Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
18 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein said molten fructose has a water content of less than 2 percent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
32 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein said molten fructose is mixed with said preheated methanol in an amount to give a solution having a solution having a fructose concentration of 60-65 percent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
Process according to claim 1 which comprises maintaining the first of said subdivided zones in the direction of flow at its temperature by externally contacting the same with water having a temperature of 40* C., maintaining the last of said subdivided zones at its temperature by externally contacting said zone with ice water and maintaining the subdivided zones intermediate said first and last subdivided zones at their temperatures by externally contacting them with water passed in countercurrent to the flow of said solution, the water having an initial temperature of about 15* C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein said crystalline fructose is separated from the slurry containing the same by centrifugation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein said crystallization zone is subdivided into six zones.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
188 words
Apparatus for recovering crystalline fructose from methanolic solutions thereof comprising: a. vertically arranged cylindrical mixing vessel, stirrer means disposed therein, two separate inlet means including dosing pump means provided at the lower end thereof for introducing methanol and molten fructose and discharge means at the upper end thereof for discharging methanolic fructose solution therefrom; b. a jacketed, vertically arranged, closed, seed crystal containing, cylindrical crystallization vessel, inlet means provided at the upper end thereof connected with the outlet means provided in said mixing vessel, a stirrer shaft disposed in said crystallization vessel passing downwardly through the crystallization vessel, a plurality of intermediate dividers each having a central bore therein through which said stirrer shaft extends, said intermediate dividers dividing said vessel and its jacket into separate chambers, the temperatures of each which can be varied with respect to the others, annular gaps provided between said central bores and said stirrer shaft and discharge means provided at the lower end of said crystallization vessel; and c. dosing pump means connected to said crystallization vessel dischargE means correlated to act with said dosing pump means provided in said mixing vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said stirrer shaft is provided with scraper cams at the level of said annular gaps.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the first chamber of said crystallization vessel is provided with a pressure equilibrating tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said dosing pump means are automatically regulated by the level to which the crystallization vessel is filled with solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said dosing pumps are automatically regulated by the internal pressure in said crystallization vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said stirrer shaft is provided with stirrer arms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said stirrer arms are in the form of closed stirrups.