Dual-process solvent and sugar production plants are provided in which inputs to the solvent production sub-system are received from the sugar product sub-system, which are both driven and supplied inputs from a shared pre-evaporator system. Improvements to the heat integration and dehydration technologies available for use in the plants are also provided, which may be used for initial construction, retrofit, replacement, or expansion of previous separation sections in the plants.

A thermal treatment apparatus includes a pair of heat exchangers and an intake that receives a main flow of filling material and a branch that diverts filling material to form a branch flow. The branch flow takes a part of the heat energy used in a primary process for use in a secondary process. It then rejoins the main flow.

A thermal treatment apparatus includes a pair of heat exchangers and an intake that receives a main flow of filling material and a branch that diverts filling material to form a branch flow. The branch flow takes a part of the heat energy used in a primary process for use in a secondary process. It then rejoins the main flow.

The process of producing maple syrup from maple sap can include concentrating the maple sap to a sugar content of between 30 and 50 Brix using membrane filtration, including increasing a differential pressure of the membrane filtration in accordance with an increasing of an osmotic pressure as the sugar content increases to eventually reach the sugar content of between 30 and 50 Brix; and subjecting the concentrated maple sap having a sugar content of between 30 and 50 Brix to evaporation until it transforms into maple syrup.

The process of producing maple syrup from maple sap can include concentrating the maple sap to a sugar content of between 30 and 50 Brix using membrane filtration, including increasing a differential pressure of the membrane filtration in accordance with an increasing of an osmotic pressure as the sugar content increases to eventually reach the sugar content of between 30 and 50 Brix; and subjecting the concentrated maple sap having a sugar content of between 30 and 50 Brix to evaporation until it transforms into maple syrup.

The application relates to compositions based on maple sap, fruit juice and/or vegetable juice having a high added value. In particular, said compositions have high concentrations in polyphenols, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and potassium, for example. These concentrations are higher than those in maple sap made by previous traditional or commercial processes and higher than those in fruit or vegetable juices or syrups. Furthermore, said compositions have an antioxidant effect that is also higher than that in commercial maple sap made on an industrial or small scale and higher than that in commercial fruit or vegetable juices or syrups. The application also relates to processes for making such compositions.

Elements having surfaces that are submerged in sap during evaporation processes for producing syrup and that have anti-niter-buildup textures designed, configured, and provided to inhibit buildup of hard-to-remove niter deposits that tend to form on such surfaces. In some embodiments, anti-niter-buildup texture is provided to reduce the amount of contact between niter particles in the sap and the surfaces, for example, by controlling (e.g., minimizing) the number of contact points and/or minimizing the contact area, between each particle and the surface. Anti-niter-buildup texture may be provided to a surface of an element in any suitable way, such as machining, coating, etching, and peening, among others, and any combination thereof. Syrup-making evaporators and evaporation system incorporating such elements are also disclosed, as are method of making elements for evaporator and method of making evaporators.

Elements having surfaces that are submerged in sap during evaporation processes for producing syrup and that have anti-niter-buildup textures designed, configured, and provided to inhibit buildup of hard-to-remove niter deposits that tend to form on such surfaces. In some embodiments, anti-niter-buildup texture is provided to reduce the amount of contact between niter particles in the sap and the surfaces, for example, by controlling (e.g., minimizing) the number of contact points and/or minimizing the contact area, between each particle and the surface. Anti-niter-buildup texture may be provided to a surface of an element in any suitable way, such as machining, coating, etching, and peening, among others, and any combination thereof. Syrup-making evaporators and evaporation system incorporating such elements are also disclosed, as are method of making elements for evaporator and method of making evaporators.

Elements having surfaces that are submerged in sap during evaporation processes for producing syrup and that have anti-niter-buildup textures designed, configured, and provided to inhibit buildup of hard-to-remove niter deposits that tend to form on such surfaces. In some embodiments, anti-niter-buildup texture is provided to reduce the amount of contact between niter particles in the sap and the surfaces, for example, by controlling (e.g., minimizing) the number of contact points and/or minimizing the contact area, between each particle and the surface. Anti-niter-buildup texture may be provided to a surface of an element in any suitable way, such as machining, coating, etching, and peening, among others, and any combination thereof. Syrup-making evaporators and evaporation system incorporating such elements are also disclosed, as are method of making elements for evaporator and method of making evaporators.

Methods of dewatering viscous materials are provided. The method comprises contacting the viscous material with pressurized carbon dioxide at a temperature and for a time wherein at least a fraction of water is expressed from the viscous material. Then the pressure is released, and the water expressed from the viscous material is removed to yield a dewatered product. Exemplary viscous materials that can be dewatered by the method include black liquor from wood pulping operations, wet lignin, wet super water absorbent polymers and sugar solutions. The pressurized carbon dioxide is present in subcritical or supercritical form. The method provides dewatering at reduced cost.