Pressure gradient profiling in an extraction column

Abstract

A method and apparatus for extracting compounds from raw materials with an extraction column is provided. The control and manipulation of pressure exerted and contained within the extraction vessel or column may be vital in obtaining a certain flavor profile or intensity of the effluent extracted from the raw materials. As such, the method may include directing a flow of pressurized solvent into a base of the extraction column and utilizing the flow of pressurized solvent to create a pressure gradient applied to the raw materials. The method may further include compressing the raw materials with hydraulic compression. As the raw materials become further compressed, frictional heating may result allowing most, if not all, of the volatile aromatic heat sensitive compounds and constituencies to be extracted depending on the pressure strength applied to the raw materials. As such, manipulating the pressure gradients for each extraction process allows for distinct and specific flavor profiles to be extracted from the raw materials.

1 . An extraction column comprising:
 a body comprising a pressure vessel capable of withstanding high temperatures and pressures;   a selected raw material packed within the extraction column; and   a pressure gradient exerted on the raw materials as a pressurized solvent flows into a base of the extraction column and through the raw materials.   
     
     
         2 . The extraction column of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized solvent ranges from 0 to 20 PSI with a temperature range from 105° to 115° Fahrenheit at a leading edge of solvent heated from energy formed within the extraction column to generate an effluent extracted from the raw materials with a smooth flavor profile. 
     
     
         3 . The extraction column of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized solvent ranges from 20 to 40 PSI with a temperature range from 125° to 140° Fahrenheit at a leading edge of solvent heated from energy formed within the extraction column to generate an effluent extracted from the raw materials with a smooth and sweet flavor profile. 
     
     
         4 . The extraction column of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized solvent ranges from 40 to 70 PSI with a temperature range from 140° to 160° Fahrenheit at a leading edge of solvent heated from energy formed within the extraction column to generate an effluent extracted from the raw materials with a rich and full bodied flavor profile. 
     
     
         5 . The extraction column of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized solvent ranges from 70 to 90 PSI with a temperature range of 150° to 170° Fahrenheit at a leading edge of solvent heated from energy formed within the extraction column to generate an effluent extracted from the raw materials with a rich and full bodied flavor profile full of sweet volatile compounds. 
     
     
         6 . The extraction column of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized solvent ranges from 90 to 120 PSI with a temperature range of 165° to 180° Fahrenheit at a leading edge of solvent heated from energy formed within the extraction column to generate an effluent extracted from the raw materials with a dark roast and smoky flavor profile. 
     
     
         7 . The extraction column of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized solvent ranges from 120 to 240 PSI with a temperature range of 177° to 190° Fahrenheit at a leading edge of solvent heated from energy formed within the extraction column to generate an effluent extracted from the raw materials with a dark roast and smoky flavor profile. 
     
     
         8 . A method of extracting a compound from a raw material using an extraction column comprising:
 directing a flow of pressurized solvent into a base of the extraction column;   utilizing the flow of pressurized solvent to create a pressure gradient applied to a raw material packed within the extraction column;   compressing the raw materials with a hydraulic compression of the pressurized solvent; and   obtaining an extracted effluent from the compressed raw materials having different flavor profiles based on an intensity of the pressure gradient exerted on the raw materials.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein compressing the raw materials with hydraulic compression of the pressurized solvent causes off-gassing of thermally heated carbon dioxide, which expands and further compresses the raw materials. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising expanding gasses within the extraction column due to frictional heating generated from compressing the raw materials, such that a temperature spike between 20°-40° Fahrenheit is generated. 
     
     
         11 . A method of  claim 8 , further comprising drawing out a volatile aromatic heat sensitive compounds and constituents from the raw materials when the extraction column approaches a critical thermal zone from a thermal heat generated from the off-gassing of carbon dioxide that causes the further compression of the raw materials;
 wherein the critical thermal zone results when temperatures increase between 20°-40° Fahrenheit so that the raw materials become completely saturated and at equilibrium with an extraction solvent.