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:
Aug. 16, 1994
Filed:
May. 05, 1993
Hedi Ben-Nasr, Gelsenkirchen-Resse, DE;
Hubert Coenen, Essen, DE;
Kohiensaure-werke Rud. Buse GmbH & Co., Bad Honningen, DE;
Abstract
A process for decaffeinating raw coffee by selective extraction of the caffeine by means of a solvent that is liquid under normal conditions. Raw coffee beans are extracted for between one and several hours by means of a liquid solvent that is comprised of water and that has been saturated with carbon dioxide or other suitable gas or gas mixture at a temperature of between about 20.degree. C. and 110.degree. C. and a pressure of between about 30 bar and 300 bar to provide a charged liquid solvent. The pressure is reduced abruptly or within a few minutes to a pressure between about 1 bar and 10 bar to expand the raw coffee beans. The expanded raw coffee beans are rinsed in the liquid solvent for a period of between a few minutes and two hours. The expanded raw coffee beans are dried to reduce the water content to that required for subsequent roasting, and the decaffeinated and pre-dried raw coffee beans are then roasted, after which the caffeine is selectively separated from the charged liquid solvent and the caffeine is recovered in pure crystalline form.