentially above a siphoning height and the first pumping system through the sidewall;

activating the first pumping system;

extracting a first container contents portion resident essentially above the siphoning height;

attaching a second pumping system to the valved gutter port, the second pumping system comprising;

a conduit permitting samples of an extracted second container contents portion to be analyzed outside of the container;

opening a gutter port valve to provide fluid communication between container contents and the second pumping system through the bottom;

activating the second pumping system;

generating data over time regarding the extracted second container contents portion being collected, the data correlatable with the predetermined percentage of insoluble solids;

ascertaining when to begin recovery, when to begin recovery determined to be when data generated indicates that the extracted second container contents portion has the predetermined percentage of insoluble solids; and

recovering the insoluble solids.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein choosing further comprises:

sampling container contents extracted from specific access ports to generate sampling data; and

analyzing the sampling data in order to designate one of the plurality of access ports as the siphoning port.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein sampling further comprises determining a volume percentage of insoluble solids as sampling data;

and wherein analyzing further comprises comparing volume percentages of insoluble solids obtained from ports so as to select the siphoning port as the port from which extracted container contents equals a lowest percentage, the lowest percentage defined to be a lowest percentage in excess of a predetermined volume percentage of insoluble solids.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the predetermined volume percentage of insoluble solids is approximately one volume percent.

12. A method according to claim 8 wherein, after extracting, the first pumping system is detached from the siphoning port and, acting as a second pumping system, is, in attaching, attached to the valved gutter port.

13. A method for recovery of tartrate-containing, insoluble solids from tank bottoms, the tank bottoms housed in a container having a valved port, the method comprising:

attaching a collection system to the valved port, the collection system comprising;

a conduit permitting samples of tank bottoms to be analyzed; and

at least one receptacle capable of collecting recovered solids;

opening the valved port;

performing a proxy analysis on the samples of tank bottoms retrieved from the conduit, data generated known correlatable with tartrate content of the samples;

ascertaining when to begin recovery based upon results obtained from the proxy analysis; and

directing recovered tartrate-containing insoluble solids to the at least one receptacle.