Patent US4521438A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4521438A
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Coffee extract decaffeination method
Assignee: General Foods Corp
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Filing: 1983-09-29
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Granted: 1985-06-04
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Expires: 2003-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A method of decaffeinating caffeine-containing liquids and particularly aqueous coffee extracts is disclosed. Caffeic acid is added to a caffeine-containing aqueous coffee extract so as to form an insoluble, colloidal caffeic acid/caffeine complex. Crystals of the insoluble caffeic acid/caffeine complex are then grown and subsequently separated from the aqueous decaffeinated coffee extract. The coffee extracts intended for use herein include both roasted and green coffee extracts.
Inventors
- 👤 Bary L. Zeller
- 👤 William W. Kaleda
- 👤 Fouad Z. Saleeb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:15
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07D; C07D473/00; C07D473/02; C07D473/04; C07D473/06; C07D473/12; A; A23; A23F; A23F5/00; A23F5/20; A23F5/22; A23F5/223
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of decaffeinating a caffeine-containing coffee extract which comprises: (a) combining caffeic acid with a caffeine-containing coffee extract so as to form an insoluble colloidal, caffeic acid/caffeine complex; (b) growing crystals of the insoluble caffeic acid/caffeine complex which can be separated from the liquid; (c) separating the insoluble caffeic acid/caffeine complex crystals from the decaffeinated liquid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of decaffeinating a caffeine-containing coffee extract which comprises: (a) combining caffeic acid with a caffeine-containing coffee extract so as to form an insoluble colloidal, caffeic acid/caffeine complex; (b) growing crystals of the insoluble caffeic acid/caffeine complex which can be separated from the liquid; (c) separating the insoluble caffeic acid/caffeine complex crystals from the decaffeinated liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the caffeine-containing coffee extract is an extract of green coffee.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the caffeine-containing coffee extract is an extract of roasted coffee.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the caffeic acid is combined with the caffeine-containing coffee extract at a mole ratio of at least 1:1 caffeic acid to caffeine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the caffeic acid is combined with the caffeine-containing coffee extract as a solid and subsequently dissolved in the coffee extract.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the caffeic acid is combined with caffeine-containing coffee extract as an aqueous solution.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 6 wherein the caffeic acid solution is combined with the caffeine-containing coffee extract at a temperature from 50° C. to 95° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 7 which further comprises cooling the caffeic acid and coffee extract combination to a temperature from 0° C. to 50° C. to promote growth of the insoluble caffeic acid/caffeine complex crystals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 2 or 3 which further comprises adding an acid to the coffee extract in order to lower the pH to below pH 4.5.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the insoluble caffeic acid/caffeine complex crystals are separated from the coffee extract by centrifugation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 1 which further comprises dissolving the caffeic acid/caffeine complex crystals after separation from the coffee extract so as to break the caffeic acid/caffeine complex and then separately recovering the caffeic acid and caffeine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein the solvent used to dissolve the caffeic acid/caffeine complex crystals is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, ethyl acetate and acetone.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-06-03 | 1988-12-03 | 1989-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-06-03 | 1992-12-03 | 1993-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-06-03 | 1996-12-03 | 1997-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |