The present invention relates to a process of manufacturing a packaged liquid beer concentrate, said process comprising: providing an alcoholic beer comprising 3-12% ABV ethanol; removing at least a part of the ethanol from the alcoholic beer by means of distillation, thereby producing (i) a low alcohol beer having an ethanol content of 0-1.5% ABV alcohol and (ii) an alcoholic liquid containing at least 10% ABV ethanol; removing at least 70 wt. % of the water present in the low alcohol beer by means of membrane separation and/or freeze concentration to produce a liquid beer concentrate; if the alcoholic liquid contains less than 20% ABV ethanol, concentrating the alcoholic liquid to an ethanol content of at least 30% ABV by means of distillation, reverse osmosis or forwards osmosis; separately packaging the liquid beer concentrate and the alcoholic liquid within a single container or within separate containers that together form a kit of parts.

The present process offers the advantage that it can utilise de-alcoholisation units that are commonly used in the production of low alcohol beer, thus minimising capital investment. The low alcohol beer that is obtained by the dealcoholisation step can be concentrated in a single step to produce the liquid beer concentrate.

The present invention relates to a process of manufacturing a packaged liquid beer concentrate, said process comprising: providing an alcoholic beer comprising 3-12% ABV ethanol; removing at least a part of the ethanol from the alcoholic beer by means of distillation, thereby producing (i) a low alcohol beer having an ethanol content of 0-1.5% ABV alcohol and (ii) an alcoholic liquid containing at least 10% ABV ethanol; removing at least 70 wt. % of the water present in the low alcohol beer by means of membrane separation and/or freeze concentration to produce a liquid beer concentrate; if the alcoholic liquid contains less than 20% ABV ethanol, concentrating the alcoholic liquid to an ethanol content of at least 30% ABV by means of distillation, reverse osmosis or forwards osmosis; separately packaging the liquid beer concentrate and the alcoholic liquid within a single container or within separate containers that together form a kit of parts.

The present process offers the advantage that it can utilise de-alcoholisation units that are commonly used in the production of low alcohol beer, thus minimising capital investment. The low alcohol beer that is obtained by the dealcoholisation step can be concentrated in a single step to produce the liquid beer concentrate.

A process for the production of soybean meal with a high content of soluble proteins in which a soybean meal with a content of soluble proteins in KOH in the range of 60 to 75% is reached, in which the soluble sugars are first removed from the soybean meal for extraction with aqueous ethanol solution and then the oil by extraction with hexane, without intermediate desolventization and in a single integrated industrial unit; an SPC soybean meal having 58-62% of a crude protein content; and 60-70% of soluble proteins in KOH.

A process for the production of soybean meal with a high content of soluble proteins in which a soybean meal with a content of soluble proteins in KOH in the range of 60 to 75% is reached, in which the soluble sugars are first removed from the soybean meal for extraction with aqueous ethanol solution and then the oil by extraction with hexane, without intermediate desolventization and in a single integrated industrial unit; an SPC soybean meal having 58-62% of a crude protein content; and 60-70% of soluble proteins in KOH.

Systems and methods are provided for partial upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feeds to meet transport specifications, such as pipeline transport specifications. The systems and methods can allow for one or more types of improvement in heavy hydrocarbon processing prior to transport. In some aspects, the systems and methods can produce a partially upgraded heavy hydrocarbon product that satisfies one or more transport specifications while incorporating an increased amount of vacuum gas oil and a reduced amount of pitch into the partially upgraded heavy hydrocarbon product. In other aspects, the systems and methods can allow for increased incorporation of hydrocarbons into the fraction upgraded for transport, thereby reducing or minimizing the amount of hydrocarbons requiring an alternative method of disposal or transport. In still other aspects, the systems and methods can allow for reduced incorporation of external streams into the final product for transport while still satisfying one or more target properties.

Systems and methods are provided for partial upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feeds to meet transport specifications, such as pipeline transport specifications. The systems and methods can allow for one or more types of improvement in heavy hydrocarbon processing prior to transport. In some aspects, the systems and methods can produce a partially upgraded heavy hydrocarbon product that satisfies one or more transport specifications while incorporating an increased amount of vacuum gas oil and a reduced amount of pitch into the partially upgraded heavy hydrocarbon product. In other aspects, the systems and methods can allow for increased incorporation of hydrocarbons into the fraction upgraded for transport, thereby reducing or minimizing the amount of hydrocarbons requiring an alternative method of disposal or transport. In still other aspects, the systems and methods can allow for reduced incorporation of external streams into the final product for transport while still satisfying one or more target properties.

A method for preparing a tar extract with aroma characteristics from a discarded cigarette butt includes: (1) adding the discarded cigarette butt to an extraction solvent, and carrying out subcritical fluid extraction to obtain an extraction solution; (2) carrying out vacuum filtration on the extraction solution, and carrying out vacuum distillation on the filtrate to obtain a concentrated extractum; and (3) carrying out molecular distillation on the concentrated extractum, and collecting a light fraction of the molecular distillation to obtain the tar extract with aroma characteristics. Through the subcritical fluid extraction and separation by the molecular distillation to prepare the tar extract, harmful substances in the tar are removed, and the aroma components are retained. The tar extract is applied to a cigarette to improve the aroma, smoke and taste characteristics of the cigarette.

A method for preparing a tar extract with aroma characteristics from a discarded cigarette butt includes: (1) adding the discarded cigarette butt to an extraction solvent, and carrying out subcritical fluid extraction to obtain an extraction solution; (2) carrying out vacuum filtration on the extraction solution, and carrying out vacuum distillation on the filtrate to obtain a concentrated extractum; and (3) carrying out molecular distillation on the concentrated extractum, and collecting a light fraction of the molecular distillation to obtain the tar extract with aroma characteristics. Through the subcritical fluid extraction and separation by the molecular distillation to prepare the tar extract, harmful substances in the tar are removed, and the aroma components are retained. The tar extract is applied to a cigarette to improve the aroma, smoke and taste characteristics of the cigarette.

Systems and methods are provided for separation of particles and/or asphaltenes from heavy hydrocarbon fractions. The heavy hydrocarbon fraction can correspond to a feed including particles or a processing effluent that includes particles. If the heavy hydrocarbon fraction is mixed with lower boiling fractions, a separation can be performed to reduce or minimize the amount of hydrocarbons that are present in the heavy hydrocarbon fraction. The heavy hydrocarbon fraction can then be mixed with a sufficient amount of a separation solvent to cause a phase separation. One phase can correspond to the separation solvent plus a portion of the hydrocarbons. The other phase can correspond to hydrocarbons rejected by the separation solvent plus the particles from the heavy hydrocarbon fraction. The phases can then be separated from each other using a solids-liquid centrifugal separator.

Systems and methods are provided for separation of particles and/or asphaltenes from heavy hydrocarbon fractions. The heavy hydrocarbon fraction can correspond to a feed including particles or a processing effluent that includes particles. If the heavy hydrocarbon fraction is mixed with lower boiling fractions, a separation can be performed to reduce or minimize the amount of hydrocarbons that are present in the heavy hydrocarbon fraction. The heavy hydrocarbon fraction can then be mixed with a sufficient amount of a separation solvent to cause a phase separation. One phase can correspond to the separation solvent plus a portion of the hydrocarbons. The other phase can correspond to hydrocarbons rejected by the separation solvent plus the particles from the heavy hydrocarbon fraction. The phases can then be separated from each other using a solids-liquid centrifugal separator.