System and Method for Continuous Citrus Peel Cellular Expansion

Abstract

A food grade citrus peel product is formed by a process that includes processing pieces of raw citrus peel through a plurality of progressive, continuous clean steaming and mechanical pressing stages. The clean steaming stages of the process utilize clean steam that is free of chemical water treatment additives, and the clean steam is the only water introduced to the process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising:
 one or more food grade citrus peel products formed by a process comprising:   processing pieces of raw citrus peel through a plurality of progressive, continuous clean steaming and mechanical pressing stages;   wherein the claim steaming stages utilize clean steam that is free of chemical water treatment additives; and   wherein the clean steam is the only water introduced to the process.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more food grade citrus peel products comprises a press cake and a pressate. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the process further comprises:
 drying the press cake using a food grade drying process.   
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more food grade citrus peel products further comprises a food grade citrus peel pectin pomace resulting from the drying. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the process further comprises:
 milling the food grade citrus peel pectin pomace.   
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more food grade citrus peel products further comprises citrus peel fiber flour resulting from the milling. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the pressate exceeds 5.0 deg. Brix. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the pressate is in the range of 8 to 10 deg. Brix. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the process further comprises:
 directing the pressate through an evaporator.   
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more food grade citrus peel products further comprises high grade citrus peel molasses resulting from the evaporating. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the process further operates continuously without forming a process batch. 
     
     
         12 . A composition comprising:
 one or more food grade citrus peel products formed by a process comprising:
 clean steaming pieces of raw citrus peel using steam that is free of chemical water treatment additives; 
 mechanically pressing the pieces of raw citrus peel; and 
 transforming the pieces of raw citrus peel into the one or more food grade citrus peel products; 
   wherein the clean steam is the only water introduced to the process.   
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more food grade citrus peel products comprises a press cake and a pressate. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the process further comprises drying the press cake; and
 wherein the one or more food grade products further comprises a citrus peel pectin pomace resulting from the drying.   
     
     
         15 . A composition comprising:
 one or more food grade citrus peel products formed by a process comprising:
 clean steaming pieces of raw citrus peel; and 
 rupturing at least some of the cells of the pieces of raw citrus peel to release liquid, sugar and oil bound within the pieces of raw citrus peel; 
 wherein the clean steaming comprises using steam that is free of chemical water treatment additives; and 
 wherein the clean steam is the only water introduced to the process. 
   
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the process further comprises:
 processing the pieces of raw citrus peel through a plurality of progressive, continuous clean steaming and mechanical pressing stages;   wherein the process operates continuously without forming a process batch.   
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the process further comprises:
 transforming the pieces of raw citrus peel into a press cake and a pressate.   
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more food grade products formed by the process is selected from the group consisting of: citrus peel sugar, citrus peel oil, citrus peel water, citrus peel pectin pomace, and citrus peel fiber flour.