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US4898673A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Dynamic supercritical fluid extraction system

Assignee: Vitamins Inc
•
Filing: 1987-07-11
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Granted: 1990-02-06
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Expires: 2007-07-11
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Abstract

Abstract Soluble materials are continuously extracted from solids using extracting solvents such as carbon dioxide by circulating a mixture of the solids in carbon dioxide at elevated pressure through a closed loop pipeline. A mixture of extracts dissolved in carbon dioxide is continuously removed from the system and material to be extracted is continually added. Multiple extraction stages are also disclosed.

Inventors

  • 👤 Wayne K. Rice
  • 👤 Laxman Singh

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 16:08
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D11/00; B01D11/02; B01D11/0203

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim 87 words
A method of carrying out a dynamic extraction comprising: charging a closed-loop first stage of a dynamic system with extracting solvent under pressure; pumping said solvent to cause flow in said closed-loop first stage; injecting material to be extracted under pressure into said flowing solvent in said closed-loop first stage to form a co-currently flowing mixture with said solvent; removing said mixture from said system; separating a liquid comprising extract dissolved in solvent from said removed mixture; and separating said extract from said solvent and recovering extract.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 87 words
A method of carrying out a dynamic extraction comprising: charging a closed-loop first stage of a dynamic system with extracting solvent under pressure; pumping said solvent to cause flow in said closed-loop first stage; injecting material to be extracted under pressure into said flowing solvent in said closed-loop first stage to form a co-currently flowing mixture with said solvent; removing said mixture from said system; separating a liquid comprising extract dissolved in solvent from said removed mixture; and separating said extract from said solvent and recovering extract.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method as described in claim 1, wherein the pressure on said flowing mixture is increased in said first stage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method as described in claim 1, wherein the pressure on the mixture is increased by pumping said mixture to a second stage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method as described in claim 3, wherein the pressure on said mixture in said second stage is increased by pumping said mixture to at least one additional stage.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 76 words
A method of carrying out a dynamic extraction comprising: charging a closed loop with extracting solvent under pressure; injecting material to be extracted under pressure to form a mixture with said solvent; pumping said mixture to co-currently circulate said mixture through said closed loop; removing a portion of said mixture from said closed loop; separating a liquid comprising extract dissolved in solvent from said removed portion of said mixture; and recovering said extract from said solvent.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 76 words
A method of carrying out a dynamic extraction comprising: charging a closed loop with extracting solvent under pressure; injecting material to be extracted under pressure to form a mixture with said solvent; pumping said mixture to co-currently circulate said mixture through said closed loop; removing a portion of said mixture from said closed loop; separating a liquid comprising extract dissolved in solvent from said removed portion of said mixture; and recovering said extract from said solvent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
A method as described in claim 5, wherein the injecting step is intermittent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 13 words
A method as described in claim 5, wherein the removing step is intermittent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method of extraction as described in claim 5, wherein after extract has been removed from said closed loop the pressure of the system is increased to perform a second extraction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method as described in claim 8, wherein said extraction is carried out in subcritical liquid CO 2 and said second extraction is carried out in supercritical CO 2 .
Claim 12
Independent Claim 120 words
An apparatus for dynamic extraction comprising: a closed-loop first stage adapted to cause fluids to flow; a solvent injecting means to inject extracting solvent under pressure into said closed-loop first stage and to cause said solvent to flow; means to inject material to be extracted, under pressure, into said flowing solvent in said closed-loop first stage to form a mixture with said solvent; pumping means to cause the mixture of extracting solvent and material to be extracted to co-currently flow through said first stage; recovery means to remove portion of said flowing mixture and to separate from said mixture a liquid comprising extract dissolved in said solvent; and means to separate said extract from said solvent and recover said extract.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 120 words
An apparatus for dynamic extraction comprising: a closed-loop first stage adapted to cause fluids to flow; a solvent injecting means to inject extracting solvent under pressure into said closed-loop first stage and to cause said solvent to flow; means to inject material to be extracted, under pressure, into said flowing solvent in said closed-loop first stage to form a mixture with said solvent; pumping means to cause the mixture of extracting solvent and material to be extracted to co-currently flow through said first stage; recovery means to remove portion of said flowing mixture and to separate from said mixture a liquid comprising extract dissolved in said solvent; and means to separate said extract from said solvent and recover said extract.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 29 words
An apparatus as described in claim 10, which includes pumping means adapted to increase the pressure on said flowing mixture and transfer said flowing mixture to a second stage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 36 words
An apparatus as described in claim 11, which includes at least one additional pumping means adapted to increase the pressure on said flowing mixture and to transfer the flowing mixture to at least one additional stage.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 114 words
An apparatus for dynamic extraction comprising: a closed loop pipe, a circulating pump adapted to circulate fluids through said closed loop; means to inject extracting solvent under pressure into said closed loop; means to inject material to be extracted, under pressure, into solvent flowing in said closed loop to form a mixture with said solvent; pumping means to circulate the mixture of extracting solvent and material to be extracted co-currently through said closed loop; recovery means to remove portion of said circulating mixture from said closed loop and to separate from said mixture a liquid comprising extract dissolved in said solvent; and means to separate said extract from said solvent and recover said extract.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 114 words
An apparatus for dynamic extraction comprising: a closed loop pipe, a circulating pump adapted to circulate fluids through said closed loop; means to inject extracting solvent under pressure into said closed loop; means to inject material to be extracted, under pressure, into solvent flowing in said closed loop to form a mixture with said solvent; pumping means to circulate the mixture of extracting solvent and material to be extracted co-currently through said closed loop; recovery means to remove portion of said circulating mixture from said closed loop and to separate from said mixture a liquid comprising extract dissolved in said solvent; and means to separate said extract from said solvent and recover said extract.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 28 words
An apparatus as described in claim 13, wherein said removed portion of said circulating mixture is passed through solids separation means adapted to separate solids from said mixture.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 15 words
An apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein said solids separation means comprises a cyclone.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1535769A Cited
FR1206381A Cited
US3005398A Cited
DE1164298B Cited
FR1358790A Cited
US4153063A Cited
US4018899A Cited
DE3118272A1 Cited
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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) 1993-02-05 1993-08-07 1994-02-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-02-05 1997-08-07 1998-02-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-02-05 2001-08-07 2002-02-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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