Tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke compositions

Claim 2

A food casing having an absorptive index of at least 0.25 at a wavelength of 340 nm and containing a coating prepared by treating a casing surface with a tar-depleted concentrated liquid smoke composition having an absorptive power of at least about 0.15 at a wave length of 340 nm, a total acid content greater than about 12 and less that about 40 weight percent, and a carbonyl content greater than about 200 mg/ml, wherein said tar-depleted concentrated liquid smoke composition is derived from a substantially unneutralized tar-depleted liquid smoke fraction having a light transmittance of at least 50%.

Claim 3

The food casing of claim 1 having an absorptive index of from about 0.3 to about 0.9.

Claim 4

The food casing of claim 1, wherein the tar-depleted concentrated liquid smoke has an absorptive power of at least about 0.25 at a wavelength of 340 nm and a total acid content of less than about 35 weight percent.

Claim 5

The food casing of claim 1, wherein the tar-depleted concentrated liquid smoke has pH greater than 3.

Claim 6

The food casing of claim 1, wherein the tar-depleted concentrated liquid smoke has a pH between about 3 and about 6.5.

Claim 7

The food casing of claim 1 wherein the tar-depleted concentrated liquid smoke composition has been concentrated to a concentration ratio between about 2:1 and 5:1.

Claim 8

The food casing of claim 1 wherein the tar-depleted concentrated liquid smoke composition has been concentrated to a concentration ratio between about 3:1 and 4:1.

Claim 9

The food casing of claim 1 wherein the tar-depleted concentrated liquid smoke has a viscosity of less than about 500 centipoise at 25° C.

Claim 10

The food casing of claim 1 wherein the tar-depleted concentrated liquid smoke is derived from a tar-depleted liquid smoke fraction having a light transmittance of at least 65%.

Claim 11

The food casing of claim 1 wherein the tar-depleted concentrated liquid smoke has been concentrated through evaporation at a temperature less than about 50° C.

Claim 14

The method of claim 11 wherein the tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction has an absorptive power of at least about 0.25 at a wavelength of 340 nm and a light transmittance of at least about 50%, the tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction is concentrated at a temperature less than about 50° C. to a concentration ratio of from about 3:1 to about 4:1, and the tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has a total acid content of less than about 35 weight percent.

Claim 15

The method of claim 11 wherein said tar-depleted, concentrated liquid smoke composition has been obtained by evaporation of said tar-depleted, liquid fraction.

Claim 16

The method of claim 13 wherein said evaporation has been conducted under reduced pressure.

Claim 17

The method of claim 11 wherein said tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has been neutralized to a pH greater than 3.

Claim 18

The method of claim 11 wherein said tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has been neutralized to a pH of between about 3 and about 6.5.

Claim 19

The method of claim 11 wherein the tar-depleted liquid smoke fraction has a light transmittance of at least about 50%.

Claim 20

The method of claim 11 wherein the tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has a total acid content less than about 40 weight percent.

Claim 21

The method of claim 11 wherein the tar-depleted liquid smoke fraction has a light transmittance of at least 65%.

Claim 22

The method of claim 43 wherein the tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction is concentrated at a temperature less than about 50° C.

Claim 23

The method of claim 43 wherein the tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction is concentrated to a concentration ratio between about 3:1 and 4:1.

Claim 26

The method of claim 22 wherein said tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction has an absorptive power of at least about 0.25 at a wavelength of 340 nm, and the tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has a total acid content of less than about 35 weight percent.

Claim 27

The method of claim 22 wherein said tar-depleted, concentrated liquid smoke composition has been obtained by evaporation of said tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction.

Claim 28

The method of claim 24 wherein said evaporation has been conducted under reduced pressure.

Claim 29

The method of claim 22 wherein said tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has been neutralized to a pH greater than 3.

Claim 30

The method of claim 22 wherein said tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has been neutralized to a pH of between about 3 and about 6.5.

Claim 31

The method of claim 22 wherein the tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has a total acid content less than about 40 weight percent.

Claim 32

The method of claim 22 wherein the tar-depleted, concentrated liquid smoke composition has a viscosity less than about 500 centipoise at 25° C.

Claim 33

The method of claim 22 wherein the tar-depleted concentrated liquid smoke composition has been concentrated from a tar-depleted liquid smoke fraction having a light transmittance of at least about 65%.

Claim 34

The method of claim 22 wherein the tar-depleted, liquid fraction is concentrated at a temperature less than about 50° C.

Claim 35

The method of claim 22 wherein the tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction is concentrated , to a concentration ratio between about 3:1 and 4:1.

Claim 38

The method of claim 33 wherein said tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction has an absorptive power of at least about 0.25 at a wavelength of 340 nm and a light transmittance of at least about 65%, the tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction has been concentrated at a temperature less than about 50° C. to a concentration ratio of between about 3:1 to about 4:1, and said tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has been neutralized to a pH between about 3 and about 6.5.

Claim 39

The method of claim 5 wherein said partially neutralized, tar-depleted, concentrated liquid smoke composition has been obtained by evaporation of said tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction.

Claim 40

The method of claim 35 wherein said evaporation has been conducted under reduced pressure.

Claim 41

A food casing having smoke color, odor and flavor constituents, and an absorptive index of at least 0.25 at a wave length of 340 nm, said food casing having been treated with a tar-depleted, concentrated liquid smoke composition having a total acid content less than about 40 weight percent made by (1) contacting a substantially unneutralized aqueous, tar-containing, liquid smoke solution and a liquid solvent at a volume ratio between about 1:1 and about 65:1, respectively, under conditions sufficient to form a tar-enriched, liquid solvent fraction and a substantially unneutralized, aqueous, tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction, the tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction, having an absorptive power of at least about 0.15 at a wave length of 340 nm and the tar-containing liquid smoke solution having an absorptive power of at least about 0.25 at a wave length of 340 nm, the liquid solvent being nonreactive with the liquid smoke solution or reactive with the liquid smoke solution to form a derivative liquid solvent, the liquid solvent being immiscible in the liquid smoke solution, the liquid solvent having a hydrogen bondiqg solubility parameter in the environment of the liquid smoke solution of at least about 2:7; (2) separating the tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction from the tar-enriched liquid solvent fraction; and (3) concentrating the tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction at a temperature less than about 70° C. to a concentration ratio of from about 2:1 to about 5:1 k to form the tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition.

Claim 42

A food casing having smoke color, odor and flavor constituents, and an absorptive index of at least 0.25 at a wave length of 340 nm, said food casing having been treated with a tar-depleted, concentrated liquid smoke composition having a total acid content less than about 40 weight percent made by (1) contacting a substantially unneutralized aqueous, tar-containing, liquid smoke solution and a liquid solvent at a volume ratio between about 1:1 and about 65:1, respectively, under conditions sufficient to form a tar-enriched, liquid solvent fraction and a substantially unneutralized, aqueous, tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction, the tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction, having an absorptive power of at least about 0.15 at a wave length of 340 nm and the tar-containing liquid smoke solution having an absorptive power of at least about 0.25 at a wave length of 340 nm, the liquid solvent being nonreactive with the liquid smoke solution or reactive with the liquid smoke solution to form a derivative liquid solvent, the liquid solvent being immiscible in the liquid smoke solution, the liquid solvent having a hydrogen bondiqg solubility parameter in the environment of the liquid smoke solution of at least about 2:7; (2) separating the tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction from the tar-enriched liquid solvent fraction; and (3) concentrating the tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction at a temperature less than about 70° C. to a concentration ratio of from about 2:1 to about 5:1 k to form the tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition.

Claim 43

The food casing on claim 37 wherein the tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction has an absoprtive power of at least about 0.25 at a wavelength of 340 nm.

Claim 44

The food casing of claim 37 wherein said tar-depleted, concentrated liquid smoke composition has been obtained by evaporation of said tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction.

Claim 45

The food casing of claim 39 wherein said evaporation has been conducted under reduced pressure.

Claim 46

The food casing of claim 37 wherein said tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has been neutralized to a pH greater than 3.

Claim 47

The food casing composition of claim 37 wherein said tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has been neutralized to a pH of between about 3 and about 6.5.

Claim 48

The food casing of claim 37 wherein the tar-depleted concentrated liquid smoke composition has been derived from a tar-depleted liquid smoke fraction having a light transmittance of at least about 50%.

Claim 49

The food casing of claim 37 wherein the tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has a total acid content less than about 35 weight percent.

Claim 50

The food casing of claim 37 wherein the tar-depleted concentrated liquid smoke composition has been derived from a tar-depleted liquid smoke fraction having a light transmittance of at least about 65%.

Claim 51

The food casing of claim 37 wherein the tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction is concentrated at a temperature less than about 50° C.

Claim 52

The food casing of claim 37 wherein the tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction is concentrated to a concentration ratio between about 3;1 and 4:1.

Claim 53

A food casing having smoke color, odor and flavor constituents and an absorptive index of at least 0.25 at a wavelength of 349 nm, said food casing having been treated to form a coating with a tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition derived from a substantially unneutralized tar-depleted liquid smoke fraction having a light transmittance of at least about 50%, and an absorptive power of at least about 0.15 at a wavelength of 340 nm said tar-depleted liquid smoke fraction having been concentrated at a temperature of less than about 70° C. to a concentration ratio of between about 2:1 and 5:1.

Claim 54

A food casing having smoke color, odor and flavor constituents and an absorptive index of at least 0.25 at a wavelength of 349 nm, said food casing having been treated to form a coating with a tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition derived from a substantially unneutralized tar-depleted liquid smoke fraction having a light transmittance of at least about 50%, and an absorptive power of at least about 0.15 at a wavelength of 340 nm said tar-depleted liquid smoke fraction having been concentrated at a temperature of less than about 70° C. to a concentration ratio of between about 2:1 and 5:1.

Claim 55

The food casing of claim 48 wherein said tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction has an absorptive power of at least about 0.25 at a wavelength of 340 nm.

Claim 56

The food casing of claim 48 wherein said tar-depleted, concentrated liquid smoke composition has been obtained by evaporation of said tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction.

Claim 57

The food casing of claim 50 wherein said evaporation has been conducted under reduced pressure.

Claim 58

The food casing of claim 48 wherein said tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has been neutralized to a pH greater than 3.

Claim 59

The food casing of claim 48 wherein said tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has been neutralized to a pH of between about 3 and about 6.5.

Claim 60

The food casing of claim 48 wherein the tar-depleted concentrated liquid smoke composition has been derived from a tar-depleted liquid smoke fraction having a light transmittance of at least about 65%.

Claim 61

The food casing of claim 48 wherein the tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has a total acid content less than about 40 weight percent.

Claim 62

The food casing of claim 48 wherein the tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has a viscosity less than about 500 centipoise at 25° C.

Claim 63

The food casing of claim 48 wherein the tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction is concentrated at a temperature less than about 50° C.

Claim 64

The food casing of claim 81 wherein the tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction is concentrated to a concentration ratio between about 3:1 and 4:1.

Claim 65

The food casing of claim 48 wherein the tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has a total acid content less than about 35 weight percent.

Claim 66

A food casing having smoke color, odor and flavor constituents and an abosorptive index of from about 0.25 to about 0.9 at a wavelength of 340 nm, said food casing having been treated to form a coating with a partially neutralized tar-depleted concentrated, liquid smoke composition derived from a substantially unneutralized tar-depleted liquid smoke fraction having an absortive power of at least about 0.15 at a wavelength of 340 nm, and a light transmittance of at least about 50%, said tar-depleted liquid smoke fraction having been concentrated at a temperature of less than about 70° C. to a concentration ratio of between about 2:1 and 5:1, said tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition having a total acid content less than about 40 weight percent and a viscosity less than about 500 centipoise at 25° C.

Claim 67

A food casing having smoke color, odor and flavor constituents and an abosorptive index of from about 0.25 to about 0.9 at a wavelength of 340 nm, said food casing having been treated to form a coating with a partially neutralized tar-depleted concentrated, liquid smoke composition derived from a substantially unneutralized tar-depleted liquid smoke fraction having an absortive power of at least about 0.15 at a wavelength of 340 nm, and a light transmittance of at least about 50%, said tar-depleted liquid smoke fraction having been concentrated at a temperature of less than about 70° C. to a concentration ratio of between about 2:1 and 5:1, said tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition having a total acid content less than about 40 weight percent and a viscosity less than about 500 centipoise at 25° C.

Claim 68

The food casing casing of claim 60 wherein said tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction has an absorptive power of at least about 0.25 at a wavelength of 340 nm and a light transmittance of at least 65%, wherein said tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction has been concentrated at a temperature less than about 50° C. to a concentration ratio of between about 3:1 and about 4:1, and wherein said tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has been neutralized to a pH between about 3 and about 6.5.

Claim 69

The food casing of claim 60 wherein said partially neutralized, tar-depleted, concentrated, liquid smoke composition has been obtained by evaporation of said tar-depleted, liquid smoke fraction.

Claim 70

The food casing of claim 62 wherein said evaporation has been conducted under reduced pressure.