Systems and method for the preparation of plant derived products using osmosis techniques

Abstract

A method for preparing a plant derived product or a process intermediate or a process input, the method comprising the steps of providing a plant derived starting material, subjecting the starting material to a forward osmosis step against a draw solution so as to produce a plant material concentrate, and subjecting the draw solution to a water removal step. The water removal step may include further forward osmosis in combination with an evaporator system.

1 . A method for preparing a plant derived product or a process intermediate or a process input, the method comprising steps of:
 providing a plant derived starting material;   subjecting the starting material to a forward osmosis step against a draw solution so as to produce a plant material concentrate; and   subjecting the draw solution to a water removal step.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the water removal step is configured to provide a water-rich fraction and a water-poor fraction. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising a step of utilizing the water-poor fraction as the draw solution of the forward osmosis step, or a component of the draw solution of the forward osmosis step. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the forward osmosis step is carried out contemporaneously with the water removal step, and the water poor fraction is conducted to the draw solution of the forward osmosis step. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising a step of continuously or semi-continuously conducting the draw solution of the forward osmosis step to the water removal step, and continuously or semi-continuously conducting the water-poor fraction of the water removal step to the draw solution of the forward osmosis step in a cyclic arrangement. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the cyclic arrangement is substantially closed. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the water removal step is a reverse osmosis step, or a nanofiltration step, or an ultrafiltration step, or a condensation step, or a membrane distillation step or an evaporation step. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising a step of collecting the plant material concentrate of the forward osmosis step and optionally subjecting the concentrate to one or more further process steps. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the collected plant material concentrate of the forward osmosis step is further processed so as to form a fertilizer product. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the step of further processing comprises one or more of drying, grinding, pelletizing, mixing with a botanically acceptable excipient, and mixing with a functional microbe species. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the collected plant material concentrate of the forward osmosis step is further processed so as to form an animal food product. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of further processing comprises one or more of drying, grinding, pelletizing, and mixing with an nutritionally acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising a step of collecting the water-rich fraction of the water removal step and optionally subjecting the concentrate to one or more further process steps. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the collected water-rich faction of the water removal step is utilized as process water in the method, or in a second method. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the collected water-rich fraction of the water removal step is further processed so as to form a beverage product. 
     
     
         16 . The method of any  claim 15  wherein the step of further processing comprises one or more of a solute removal step, a microbe removal step, a microbicidal step, mixing with a supplemental agent, and bottling. 
     
     
         17 . A system for preparing a plant derived product or a process intermediate or a process input, the system comprising a forward osmosis apparatus comprising a draw solution retaining portion, and a water removal apparatus comprising a water-poor fraction containing portion, wherein the draw solution retaining portion is in fluid communication with the water-poor fraction containing portion 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  configured such that (i) a draw solution of the draw solution retaining portion of the forward osmosis apparatus is conducted to the water-poor fraction retaining portion of the water removal apparatus, and (ii) a water-poor fraction retaining portion of the water removal apparatus is conducted to the draw solution retaining portion of the forward osmosis apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . A method for concentrating juice or spent wash the method including the steps of:
 (a) providing a juice for concentration;   (b) subjecting the juice to a forward osmosis step to remove water from the juice and provide concentrated juice; and   (c) subjecting the concentrated juice to an evaporation process to remove yet more water.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  where the evaporation process includes single or multiple evaporators in series. 
     
     
         21 . A system for producing concentrated juice the system comprising:
 a forward osmosis apparatus to remove a percentage of water from the juice to produce concentrated juice;   at least one evaporation apparatus adapted to receive the concentrated juice and remove yet more water from the concentrated juice.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  where the juice is sugar cane juice or sugar beet juice or distillery spent wash.