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:
Nov. 03, 1981
Filed:
Jun. 16, 1980
Saul N Katz, Monsey, NY (US);
George E Proscia, West Sayville, NY (US);
General Foods Corporation, White Plains, NY (US);
Abstract
The object of the invention is to provide an improved process for recovering caffeine adsorbed on activated carbon. Caffeine removed from the commercial decaffeination of vegetable materials and extracts can be effectively removed from the extraction solvent, or can be purified, by the use of activated carbon. Unfortunately, the caffeine is tenaciously held by the carbon and none of the techniques currently available for removing the caffeine is wholly satisfactory. The recovery of caffeine from activated carbon is accomplished according to the present invention by employing a liquid, food-grade caffeine solvent which comprises an organic acid or alcohol, and which is capable of competing for the active sites on the carbon occupied by the caffeine to displace at least a portion of the caffeine which is then dissolved in the solvent. After the desired period of contact, the caffeine is separated from the solvent. The solvent will preferably comprise glacial acetic acid or an acetic acid azeotrope, and contact will preferably be at a temperature above 100.degree. C.