Water reuse in food processing

• US 7,470,172 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Environmental Management Corp. (American Water Works Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: BOC Group Pty Limited (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Carracciolo, Louis Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): PRICE JR, RICHARD THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US11/448,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20070082594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 452/81
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 21/0061 Cleaning or disinfecting poultry
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/09 with direct contact between the food and the chemical, e.g. liquid N2, at cryogenic temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/16 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/24 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/30 by spraying of liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/0416 with packages or with shaping in the form of blocks or portions
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/055 with direct contact between the food and the chemical, e.g. liquid nitrogen, at cryogenic temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/144 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/157 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/158 Apparatus for preserving using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/159 Apparatus for preserving using solids
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/24 by flotation C02F1/465 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/463 by electrocoagulation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/76 with halogens or compounds of halogens C02F1/4674 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2003/003 using activated carbon or the like
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/22 from the processing of animals, e.g. poultry, fish, or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/90 in food processing or handling, e.g. food conservation

Abstract

Methods and systems enable reuse of water in processing of animals into food. In one method, water used in processing of animals into food is received. The water is treated so as to convert the water into a treated from capable of being reused in the processing of the animals into food. The treating includes reducing the amount of solid particles in the water and adding gas to the water. The treated water is provided to be used in the food processing.

Claims

1. A method of enabling reuse of water in processing of animals into food, the method comprising:

receiving water used in processing of animals into food, wherein the processing of animals into food comprises chilling animal carcasses with chilled water, wherein the receiving comprises receiving water other than the chilled water, and wherein the received water comprises water that was sprayed from an outlet;

treating the received water so as to convert the received water into a treated form capable of being reused in the processing of the animals into food; and

providing the treated water to be used in the processing of animals into food.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the chilled water comprises a combination of chilled water and ozone.

3. A method of processing animals into food, comprising

performing the method of claim 1;

and

processing animals into food, wherein the processing comprises the chilling of animal carcasses with chilled water, and wherein the processing comprises using the treated water.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the chilling comprises chilling the animal carcasses in a bath comprising the chilled water.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the bath comprises a combination of chilled water and ozone.