Organic compounds -- part of the class 532-570 series – Organic compounds – Fatty compounds having an acid moiety which contains the...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-24
2001-09-11
Carr, Deborah D. (Department: 1621)
Organic compounds -- part of the class 532-570 series
Organic compounds
Fatty compounds having an acid moiety which contains the...
C426S520000, C426S521000, C261S158000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06288252
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to processes and/or apparatus for the treatment of milkfat. More particularly the present invention relates to processes and/or apparatus for the reduction of carotene and colour levels in milkfat.
To the present time the use of milkfat for some food products has needed to overcome the inherent problem that standard milkfat is yellow due to its colouring by carotene.
In order to bleach milkfat to make it suitable for use in food products, where the yellow colour would be unacceptable, typically processing equipment used for decolourising vegetable oil has been leased or hired out. This, however, has proved a very expensive operation in that such oil decolourisers are very expensive to run involving a lengthy process time for the milkfat. Typically utilising oil decolourisation equipment, the milkfat may have to be processed for up to eight hours. A further difficulty is that such oil decolourisation plants are typically, at least in New Zealand, geographically remote from the milkfat supply, involving the need to transport the milkfat to and from the decolourisation plant.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a process and/or apparatus for the decolourisation of milkfat, which term including gradations of colour removal, from the reduction of colour to a substantial total removal or bleaching of the milkfat, and in a relatively simple and cost effective way, and which will avoid or at least obviate problems in such processes/apparatus to the present time or which at least will provide the public with a useful choice.
Further objects of this invention, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent from the following description,
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention a process for the reduction of the colour level in milkfat comprises:
(i) Providing a heating means adapted to enable a flow therethrough of a quantity of milkfat;
(ii) Controlling said flow of milkfat through said heating means and/or controlling the temperature of said heating means whereby the temperature of said milkfat as it passes through said heating means is between substantially 200° C. and 300° C. for a time sufficient to reduce the colour of said milkfat by a required amount.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for the reduction of the colour level in milkfat comprising:
(i) A heating means adapted to allow a flow therethrough of a quantity of milkfat;
(ii) Flow control and/or temperature control means provided for or associated with said heating means whereby said quantity of milkfat as it passes through said heating means is raised to a temperature of substantially between 200° C. and 300° C. for a time sufficient to decolour the quantity of milkfat by a required amount.
In one possible embodiment of the invention said heating means as defined in either of the two immediately above paragraphs may include a plurality of longitudinal or spiral grooves or channels through which said quantity of milkfat is caused to travel as it is heated.
In one possible embodiment of the invention said heating means of any of the three immediately above paragraphs may provide a required pressure or partial vacuum on said quantity of milkfat.
Possibly in one embodiment a vapour release may be provided to atmosphere or partial vacuum.
In one possible embodiment of the invention said milkfat may be de-aerated before it is entered into said heating means.
In one possible embodiment of the invention said milkfat may have vapour or gas introduced before or after it is entered into said heating means.
Possibly the apparatus and/or process for the decolourisation of milkfat is substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Further aspects of this invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description given by way of example of possible embodiments thereof and in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings,
REFERENCES:
patent: 4310476 (1982-01-01), Nahra et al.
patent: 4419301 (1983-12-01), Nahra et al.
patent: 4591463 (1986-05-01), Nahra et al.
Carr Deborah D.
Kiwi Dairy Products Limited
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