Treatment of beverages to reduce the effects of noxious constituents

Abstract

A method of treating an beverage, comprising exposing the beverage to an ion exchange matrix that bind one or more ionic constituents present in the beverage and reduce concentrations of the one or more ionic constituents in the beverage, wherein the ionic constituents have a noxious effect on humans.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a beverage, comprising:
 exposing a beverage to an ion exchange matrix that includes a mixture of cation exchange beads and anion exchange beads each capable of binding to one or more cationic or anionic constituents present in the beverage and thereby reduce concentrations of the one or more cationic or anionic constituents in the beverage, wherein the cationic or anionic constituents have a noxious effect on humans.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cation exchange beads are capable of binding cationic noxious constituents that include histamine, and, the anion exchange beads are capable of binding anionic noxious constituents that include sulfites. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cation exchange beads are in a hydrogen form, and, the anion exchange beads are in a hydroxide form. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cation exchange beads are in a cationic mineral form, and, the anion exchange beads are in an anionic mineral form. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anionic exchange beads include trimethylamine functional groups, and, the cation exchange beads include sulfonic acid functional groups. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cation exchange beads occupy from about 25 to about 40 percent of a total bead volume of the ion exchange matrix and the anion exchange beads occupy a balance of the total bead volume of the ion exchange matrix. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cation exchange beads and the anion exchange beads each have an average diameter in a range of from 200 to 300 microns. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ion exchange matrix further includes anti-allergenic ingredient bound thereto, the anti-allergenic ingredient being released from the ion exchange matrix when the beverage is exposed to the ion exchange matrix. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for treating beverages, comprising:
 a container having an ion exchange matrix held therein, wherein:
 at least part of the container includes a screen that prevents the passage of ion exchange matrix there-through and permits the passage of a beverage there-through, wherein the of ion exchange matrix includes a mixture of cation exchange beads and anion exchange beads, and 
 the ion exchange matrix includes a mixture of cation exchange beads and anion exchange beads each capable of binding to one or more cationic or anionic constituents in the beverage, wherein the cationic or anionic constituents have a noxious effect on humans. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the container is a bag having walls that include the screen, the bag configured to be submerged into a volume of liquid of the beverage. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the container is a cartridge having an input end with an input opening and an output end with an output opening, first and second portions of the screen covering the input opening and the output opening, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second screen portions are held by an input cap and an output cap, respectively, the caps capable of being removeably attached to the cartridge. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein an outer surface of one end of the cartridge includes ribs that protrude outward from an outer surface of a wall of the cartridge, the ribs configured to form a liquid tight seal with a neck of a storage bottle, or dispensing container, capable of holding the beverage. 
     
     
         14 . A beverage, comprising:
 a treated volume of a liquid alcoholic beverage that has been exposed to an ion exchange matrix that includes a mixture of cation exchange beads and anion exchange beads capable of binding one or more noxious ionic constituents present in the beverage, wherein the treated volume of liquid has a total sulfite concentration reduced by at least about 25 percent, or, a total histamine concentrations reduced by at least about 25 percent as compared to an untreated volume of the liquid alcoholic beverage.   
     
     
         15 . The beverage of  claim 14 , wherein the alcoholic beverage is a wine that was formed in a fermentation process. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage of  claim 14 , wherein the alcoholic beverage is a beer that was formed in a fermentation process. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage of  claim 14 , wherein the total sulfite concentration in the treated volume of the liquid alcoholic beverage is about 300 ppm or less, or, the total histamine concentration is about 30 ppm or less. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage of  claim 14 , wherein the total sulfite concentration in the treated volume of the liquid alcoholic beverage is about 50 ppm or less and the total histamine concentrations is about 10 ppm or less. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage of  claim 14 , wherein the noxious ionic constituents include a total tyramine concentration in the treated volume of the liquid alcoholic beverage equal to about 10 ppm or less. 
     
     
         20 . The beverage of  claim 14 , wherein the noxious ionic constituents include a total tannin concentration in the treated volume of the liquid alcoholic beverage of equal to about 2000 ppm or less.