Method and apparatus for removing solute from a solid solute-bearing product

Abstract

The process and apparatus are for removing a solute from a solute-bearing solid product by means of a solvent which remains in liquid state throughout the entire oil extraction process. In one embodiment, the solvent is normally in gazeous state at ambient temperature and pressure values, but is used mainly in liquid state within the method and apparatus of the present invention by maintaining such pressure and temperature values within the apparatus so that the solvent will remain in this liquid state.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A process for separating a solute from a solute-bearing product, comprising:
 conveying the solute-bearing product through an extraction chamber in a free-floating flow pattern configuration;   spraying a solvent into the extraction chamber to contact the solute-bearing product in the free-floating flow pattern configuration and extract the solute from the solute-bearing product;   collecting a mixture of the extracted solute and solvent from the extraction chamber; and   separating the extracted solute from the solvent.   
   
   
       22 . The process of  claim 21 , wherein the solute is soluble in the solvent at extraction pressure and temperature. 
   
   
       23 . The process of  claim 21 , wherein the solvent is in a gaseous state at ambient temperature and pressure values, but is maintained in a liquid state in the extraction chamber at extraction pressure and temperature values. 
   
   
       24 . The process of  claim 21 , wherein the solvent is comprised of at least one composition selected from the group consisting of propane, butane and refrigerant. 
   
   
       25 . The process of  claim 21 , wherein the solute-bearing product is a solid containing oil, fat or a mixture thereof. 
   
   
       26 . The process of  claim 25 , wherein the solid product is comprised of rendered animal tissue; industrial, commercial or domestic oleiferous wastes; oleiferous hazards; oleiferous industrial byproducts; oil bearing sands; strata; mineral; rock formation; fried or soaked substances inedible and edible; legumes; legumes and their hulls and casings; seeds; seeds and their hulls, casings or shells; nuts; nuts and their hulls, casings or shells; tree leaves; tree branches; tree roots; plant leaves; plant stems; basal leaves and branches and roots, marine life; field crops; and vegetables. 
   
   
       27 . A process for extracting solute from a solute-bearing product, comprising:
 feeding particles of the solute-bearing product to an extraction chamber;   agitating the particles of solute-bearing product to promote the formation of free-floating particles flowing through the extraction chamber; and   injecting solvent into the extraction chamber to contact the free-floating particles and extract the solute from the solute-bearing product.   
   
   
       28 . The process of  claim 27 , wherein the solute is soluble in the solvent at extraction pressure and temperature. 
   
   
       29 . The process of  claim 27 , wherein the solvent is in a gaseous state at ambient temperature and pressure values, but is maintained in a liquid in the extraction chamber state at extraction pressure and temperature values. 
   
   
       30 . The process of  claim 27 , wherein the solvent is comprised of at least one composition selected from the group consisting of propane, butane and refrigerant. 
   
   
       31 . The process of  claim 27 , wherein the solute-bearing product is a solid containing oil, fat or a mixture thereof. 
   
   
       32 . The process of  claim 31 , wherein the solid product is comprised of rendered animal tissue; industrial, commercial or domestic oleiferous wastes; oleiferous hazards; oleiferous industrial byproducts; oil bearing sands; strata; mineral; rock formation; fried or soaked substances inedible and edible; legumes; legumes and their hulls and casings; seeds; seeds and their hulls, casings or shells; nuts; nuts and their hulls, casings or shells; tree leaves; tree branches; tree roots; plant leaves; plant stems; basal leaves and branches and roots, marine life; field crops; and vegetables. 
   
   
       33 . The process of  claim 27 , further comprising collecting a mixture of the extracted solute and solvent from the extraction chamber. 
   
   
       34 . The process of  claim 27 , further comprising separating the extracted solute from the solvent. 
   
   
       35 . A process for extracting solute from a solute-bearing product, comprising:
 feeding particles of the solute-bearing product to an extraction chamber;   conveying the particles of solute-bearing product through the extraction chamber in the form of a free-floating flow pattern configuration; and   spraying a solvent into the extraction chamber to contact the solute-bearing product in the free-floating flow pattern configuration and extract the solute from the solute-bearing product.   
   
   
       36 . The process of  claim 35 , wherein the solute is soluble in the solvent at extraction pressure and temperature. 
   
   
       37 . The process of  claim 35 , wherein the solvent is in a gaseous state at ambient temperature and pressure values, but is maintained in a liquid state in the extraction chamber at extraction pressure and temperature values. 
   
   
       38 . The process of  claim 35 , wherein the solvent is comprised of at least one composition selected from the group consisting of propane, butane and refrigerant. 
   
   
       39 . The process of  claim 35 , wherein the solute-bearing product is a solid containing oil, fat or a mixture thereof. 
   
   
       40 . The process of  claim 39 , wherein the solid product is comprised of rendered animal tissue; industrial, commercial or domestic oleiferous wastes; oleiferous hazards; oleiferous industrial byproducts; oil bearing sands; strata; mineral; rock formation; fried or soaked substances inedible and edible; legumes; legumes and their hulls and casings; seeds; seeds and their hulls, casings or shells; nuts; nuts and their hulls, casings or shells; tree leaves; tree branches; tree roots; plant leaves; plant stems; basal leaves and branches and roots, marine life; field crops; and vegetables. 
   
   
       41 . The process of  claim 35 , further comprising collecting a mixture of the extracted solute and solvent from the extraction chamber. 
   
   
       42 . The process of  claim 35 , further comprising separating the extracted solute from the solvent. 
   
   
       43 . A process for separating a solute from a solute-bearing solid product, comprising:
 feeding the solute-bearing product into an extraction chamber;   injecting solvent into the extraction chamber to contact the solute-bearing product and extract the solute from the solute-bearing product;   injecting a vapor unreactive with the solvent into the extraction chamber to maintain extraction pressure in the extraction chamber above an ambient pressure value during extraction of the solute from the solute-bearing product;   collecting a mixture of the extracted solute and solvent from the extraction chamber; and separating the extracted solute from the solvent.   
   
   
       44 . The process of  claim 43 , wherein the vapor is solvent vapor. 
   
   
       45 . The process of  claim 43 , wherein the solvent is solute with in the solvent at extraction pressure and temperature. 
   
   
       46 . The process of  claim 43 , wherein the solvent is in a gaseous state at ambient temperature and pressure values, but is maintained in a liquid state in the extraction chamber at extraction pressure and temperature values. 
   
   
       47 . The process of  claim 43 , wherein the solvent is comprised of at least one composition selected from the group consisting of propane, butane and refrigerant. 
   
   
       48 . The process of  claim 43 , wherein the solute-bearing product is a solid containing oil, fat or a mixture thereof. 
   
   
       49 . The process of  claim 48 , wherein the solid product is comprised of rendered animal tissue; industrial, commercial or domestic oleiferous wastes; oleiferous hazards; oleiferous industrial byproducts; oil bearing sands; strata; mineral; rock formation; fried or soaked substances inedible and edible; legumes; legumes and their hulls and casings; seeds; seeds and their hulls, casings or shells; nuts; nuts and their hulls, casings or shells; tree leaves; tree branches; tree roots; plant leaves; plant stems; basal leaves and branches and roots, marine life; field crops; and vegetables. 
   
   
       50 . A process for separating a solute from a solute-bearing solid product, comprising:
 feeding the solute-bearing product into an intermediate chamber;   removing air from the intermediate chamber;   conveying the solute-bearing product from the intermediate chamber to an extraction chamber;   injecting solvent into the extraction chamber to contact the solute-bearing product and extract the solute from the solute-bearing product;   injecting a vapor into the extraction chamber to maintain extraction pressure in the extraction chamber above an ambient pressure value during extraction of the solute from the solute-bearing product; and   recovering the extracted solute.   
   
   
       51 . The process of  claim 50 , wherein the vapor is solvent vapor. 
   
   
       52 . The process of  claim 50 , wherein the solute is soluble in the solvent at extraction pressure and temperature. 
   
   
       53 . The process of  claim 50 , wherein the solvent is in a gaseous state at ambient temperature and pressure values, but is maintained in a liquid state in the extraction chamber at extraction pressure and temperature values. 
   
   
       54 . The process of  claim 50 , wherein the solvent is comprised of at least one composition selected from the group consisting of propane, butane and refrigerant. 
   
   
       55 . The process of  claim 50 , wherein the solute-bearing product is a solid containing oil, fat or a mixture thereof. 
   
   
       56 . The process of  claim 55 , wherein the solid product is comprised of rendered animal tissue; industrial, commercial or domestic oleiferous wastes; oleiferous hazards; oleiferous industrial byproducts; oil bearing sands; strata; mineral; rock formation; fried or soaked substances inedible and edible; legumes; legumes and their hulls and casings; seeds; seeds and their hulls, casings or shells; nuts; nuts and their hulls, casings or shells; tree leaves; tree branches; tree roots; plant leaves; plant stems; basal leaves and branches and roots, marine life; field crops; and vegetables. 
   
   
       57 . The process of  claim 50 , further comprising separating the extracted solute from the solvent.