US4348422A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for the direct decaffeination of aqueous coffee extract solutions
Assignee: Studiengesellschaft Kohle gGmbH
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Filing: 1978-05-17
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Granted: 1982-09-07
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Expires: 1998-05-17
Abstract
Abstract A process for the direct decaffeination of aqueous coffee extract solutions by contacting the surface of a thin film of an aqueous coffee extract solution with carbon dioxide under supercritical conditions of temperature and pressure to thereby remove the caffeine into the CO 2 and directly recover the aqueous coffee extract solution substantially free from caffeine. The contacting of the aqueous coffee extract solution and the CO 2 is preferably effected by passing the aqueous coffee extract solution downwardly through a packed column, while passing the CO 2 upwardly in countercurrent contact therewith.
Inventors
- 👤 Kurt Zosel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 05:21
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D11/00; B01D11/02; B01D11/0203; A; A23; A23F; A23F5/00; A23F5/20; A23F5/22; A23F5/226
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
47 words
Process for the decaffeination of coffee, which comprises contacting the surface of a thin film of an aqueous coffee extract solution with carbon dioxide under supercritical conditions of temperature and pressure to thereby remove the caffeine, and recovering the aqueous coffee extract solution substantially free from caffeine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
47 words
Process for the decaffeination of coffee, which comprises contacting the surface of a thin film of an aqueous coffee extract solution with carbon dioxide under supercritical conditions of temperature and pressure to thereby remove the caffeine, and recovering the aqueous coffee extract solution substantially free from caffeine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
Process according to claim 1, in which said aqueous coffee extract solution contains about 20 to 40 weight percent of dissolved coffee solids.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
Process according to claim 2, in which said aqueous coffee extract solution contains about 25 to 38 percent dissolved coffee solids.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
Process according to claim 1, in which said aqueous coffee extract solution is contacted with the carbon dioxide under supercritical conditions of a temperature of between about 32° C. and 140° C. and a pressure of between about 75 atm and 350 atm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Process according to claim 1, in which said aqueous coffee extract solution is contacted with the carbon dioxide under supercritical conditions of a temperature of about 50° C. and a pressure of about 200 atm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
Process according to claim 1, in which said surface of a thin film of aqueous coffee extract solution is contacted with the CO 2 by passing the aqueous coffee extract solution downwardly through a packed column and by passing the CO 2 upwardly in countercurrent contact therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
Process according to claim 1, in which the caffeine is recovered after said contacting by separating the carbon dioxide from the phase formed containing carbon dioxide, water and caffeine, by pressure release, and recovering the caffeine from the remaining caffeine-water solution by distillation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Process according to claim 7, in which the separated carbon dioxide is recycled for contacting with the aqueous coffee extract solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
A process for the removal of caffeine from coffee, which comprises passing a stream of aqueous coffee extract solution downwardly through a packed column, passing a stream of carbon dioxide upwardly through said column in countercurrent contact with said aqueous coffee extract solution under supercritical conditions of temperature and pressure, removing decaffeinated, aqueous coffee extract solution from the lower end of the column, and removing a caffeine-laden, carbon dioxide containing phase from the upper portion of the column.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
A process for the removal of caffeine from coffee, which comprises passing a stream of aqueous coffee extract solution downwardly through a packed column, passing a stream of carbon dioxide upwardly through said column in countercurrent contact with said aqueous coffee extract solution under supercritical conditions of temperature and pressure, removing decaffeinated, aqueous coffee extract solution from the lower end of the column, and removing a caffeine-laden, carbon dioxide containing phase from the upper portion of the column.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
Process according to claim 9, which includes recycling the carbon dioxide to the lower portion of the column after separation from the caffeine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
Process according to claim 9, in which the caffeine-laden, carbon dioxide containing phase from the upper end of the column is subjected to pressure release to remove gaseous CO 2 therefrom, and the remaining water-caffeine phase is subjected to distillation for the separation of the water and caffeine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
109 words
Process according to claim 9, in which the caffeine-laden carbon dioxide from the upper portion of the column is passed to the lower end of a wash tower, the material from the end of the wash tower is subjected to pressure release, forming gaseous CO 2 which is recycled back to the lower portion of the wash tower, the remaining water-caffeine after the pressure release is subjected to distillation for the separation of water and caffeine, the caffeine removed, the water recycled to the upper end of the wash tower, and carbon dioxide from the upper end of the wash tower recycled to the lower end of the column.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
Process according to claim 12, in which said contacting in the column is effected at a temperature between 32° C. and 140° C. and a pressure between 75 atm and 350 atm, and in which the wash tower is operated at a temperature between 32° C. and 140° C. and a pressure between 75 atm and 350 atm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
Process according to claim 12, in which said contacting in the column is effected at a temperature of about 50° C. and a pressure of about 200 atm, and in which the wash tower is operated at a temperature of about 50° C. and a pressure of about 200 atm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process according to claim 1, in which said aqueous coffee extract solution is a whole aqueous coffee extract solution containing aroma and flavor components.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process according to claim 9, in which said aqueous coffee extract solution is a whole aqueous coffee extract solution containing aroma and flavor components.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-09-06 | 1986-03-08 | 1986-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-09-06 | 1990-03-08 | 1990-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-09-06 | 1994-03-08 | 1994-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |