Method for obtaining clear plant juices and for the recovery of valorizable constituents

Claim 2

A process for the production of clear juices from plants and for the recovery of a pectic concentrate containing valorizable constituents comprising the steps of (a) adjusting the temperature of a raw juice, obtained by pressing, as a function of measured pH of the raw juice according to the formula T° C.=-6 pH+80° C.±about 3° C.; (b) subjecting the temperature-adjusted raw juice to ultrafiltration on a membrane to yield a primary clear juice and a primary retained pectic concentrate containing valorizable constituents; (c) subjecting said primary retained pectic concentrate to a second ultrafiltration on a membrane to yield a second clear juice and a second retained pectic concentrate containing said valorizable constituents; (d) conducting at least one of the ultrafiltrations on a membrane having a cutoff level of molecular weight on the order of 15,000 to 25,000; and (e) recovering said second retained pectic concentrate containing said valorizable constituents.

Claim 3

The process according to claim 1 wherein said raw juice contains pigments and the adjusted temperature of said raw juice is below a temperature which causes deterioration of said pigments in said juice.

Claim 4

The process according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the second clear juice is added to the primary clear juice.

Claim 5

The process according to claim 1 wherein the primary retained pectic concentrate is diluted before the second ultrafiltration.

Claim 6

The process according to claim 1 wherein the raw juice is subjected to a previous fermentation before ultrafiltration.

Claim 7

The process according to claim 1 wherein the process is carried out at least in one ultrafiltration under a pressure at the introduction and a pressure at the exit on the order respectively of 3 to 5 kilograms per cm 2 and of 1 to 2 kilograms per cm 2 .

Claim 8

A process for the production of clear juices from plants and for the recovery of a pectic concentrate containing valorizable constituents comprising the steps of (a) adjusting the temperature of a raw juice, obtained by pressing, as a function of measured pH of the raw juice according to the formula T° C.=-6 pH+80° C.±about 3° C.; (b) subjecting the temperature-adjusted raw juice to ultrafiltration on a membrane to yield a primary clear juice and a primary retained pectic concentrate containing valorizable constituents; (c) subjecting said primary retained pectic concentrate to a second ultrafiltration on a membrane to yield a second clear juice and a second retained pectic concentrate containing said valorizable constituents; (d) conducting at least one of the ultrafiltrations on a membrane having a cutoff level of molecular weight on the order of 15,000 to 25,000; (e) recovering said second retained pectic concentrate containing said valorizable constituents; and (f) conducting said second ultrafiltration in the absence of added water.

Claim 9

A process for the production of clear juices from plants and for the recovery of a pectic concentrate containing valorizable constituents comprising the steps of (a) adjusting the temperature of a raw juice, obtained by pressing, as a function of measured pH of the raw juice according to the formula T° C.=-6 pH+80° C.±about 3° C.; (b) subjecting the temperature-adjusted raw juice to ultrafiltration on a membrane to yield a primary clear juice and a primary retained pectic concentrate containing valorizable constituents; (c) subjecting said primary retained pectic concentrate to a second ultrafiltration on a membrane to yield a second clear juice and a second retained pectic concentrate containing said valorizable constituents; (d) conducting at least one of the ultrafiltrations on a membrane having a cutoff level of molecular weight on the order of 15,000 to 25,000; (e) recovering said second retained pectic concentrate containing said valorizable constituents; and (f) conducting said second ultrafiltration in the absence of added water.