North Carolina State University

Aseptia, Inc.

Sinnovatek, Inc.

Industrial Microwave Systems, Inc.

Hbc Holding Company, LLC

United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Agriculture

Drozd, James Michael

Simunovic, Josip

Cartwright, Gary

Josip Simunovic

Kenneth R Swartzel

James Michael Drozd

Michael Druga

Eric Adles

Kandiyan Puthalath Sandeep

Amanda Vargochik

Gary Dean Cartwright

Pablo Coronel

David L Parrott

Van-Den Truong

Pablo Marcelo Coronel

J Michael Drozd

Tyre C Lanier

Mary Ann Lila

Steven Giunta

Thomas Kenner

John Alan Duff

Michael Drozd

Tunc Koray Palazoglu

Alexander Riemann

Gary Cartwright

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a method of extracting bioactive agents from biomass using continuous microwave-assisted extraction. The disclosed method includes contacting the biomass with a solvent and optionally homogenizing the biomass. Then blending the biomass and the solvent and continuously passing the biomass though one more microwave assisted extraction units, thereby exposing the biomass to microwave energy. The solvent is separated from the biomass, where the separated solvent is the bioactive agent.

System and method for continuous microwave-assisted extraction of bioactive agents from biomass

System and method for thermally treating a flowable product includes an apparatus including a waveguide for providing electromagnetic energy, a conduit for receiving a flowable material, and an applicator for delivering electromagnetic energy from a generator to the waveguide. The waveguide includes first and second arms that each comprise an output that is isolated from the output of the other arm by a phase shift, such that any reflected electromagnetic energy exits the arm through the input port and does not flow into the opposing arm.

System and method for continuous thermal treatment of a flowable product

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a system and method of extracting bioactive agents from biomass using continuous microwave-assisted extraction. The disclosed system includes a plurality of microwave modules that exposes the biomass to continuous microwave energy, and an extraction module to extract bioactive agents from the biomass. In some embodiments, the biomass is exposed to subcritical water treatment in the microwave modules. The disclosed system enables bioactive agent to be extracted effectively, in a relatively short period of time compared to conventional extraction methods and allows for an enhanced extraction yield.

The invention relates to a composition having polyphenols, protein and a final moisture content of at least about 0.1% by weight and methods of making the same. In some aspects, a composition of the invention includes about 5% to about 40% polyphenols by weight and about 60% to about 90% protein by weight. In other aspects, methods of producing compositions including polyphenols and protein are provided.

Polyphenol-protein compositions

This disclosure is directed to simulated food particles. In one possible configuration and by non-limiting example, the disclosure includes a method for design and control of properties of simulated food particles for process monitoring and validation of aseptically processed multiphase foods and biomaterials.

Method for design and control of properties of simulated food particles for process monitoring and validation of aseptically processed multiphase foods and biomaterials

Systems and method for thermal preservation (sterilization) of heterogenous and multiphase foods and biomaterials in order to achieve their shelf stability at ambient level temperatures. Flowing heterogenous, multiphase foods and biomaterials are exposed to single or multiple stages of electromagnetic energy under continuous flow conditions within conduits passing through the electromagnetic energy exposure chambers.

Method for processing biomaterials

An electromagnetic system includes a channel and at least one chamber comprising a first end and a second end. The channel traverses at least a portion of a longitudinal length of the at least one chamber, whereby the channel enters the chamber at the first end and exits the chamber at the second end. The channel includes an internal cavity for allowing materials to flow therein and be exposed to electromagnetic energy. In one embodiment, the chamber is designed so that the materials in the channel is exposed to lower electromagnetic energy at the first end of the chamber and exposed to a higher electromagnetic energy at the second end of the chamber.

Electromagnetic system

Methods and apparatuses for thermally treating flowable materials using electromagnetic radiation, and foods and materials obtained thereby. Also provided are methods of continuous flow thermal treatment of biomaterials, apparatuses for performing the same, and products prepared using the methods and/or apparatuses.

Methods and apparatuses for thermal treatment of foods and other biomaterials, and products obtained thereby

A product is provided into a first end of a conduit so that the product flows toward a second end of the conduit. The conduit may include a first pair of probes attached at a first location and a second pair of probes at a second location. The product's conductivity in the conduit at the first location is monitored using the first set of probes, and the product's conductivity at the second location is monitored using the second set of probes. An marker material is introduced into an entry port of the conduit so that the marker material flows with the product. The marker material's conductivity is different than the product's conductivity. At a first time, the first set of probes detects the conductivity of the product has changed due to the introduction of the marker material, and at a second time, the second set of probes also detects such change.

Conductivity measurement of fluids

Systems and methods for thermal preservation (sterilization) of heterogeneous and multiphase foods and biomaterials in order to achieve their shelf stability at ambient level temperatures. Flowing heterogeneous, multiphase foods and biomaterials are exposed to single or multiple stages of electromagnetic energy under continuous flow conditions within conduits passing through the electromagnetic energy exposure chambers.

Method for processing materials

The invention uses rapid heating to effect a material property change in a biomaterial. The biomaterial is heated to a predetermined real temperature, whereas the biomaterial's total thermal treatment is described by an equivalent temperature and an equivalent time defining a point above a minimum gel set temperature line, above a reduction in bacteria line, below a water loss line, and below a maximum gel set temperature line. According to one aspect of the invention, the biomaterial is heated by exposing the biomaterial to a relatively uniform electric field. The material is heated to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time in order to achieve a food product characterized by a preselected refrigerated shelf life of from about two weeks to about forty-two weeks. The food product may be packaged prior to the microwave exposure so as to sterilize the packaging and decrease product loss. According to another aspect of the invention, the material is heated to a predetermined real temperature Tfrom time A to time B and a real temperature Tfrom time B to time C. According to another aspect of the invention, the material is heated to a predetermined real temperature from time A to time B to attain a material property at shear stress level Sand heated to a predetermined real temperature from time B to time C to attain at least one additional material property at shear stress level S. According to another aspect of the invention, the material is moved at a predetermined rate Rfrom time A to time B and a predetermined rate Rfrom time B to time C. The material is preferably stationary (i.e. R=0) from time B to time C. According to another aspect of the invention, multiple microwave cavities are used to effect the material property change in the biomaterial. The material is passed through a second microwave cavity that is sequentially arranged or concurrently arranged with the first microwave cavity.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Josip Simunovic