Liquid extract from whole corn kernels

Abstract

A liquid extract is produced when obtaining a processed corn kernel product is obtained from an extraction process in which: an initial unprocessed whole corn kernel is mixed with water at solids levels of between 10% to 50% kernel/water to form a mixture; the mixture is maintained at a temperature of between 50′ C. and 85° C., for at least 30 minutes to form a liquid extract; and the corn kernels are physically separated from a liquid extract, The ≦5% extracted material may include, but is not limited to, soluble starches, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, oils, fibers, flavonoids, polyphenols, antioxidants, phenolic acids, dyes/pigments, and the like.

1 . A liquid extract containing dissolved dye, the liquid extract formed during the formation of processed corn kernel product, the liquid extract being formed in an extraction process in which:
 a) an initial unprocessed whole corn kernel having an initial moisture content of less than 15% by weight solids in the whole corn kernel is mixed with water at solids levels of between 10% to 50% kernel/water to form a mixture, the original unprocessed whole corn kernel containing at least 0.03% by total solids weight of at least one water soluble material selected from the group consisting of starches, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, oils, fibers, flavonoids, polyphenols, antioxidants, phenolic acids and dyes;   b) the mixture is maintained at a temperature of between 50° C. and 85° C. for at least 30 minutes to form the liquid extract with the water and whole corn kernels from which at least some of the water soluble material has been extracted into the water and   c) the whole corn kernels are physically separated from the liquid extract, the resulting liquid extract containing dye from the whole corn kernel and greater than 0.04% and up to 2.5% of the solids weight of the original unprocessed whole corn kernel and having a minimum of 0.05% by weight of the at least one water-soluble material originally in the unprocessed whole corn kernel.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid extract of  claim 1  containing up to 5% of the weight of the original unprocessed whole corn kernels and having a minimum of 0.05% by weight of the at least one water-soluble material of the original unprocessed whole corn kernels have been separated from the whole corn kernel after extraction wherein the processed extracted whole corn kernel product retains at least 95% of the weight of the original total weight of at least one component selected from the group consisting of starches, carbohydrates, protein, fats, oils, fibers, polyphenols, flavonoids, phenolic acids and antioxidants. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid extract of  claim 1  wherein the initial corn kernels consisted of at least 90% by weight whole kernels and the remaining 10% of corn kernels comprised broken or fractured corn that has not been ground. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid extract of  claim 1  wherein the initial corn kernels consist of at least 50% by weight of corn selected from the group consisting of blue corn, purple corn, red corn, black corn, brown corn, yellow corn, white corn, dent corn, flint corn, popcorn corn, and sweet corn. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid extract of  claim 2  wherein the content of at least one contaminant from the corn kernels present in the liquid extract selected from the group consisting of mold, yeast, heavy metals, mycotoxins and coliforms is present in the liquid extract in an amount that is at least 30% of an original amount of contaminant in the initial unprocessed whole corn kernels. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid extract of  claim 1  wherein the liquid extract comprises at least a 5% of the weight of the original total weight in the corn kernels of at least one component selected from the group consisting of starches, carbohydrates and protein. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid extract of  claim 1  wherein the liquid extract comprises at least 0.05% of the solids density of the initial unprocessed whole corn kernel and the liquid extract comprises up to 5% of the weight of the original total weight from the corn kernel of at least one component selected from the group consisting of starches, carbohydrates and protein as in the unprocessed corn kernels. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid extract of  claim 7  wherein the liquid extract comprises up to 0.01% by total weight of the original unprocessed whole corn kernels' weight of total corn kernel solids of at least one water-soluble compound selected from the group consisting of antioxidants, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and pigments/dyes. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid extract of  claim 1  comprising at least 0.1% of total dye content of the original corn kernels. 
     
     
         10 . The liquid extract of  claim 1  comprising at least 0.1% by total weight of the extract as dye extracted from the corn kernels. 
     
     
         11 . The liquid extract of  claim 1  comprising at least 0.2% by total weight of the extract as dye extracted from the corn kernels. 
     
     
         12 . The liquid extract of  claim 1  comprising at least 0.3% by total weight of the extract as dye extracted from the corn kernels. 
     
     
         13 . The liquid extract of  claim 1  comprising at least 0.1% up to 5% by total weight of the extract as dye extracted from the corn kernels. 
     
     
         14 . The liquid extract of  claim 1  comprising at least 0.1% by total weight of the extract as carbohydrates extracted from the corn kernels. 
     
     
         15 . The liquid extract of  claim 1  comprising at least 0.1% by total weight of the extract as antioxidants, flavonoids and proteins extracted from the corn kernels.