A method is disclosed for improving the energy efficiency of biorefinery drying operations through integration of a dryer that utilizes the heat of condensation of process vapors to dry material whose emissions are captured with energy recovery. The dryer separates clean process vapors (e.g., ethanol) and steam from vapors containing volatile organic compounds and entrained materials, to minimize the need for vapor cleanup. An indirect dryer condenses vapors in a tube dryer similar to a steam tube dryer, but utilizing compressed process vapors, transferring the heat to wet material undergoing drying. The resulting exhaust vapors are either directed to a process stage that requires heat (e.g., distillation) and minimizes the need for vapor cleanup or to an out-of-contact heat exchanger that produces vapors for process use, or to another dryer as an additional effect. Mechanical-vapor recompression or thermal-vapor recompression are employed to produce vapors that optimize overall energy recovery.

A method of recovering an extraction aid from distillers corn oil, by directing stillage containing distillers oil and an extraction aid to a centrifugal separator, recovering a light phase from the centrifugal separator, the light phase containing at least a portion of the distillers oil and at least a portion of the extraction aid, cooling the light phase and causing a precipitate to form, and recovering a precipitate from the cooled light phase containing at least a portion of the extraction aid. A method of recovering distillers oil.

A method of extracting nutrients from a plant includes the steps of: pulverizing a water soluble nutrient-based plant part of a first plant material of the plant so as to form a first pulverized plant part; pulverizing a lipid soluble nutrient-based plant part of a second plant material of the plant so as to form a second pulverized plant part; subjecting the first pulverized plant part to a distillation so as to obtain a distillate and a first residue that contains a water soluble nutrient; and immersing the second pulverized plant part in the distillate to form a first mixture followed by distillation of the first mixture, so as to obtain a second residue that contains a lipid soluble nutrient.

A method for rehabilitating coffee beans or brewed coffee, including placing a quantity of coffee solution or roasted coffee beans in a pressure-controllable environment, decreasing the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment to about 75 Torr, holding the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment at about 75 Torr for a first predetermined period of time, removing unwanted congeners, such as ethyl acetate, from the coffee solution or roasted coffee beans to yield a treated coffee, and removing treated coffee from the pressure-controllable environment.

Non-naturally occurring microorganisms are provided that produce C40 carotenoid compound(s), utilizing exogenously added enzyme activities. Methods of producing C40 carotenoid compounds in microbial cultures, and feed and nutritional supplement compositions that include the C40 carotenoid compounds produced in the microbial cultures, are also provided.

A crystalline pigment or colorant composition having high color intensity and/or low sugar content, and methods and processes of preparation. The composition may comprise purified fruit and/or vegetable color juices.

A method for producing a terpene-enhanced cannabinoid concentrate and for removing contaminants such as pesticides and fungicides from cannabinoid extracts. Cannabinoid extracts containing contaminants may be dissolved in a water and ethanol solution, and then cooled to allow water-soluble contaminants to settle out of the mixture. The water and ethanol may then be removed via evaporation or distillation, leaving purified cannabinoids without contaminants. Contaminant removal may be incorporated into a method for producing a blended extract of cannabinoids and terpenes, which extracts terpenes using supercritical CO2, and extracts a cannabinoid concentrate from the residual material using a cold ethanol flush followed by distillation and then by contaminant removal; the CO2-extracted terpenes are then added back to the purified cannabinoid concentrate in a final blending step. Blending terpenes at the end of extraction may enhance the flavor and effectiveness of the purified cannabinoid concentrate.

The present invention regards a metallic component of a distillation and/or fermentation apparatus, characterized by being covered with at least one layer of nanostructured copper, said layer of nanostructured copper possibly comprising also nano-particles of TiO2. Furthermore, the present invention regards methods for covering said metallic component with at least one layer of nanostructured copper which may also comprise nanoparticles of TiO2. Finally, the present invention regards the use of said components in distillation and/or fermentation processes, in particular for the alcoholic distillation of spirit beverages.

A method for removing carbon dioxide gas from beer. The method includes an apparatus with a preheater, a degas column, a degas condenser, an optional degas condensate receiver, an optional degas condensate pump, and a bottoms pump. The apparatus is arranged to receive a feed from a beer source into the preheater and output the heated beer in the degas column. Much of the vapor in the degas column is condensed to a liquid phase by the degas condenser, and residual vapor is directed to-an existing carbon dioxide scrubber. The liquid phase is then reintroduced to the degas column via the degas condensate receiver and degas condensate pump. The degassed beer is pumped from the bottom of the degas column, through the beer preheater, and finally on to the existing distillation system.

A distillation apparatus and method of more rapidly purifying water, potable spirits and essential oils and more specifically to a unique heat distribution device referred to herein as the flame flow that provides for the contents of the apparatus to reach evaporation temperatures more quickly and maintain temperature to provide better control and more evenly heat the contents of a distillation apparatus.