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KurzfassungA large US company is looking for proposals for a technology that can efficiently separate insoluble components from concentrated coffee extracts with a goal of minimizing maintenance cost. They are interested in equipment sale, material supply, joint development and contract development.DetailsAt the present time the company uses highly efficient membrane separation equipment to remove insoluble components from coffee extract liquors. However, the membrane must be frequently replaced making it an important cost issue that must be reduced. Because of small particle diameters and low specific gravity, most insolubles do not precipitate immediately upon concentration and are difficult to separate even with a centrifuge.Technologies for separating insoluble components are used in a wide variety of fields, from foods, semiconductors, pharma and industrial waste water treatment. A common issue to all these fields is the need for an efficient separation technology with reduced maintenance cost. Therefore, believing that many usable technologies to solve this problem must exist, the company has issued this open request to identify suitable alternatives. Anticipated approaches include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: A: Aggregation Technology • Electrical processing: neutralizing the surface charge of the substances to be separated • Use of ultrasound: using the effect of ultrasound radiation pressure to coagulate microparticles • Use of flocculants: - Inorganic flocculant - Polymer flocculant B: Separation Equipment • Membrane separation equipment such as cross flow filtration • Equipment that uses membranes that rarely clog. Technical Specifications / Specific technical requirements: Currently, the company uses membrane filter separating equipment where the separation membrane is washed every day and periodically replaced. They wish to reduce the total cost of membrane replacement, either by reducing the frequency of membrane replacement, or by reducing the cost each time the membrane is replaced. Requirements: The company is seeking a superior process technology or equipment that satisfies either one of the following: A: Insoluble component aggregation technology that performs pre-processing to make the separation of insoluble components easier and to prevent cloggin. B: Highly efficient insoluble component separation equipment that minimizes the total cost of membrane replacement. Further details and requirements for possible approaches A and B are as follows: A: Aggregation Technology • Particle diameter after aggregation: Converts = 80% of the insoluble components with a particle diameter = 1 µm (comprising about 5% of the concentrated extract) into particles with a diameter = 1 µm • Does not heat the concentrated extract above 50 ºC • With regard to the use of flocculants: - It is preferable not to use a flocculant. - If one is used, it must satisfy the following requirements: - Tasteless and odorless - Approved by the FDA as a food additive - Be preferably removed after use. B: Separation Equipment • Desired separation level: reduce insolubles from 15% by volume to 0.1% by volume (see photos above) • Processing capacity: about 10 m3 per day • Processing rate: = 15 L/m2•h • Total cost of membrane replacement: = US$ 100,000 per year for the above processing capacity. For example, the total cost of membrane replacement may be reduced by the following conditions: - Linear velocity: = 4 m/sec - Membrane replacement frequency: about once for a processing quantity = 50 m3/m2 (can be washed during this period) • Does not heat the concentrated extract above 50 ºC Description of the Concentrated Extract • The concentrated extract contains the following three types of components: - Water. - Soluble solids: 25 weight % - Precipitates (substances to be separated): 15 volume % • Details of precipitates: - Components: such as polysaccharides, polyphenols, and lipids that are found in coffee beans. - Particle diameters: 0.1 to 10 µm • Temperature: under 50 ºC • pH: 5.
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