The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 12, 1977
Filed:
Dec. 11, 1975
Ralph A Hoer, Ballwin, MO (US);
Michael H Stewart, Belleville, IL (US);
Ralston Purina Company, St. Louis, MO (US);
Abstract
A process of continuously forming pH modified protein filaments from a proteinaceous material is disclosed wherein an aqueous slurry of the proteinaceous material is formed having a proteinaceous solids content of between about 0.5 and 35% by weight. Discrete filaments are formed by conducting the slurry under pressure through a heat exchange zone and heating the slurry to a temperature which is above 240.degree. F. whereby the protein is subjected to such temperature for a sufficient period of time so that elongated filaments are thereafter separated from the remaining constituents of the slurry. The heated slurry is then continuously removed from said heat exchange zone through a back pressure creating orifice whereby discharge of said filaments from the heat exchange zone to a collecting zone is controlled by confining the stream of said filaments to within a total angle of between about 4.degree. and 90.degree.. A pH elevating material is then injected into the stream of filaments during confinement in order to modify the pH of the filaments to a pH of above about 6.0 and preferably between about 6.0 and 7.0. It has been determined that pH modified filaments produced in the above manner are highly functional for meat extender applications, yet pH modification in the above manner provides the maximum yield of protein filaments from a given weight of proteinaceous slurry since the pH of the slurry is not altered prior to filament formation.