In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method for deoxygenation of a first liquid, which method comprises contacting said first liquid with a membrane, which membrane is on its filtrate side in contact with a second liquid comprising an oxygen scavenger.

There is provided a second method for deoxygenation of a first liquid which method comprises contacting said first liquid with a membrane, which membrane is on its filtrate side in contact with an oxygen-lean sweep gas.

The invention is also directed to an apparatus for carrying out these methods.

The present invention provides a very efficient means to deoxygenate liquids of all sorts, such as CO.sub.2 scrubbing solutions and beverages.

Various embodiments relate to devices and methods for treating a mixture of expansion gas and filling product foam in a beverage filling plant, comprising the steps of introducing the mixture of expansion gas and filling product foam into a closed separation container and extracting the expansion gas out of the closed separation container via suction.

Various embodiments relate to devices and methods for treating a mixture of expansion gas and filling product foam in a beverage filling plant, comprising the steps of introducing the mixture of expansion gas and filling product foam into a closed separation container and extracting the expansion gas out of the closed separation container via suction.

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.

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 aerator for aerating a liquid as the liquid is being poured from a container includes an aerator body configured to be at least partially inserted into the container. The body includes an inlet, an outlet, and a flow control chamber disposed between the inlet and the outlet. A flow control element is movably disposed in the flow control chamber between a first position where the flow control element is spaced away from a stop and a second position where the flow control element engages the stop. The flow control chamber communicates with the outlet when the flow control element is in the second position allowing liquid to be poured from the container and allowing air to be introduced into the flow control chamber for mixing with the liquid being poured from the container to aerate the liquid being poured from the container.

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.

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.

A beverage dispensing valve may include an inlet to receive carbonated water, a nozzle shell, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage. The nozzle shell may include an aperture open to ambient pressure environment. A method for dispensing a beverage may include flowing carbonated water through an inlet of a beverage dispensing valve, lowering the pressure of the carbonated water sufficient to promote carbon dioxide nucleation, flowing the carbonated water through a chamber vented to environment such that a portion of carbon dioxide nucleated is off-gassed, and introducing a beverage ingredient when the carbonated water reaches a sufficiently low carbonation level. A beverage dispensing nozzle may include an inlet configured to receive carbonated water from a beverage dispensing valve, a nozzle shell including an aperture open to ambient pressure environment, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage.

A beverage dispensing valve may include an inlet to receive carbonated water, a nozzle shell, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage. The nozzle shell may include an aperture open to ambient pressure environment. A method for dispensing a beverage may include flowing carbonated water through an inlet of a beverage dispensing valve, lowering the pressure of the carbonated water sufficient to promote carbon dioxide nucleation, flowing the carbonated water through a chamber vented to environment such that a portion of carbon dioxide nucleated is off-gassed, and introducing a beverage ingredient when the carbonated water reaches a sufficiently low carbonation level. A beverage dispensing nozzle may include an inlet configured to receive carbonated water from a beverage dispensing valve, a nozzle shell including an aperture open to ambient pressure environment, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage.