A liquid extractor may include an extraction chamber containing a bed deck configured to support a solid material as the solid material is conveyed through the extraction chamber. To introduce solvent into the solid material being processed, the extractor may include a solvent injection orifice extending through the bed deck and a solvent injector. The solvent injector can receive solvent from a source and cause the solvent to rotate within the solvent injector before discharging the solvent through an outlet in fluid communication with the solvent injection orifice. The rotational flow motion imparted by the injector can create a vortex that functions to scout out any particles that may be present in the injector.

Various aspects of this patent document relate to a method to extract an oil from a plant material using an apparatus by first exposing the plant material to a heated gas stream at a temperature sufficient to volatilize the oil from the plant material, and then rapidly cooling the gas stream to liquefy the oil.

A screen for an extractor system can have a top surface that a solid material contacts during operation of the extractor, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a plurality of apertures extending from the top surface through the bottom surface. In one example, the bottom surface of the screen is coated with a non-stick coating while the top surface of the screen is devoid of the non-stick coating.

A chain driven diffuser for use in a sugar extraction process, the diffuser including a diffuser floor, a plurality of chain ladder assemblies being displaceable relative to the diffuser floor, with each chain Id-der assembly comprising two opposing chains being driven by drive sprockets characterized in that at least some of the drive sprockets of the diffuser are driven independently from some of the other drive sprockets of the diffusor.

An extractor suitable for using a solvent to separate a compound from a solid or semisolid substance containing the compound. The extractor includes a conveying assembly having an inclined conveyor for receiving the substance from a substance inlet and moving the substance through the solvent, an inclined upper surface associated with the first conveyor and an inclined lower surface associated with the first conveyor. The conveyor is configured to move the substance downward through the solvent along the upper surface toward a lower end of the conveyor and upward through the solvent along the lower surface toward an upper end of the conveyor.

An oil extraction process may be performed on an oleaginous feedstock using an alcohol-based solvent, such as ethanol. In some examples, an extraction process involves conveying a material in countercurrent direction with an alcohol-based solvent to generate an extracted material and a miscella. The miscella stream is cooled (14) to form a first solvent-rich layer phase separated from a first oil-rich layer, which is then separated (18) to form a first separated oil-rich stream (100) and a first separated solvent-rich stream (102). In some examples, the first separated solvent-rich stream is recycled back to the extractor and introduced into the extractor at a location (38) different than a location (30) where fresh solvent is introduced into the extractor. Additionally or alternatively, water (103) may be introduced into the separated first oil-rich stream to form a second solvent-rich layer phase separated from a second oil-rich layer, which is then separated (20) to form a second separated oil-rich stream (104).

A powder extractor. Multiple tank partitions are connected between the front and rear wall panels of a rectangular box. Each tank partition divides the inner cavity of the tank into a plurality of soaking tanks. The upper part of each tank partition is respectively provided There are overflow ports. The overflow ports on the partitions of adjacent tanks are staggered in the front and rear directions, and the height of each overflow port gradually decreases from right to left. The discharge end of the rightmost soaking tank relates to a new melt inlet, the feed end of the leftmost soaking tank relates to a concentrated liquid outlet; the leftmost soaking tank is provided with a feed inlet above the feed end. The powder extractor has high soaking efficiency, reduces powder waste, and improves economic benefits.

This invention relates to a process for the continuous production of vegetal protein concentrates by removing the soluble carbohydrates by an aqueous alcohol from a defatted vegetable material said process requiring no frequent production interruptions for cleaning operations. The innovative process includes the steps of removing at least a fraction of the soluble carbohydrates by solvent extraction, the solvent being aqueous alcohol, to obtain a solvent wet protein rich vegetable material and a miscella; removing the aqueous alcohol form the solvent wet protein rich vegetable material to obtain a vegetable protein concentrate; wherein the solvent extraction takes place in a moving screen solvent extractor equipped with a cleaning means of the moving screen on its return journey and for which no plugging takes place for extended period of time.

An extractor suitable for using a solvent to separate a compound from a solid or semisolid substance containing the compound. The extractor includes a conveying assembly having an inclined conveyor for receiving the substance from a substance inlet and moving the substance through the solvent, an inclined upper surface associated with the first conveyor and an inclined lower surface associated with the first conveyor. The conveyor is configured to move the substance downward through the solvent along the upper surface toward a lower end of the conveyor and upward through the solvent along the lower surface toward an upper end of the conveyor.

Various aspects of this patent document relate to a method to extract an oil from a plant material using an apparatus by first exposing the plant material to a heated gas stream at a temperature sufficient to volatilize the oil from the plant material, and then rapidly cooling the gas stream to liquefy the oil.