Claims
- 1. A method for extracting soluble substances from subdivided solids containing small particles and fines with water base liquid extraction medium, said process employing at least one tank having first and second portions, at least one discharge outlet for the withdrawal of enriched extraction liquid from the at least one tank, at least one milli-screen, said at least one milli-screen having an upstream face and a downstream face with respect to the flow of liquid medium when the liquid medium is withdrawn through said at least one discharge outlet, a plurality of discrete milli-openings extending from the upstream side to the downstream side of said at least one milli-screen, said milli-openings comprising sizes less than about 0.095 inches across on the upstream side of the said at least one milli-screen, said process comprising the steps of:
- introducing subdivided solids into a first portion of the at least one tank;
- said subdivided solids containing small particles and fines;
- said small particles and fines containing substances that can be extracted with a water base liquid medium;
- introducing water base liquid extraction medium into a second portion of the at least one tank;
- contacting at least some of the subdivided solids with the upstream face of said at least one milli-screen;
- pushing the at least some of subdivided solids including small particles and fines toward the second portion of the tank with said at least one milli-screen countercurrent to the flow of the water base liquid extraction medium; and
- separating at least some of said small particles and fines from the liquid extraction medium with said at least one milli-screen;
- withdrawing the enriched extraction liquid from the first portion of the at least one tank; and
- withdrawing the spent subdivided solids from said second portion of the at least one tank.
- 2. The method of claim 1 in which said subdivided solids contain more than about 3% by weight of small particles and fines.
- 3. The method of claim 1 in which said subdivided solids contain at least about 5% by weight of small particles and fines.
- 4. The method of claim 1 in which said subdivided solids contain at least about 10% by weight of small particles and fines.
- 5. The method of claim 1 in which said subdivided solids contain at least about 20% by weight of small particles and fines.
- 6. The process of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said subdivided solids comprise plant materials.
- 7. The process of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said subdivided solids comprise materials selected from the class consisting of yew bark and yew needles.
- 8. The process of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said subdivided solids comprise Jerusalem Artichokes.
- 9. The process of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said subdivided solids comprise materials selected from the class consisting of sugar beet and sugar cane.
- 10. The process of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said subdivided solids comprise madder root.
- 11. The process of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said subdivided solids comprise dahlia plant materials.
- 12. The process of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said subdivided solids comprise beech tree materials.
- 13. The process of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said subdivided solids comprise the class of grapefruit and grapefruit peel materials.
- 14. The process of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said subdivided solids comprise chicory materials.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/653,502, filed May 24, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,464, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/289,929 filed Aug. 12, 1994, now U.S Pat. No. 5,456,893, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/106,077, filed Aug. 13, 1993.
US Referenced Citations (27)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1.293.180 |
Apr 1962 |
FRX |
41 28 331 A1 |
Apr 1992 |
DEX |
2 255 916 |
Nov 1992 |
GBX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Milner, Selection of Property Working Screens For Continuous Sugar Centrifugals, (1992). |
Continuation in Parts (3)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
653502 |
May 1996 |
|
Parent |
289923 |
Aug 1994 |
|
Parent |
106077 |
Aug 1993 |
|