Method and system for corn fractionation
First Claim
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1. A process for fractionation of corn, the process comprising the steps of:
- preparing the corn for extraction to obtain prepared corn that has not been steeped and has not been de-germed;
extracting the oil from the prepared corn that has not been steeped and has not been de-germed with a first solvent to provide an extracted corn-solvent mixture, wherein the first solvent comprises at least one of a hydrocarbon, an alcohol and a combination of at least one of an alcohol with water;
separating the extracted corn-solvent mixture into at least a stream including an extract comprising the oil and first solvent, and another stream comprising de-oiled corn solids and adsorbed first solvent;
separating the first solvent from the oil in the extract by membrane processing the extract;
extracting zein from the de-oiled corn solids with a second solvent to provide a de-oiled corn solids-second solvent mixture;
separating the de-oiled corn solids-second solvent mixture into at least a stream comprising a second extract including the zein and second solvent, and another stream comprising de-oiled, de-zeined corn solids and adsorbed second solvent;
separating zein from the second solvent by membrane processing the second extract;
desolventizing the de-oiled, de-zeined corn solids to remove the adsorbed second solvent;
resuspending said desolventized, de-oiled, de-zeined corn solids in water; and
separating one or more of the fiber, starch, and protein from the resuspended desolventized, de-oiled, de-zeined corn solids to produce one or more corn products.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for processing corn into one or more corn products. Oil is extracted from corn or corn products or by-products with a solvent. The corn-solvent mixture is separated into streams, one of which preferably includes an extract containing at least oil and solvent, and another containing de-oiled corn solids and adsorbed solvent. Zein is separated from the de-oiled corn solids. Solvent is then separated, and the de-oiled, de-zeined, desolventized corn solids are processed to provide one or more corn products.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A process for fractionation of corn, the process comprising the steps of:
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preparing the corn for extraction to obtain prepared corn that has not been steeped and has not been de-germed; extracting the oil from the prepared corn that has not been steeped and has not been de-germed with a first solvent to provide an extracted corn-solvent mixture, wherein the first solvent comprises at least one of a hydrocarbon, an alcohol and a combination of at least one of an alcohol with water; separating the extracted corn-solvent mixture into at least a stream including an extract comprising the oil and first solvent, and another stream comprising de-oiled corn solids and adsorbed first solvent; separating the first solvent from the oil in the extract by membrane processing the extract; extracting zein from the de-oiled corn solids with a second solvent to provide a de-oiled corn solids-second solvent mixture; separating the de-oiled corn solids-second solvent mixture into at least a stream comprising a second extract including the zein and second solvent, and another stream comprising de-oiled, de-zeined corn solids and adsorbed second solvent; separating zein from the second solvent by membrane processing the second extract; desolventizing the de-oiled, de-zeined corn solids to remove the adsorbed second solvent; resuspending said desolventized, de-oiled, de-zeined corn solids in water; and separating one or more of the fiber, starch, and protein from the resuspended desolventized, de-oiled, de-zeined corn solids to produce one or more corn products. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A process for fractionation of corn, the process comprising the steps of:
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preparing the corn for extraction to obtain prepared corn that has not been steeped and has not been de-germed; extracting the oil from the prepared corn that has not been steeped and has not been de-germed with a first solvent to provide an extracted corn-solvent mixture, wherein the first solvent comprises at least one of a hydrocarbon, an alcohol and a combination of at least one of an alcohol with water; separating the extracted corn-solvent mixture into at least a stream including an extract comprising the oil and first solvent, and another stream comprising de-oiled corn solids and adsorbed first solvent; extracting zein from the de-oiled corn solids with a second solvent to provide a de-oiled corn solids-second solvent mixture; separating the de-oiled corn solids-second solvent mixture into at least a stream comprising a second extract including the zein and second solvent, and another stream comprising de-oiled, de-zeined corn solids and adsorbed second solvent; separating the second solvent from zein by membrane processing the second extract; desolventizing the de-oiled, de-zeined corn solids to remove the adsorbed second solvent; resuspending said desolventized, de-oiled, de-zeined corn solids in water; and separating one or more of the fiber, starch, and protein from the resuspended desolventized, de-oiled, de-zeined corn solids to produce one or more corn products.
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Specification