EP0042294A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adsorption decaffeination
Assignee: General Foods Corp
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Filing: 1981-06-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-06-16
Abstract
Abstract Solid caffeine adsorbent which is made more selective to caffeine by a thin layer of a water-immiscible, caffeine-specific solvent. The caffeine is selectively extracted from the aqueous solution, leaving the solubles necessary for a good tasting beverage, by the solid adsorbent. Because the solvent is selective, the coated adsorbent likewise shows selectivity.
Inventors
- 👤 Saul Norman Katz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:40
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23F; A23F5/00; A23F5/20; A23F5/22; A23F5/226; A23F3/00; A23F3/36; A23F3/38; A23F3/385; A23F5/223
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
An improved method for decaffeinating an aqueous caffeine-containing solution comprising the steps of: (a) contacting an aqueous caffeine-containing solution with a solid caffeine adsorbent coated with a thin layer of a liquid, water-immiscible, caffeine-specific solvent; (b) maintaining the aqueous caffeine-containing solution in contact with the solid caffeine adsorbent for a time sufficient for at least a portion of the caffeine to be extracted from the aqueous solution and adsorbed by the solid caffeine adsorbent; and (c) separating the aqueous caffeine-containing solution from the solid caffeine adsorbent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
An improved method for decaffeinating an aqueous caffeine-containing solution comprising the steps of: (a) contacting an aqueous caffeine-containing solution with a solid caffeine adsorbent coated with a thin layer of a liquid, water-immiscible, caffeine-specific solvent; (b) maintaining the aqueous caffeine-containing solution in contact with the solid caffeine adsorbent for a time sufficient for at least a portion of the caffeine to be extracted from the aqueous solution and adsorbed by the solid caffeine adsorbent; and (c) separating the aqueous caffeine-containing solution from the solid caffeine adsorbent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous caffeine-containing solution is a coffee or tea extract.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the aqueous caffeine-containing solution is a green coffee extract.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the aqueous caffeine-containing solution is a roasted coffee extract.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
20 words
The method of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the roasted coffee extract has been stripped of volatiles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Thenethod of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the solid adsorbent is held in a fixed bed and the aqueous caffeine- containing solution is passed through the bed.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
25 words
The method of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the temperature during contact is maintained within the range of from 25° to 100°C.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
41 words
The method of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the solid caffeine adsorbent is at least one of activated carbon, clay, a hydrated silicate, a zeolite, an ion exchange resin, a non-ionogenic adsorption resin, or any combination of these.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the solid caffeine adsorbent comprises activated carbon.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
33 words
The method of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the liquid, water-immiscible, caffeine-specific solvent comprises a member selected from the group consisting of petroleum oils, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and triglycerides.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR741903A
Cited
DE567452C
Cited
DE1767501A1
Cited
FR2340910A1
Cited
FR2352497A1
Cited
EP0008398A1
Cited
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