An apparatus and method for hydrating a particulate biomaterial with a liquid biomaterial includes a vacuum device and a valve for withdrawing a gas from the particulate biomaterial and introducing the liquid biomaterial. The valve includes a hub, a valve body, a particulate port, a vacuum port, and a liquid port. The valve body selectively moves between first and second positions. The valve body at least partially defines a first passage and a second passage. The particulate port, the vacuum port, and the liquid port are each configured to fluidly connect to a particulate container, the vacuum device, and the liquid container, respectively. In the first position, the first passage fluidly connects the vacuum port to the particulate port for withdrawing the gas from the particulate container. In the second position, the second passage fluidly connects the liquid port to the particulate port for hydrating the particulate biomaterial.

A method of producing a carbonated beverage comprising a blend of water and syrup having a predetermined final carbonation level. The method includes the steps of: introducing CO.sub.2 into a flowing stream of a product blend comprising water, syrup and dissolved oxygen, such that CO.sub.2 is dissolved in the product blend; deaerating the CO.sub.2-containing product blend by introducing the blend into a vented atmospheric vessel, the interior of which is at ambient pressure with a headspace maintained above the surface of the liquid within the vessel, whereby dissolved oxygen is released from the product blend and vented from the vessel; pumping the deaerated product blend from the vessel, wherein the deaerated blend includes dissolved CO.sub.2 at an intermediate carbonation level less than the final carbonation level; and carbonating the deaerated product blend to the final carbonation level downstream of the vented vessel to produce a carbonated beverage for subsequent packaging. A system for performing the method is also provided, as well as a method of producing a beverage using nitrogen deaeration.

An apparatus and method for hydrating a particulate biomaterial with a liquid biomaterial includes a vacuum device and a valve for withdrawing a gas from the particulate biomaterial and introducing the liquid biomaterial. The valve includes a hub, a valve body, a particulate port, a vacuum port, and a liquid port. The valve body selectively moves between first and second positions. The valve body at least partially defines a first passage and a second passage. The particulate port, the vacuum port, and the liquid port are each configured to fluidly connect to a particulate container, the vacuum device, and the liquid container, respectively. In the first position, the first passage fluidly connects the vacuum port to the particulate port for withdrawing the gas from the particulate container. In the second position, the second passage fluidly connects the liquid port to the particulate port for hydrating the particulate biomaterial.

An apparatus and method for hydrating a particulate biomaterial with a liquid biomaterial includes a vacuum device and a valve for withdrawing a gas from the particulate biomaterial and introducing the liquid biomaterial. The valve includes a hub, a valve body, a particulate port, a vacuum port, and a liquid port. The valve body selectively moves between first and second positions. The valve body at least partially defines a first passage and a second passage. The particulate port, the vacuum port, and the liquid port are each configured to fluidly connect to a particulate container, the vacuum device, and the liquid container, respectively. In the first position, the first passage fluidly connects the vacuum port to the particulate port for withdrawing the gas from the particulate container. In the second position, the second passage fluidly connects the liquid port to the particulate port for hydrating the particulate biomaterial.

A gas solution supply device 1 includes: a first gas-liquid separator 8 in which gas solution is stored; a second gas-liquid separator 16 provided at a stage subsequent to the first gas-liquid separator 8 and in which gas solution to be supplied to a use point is stored; an intermediate line 17 provided between the first gas-liquid separator 8 and the second gas-liquid separator 16; a pressure booster pump 18 provided on the intermediate line 17 and increases a pressure of gas solution being supplied from the first gas-liquid separator 8 to the second gas-liquid separator 16; a gas supply line 2 that supplies gas as a material of the gas solution; and a gas dissolving unit 20 provided on the intermediate line 17 and dissolves the gas supplied from the gas supply line 2 in the gas solution supplied from the first gas-liquid separator 8.

There are provided a method and apparatus for manufacturing hydrogen-containing drinking water that can fill a packaging container with hydrogen-containing water while suppressing the change of the dissolved hydrogen concentration of the hydrogen-containing water to a low level.

A method of continuously manufacturing hydrogen-containing drinking water includes (A) a deaeration step, (B) a hydrogen dissolving step, (C) a filling step, and (D) a sealing step. Pressure is applied to water flow channels corresponding to hydrogen-containing water, which is to be injected to a packaging container in the filling step, from purified water that is to be supplied to the deaeration step. The filling step includes: a preparation stage of supplying hydrogen-containing water, to which pressure is applied, into a filling device; a deaeration stage of removing gas, which is present in the packaging container, after connecting the packaging container to the filling device; an injection stage of directly injecting the hydrogen-containing water, to which pressure is applied, into the packaging container; and a discharge stage of discharging hydrogen-containing water, which remains in the filling device, into the packaging container by introducing pressurized air into the filling device. The method further includes a step of immediately proceeding to the sealing step (D) when the injection port and the filling port are disconnected from each other.

The present disclosure relates to an extrusion apparatus comprising: a) a planetary roller extruder; b) a melt pump arranged downstream of the extruder; c) optionally, a fluid feeding equipment; d) a static cooling mixer equipment arranged downstream of the melt pump; e) a foaming equipment arranged downstream of the static cooling mixer equipment. The present disclosure also relates to a process of manufacturing a foamed polymeric composition and uses thereof.