METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PROTEIN MEAL FROM INSECTS, IN PARTICULAR FROM INSECT LARVAE AND FROM INSECT PUPAE, OR FROM WORMS, AND DRYING APPARATUS FOR USE IN SUCH A METHOD

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for producing a protein meal from insects, in particular from insect larvae and insect pupae, or from worms, comprising the steps of: a) comminuting the insects or worms to form a pulp or pure; b) splitting the pulp or pure into a fat fraction, a solids-containing fraction and an aqueous fraction; c) mixing the aqueous fraction and the solids-containing fraction to form a homogenous compound; d) drying the homogenous compound, with a dried protein meal being obtained. Further disclosed is a drying apparatus for use in such a method, comprising drying devices and a device for comminuting clumps of the homogenous compound.

Claims

1. A method for producing a protein meal from insects, in particular from insect larvae and from insect pupae, or from worms, comprising the steps of: a) comminuting the insects or worms to form a pulp or pure; b) splitting the pulp or the pure into a fat fraction, a solids-containing fraction and an aqueous fraction; c) mixing the aqueous fraction and the solids-containing fraction to form a homogenous compound; d) drying the homogenous compound, with a dried protein meal being obtained.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the water content of the aqueous fraction is reduced before step c).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the water content of the aqueous fraction is reduced in an evaporator or in a filter, advantageously in a membrane filter.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dried protein meal is ground after step d).

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the comminution (step a); is carried out in a cutter or in a press.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the splitting of the pulp or pure according to step b) takes place in a separator, advantageously in a 2- or 3-phase separator.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step e) for comminuting clumps of the homogenous compound in step c) or in step d).

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the homogenous compound is fed to the drying apparatus for drying during and/or after step c) by means of at least one conveying device, wherein the at least one conveying device is advantageously part of a mixer.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein portions of the dried protein meal are fed to the mixer (in step c).

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dried protein meal is cooled after step d) or after step e).

11. A drying apparatus for use in a method according to claim 1, comprising at least one drying apparatus, characterized in that a device is provided for comminuting clumps of the homogenous compound.

12. The drying apparatus according to claim 11, designed as a fluidized bed dryer, preferably as a shaking fluidized bed dryer having a frequency of movement advantageously at 2.5 Hz to 4.0 Hz, ideally at 3.0 Hz to 3.5 Hz, preferably at 3.3 Hz to 3.4 Hz.

13. The drying apparatus according to claim 11, designed as a rotary dryer.

14. The drying apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the temperature of the drying air supplied is less than or equal to 200 C., preferably 110 C. to 160 C.

15. The drying apparatus according to claim 11, wherein at least two treatment zones are provided.

Description

[0060] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and a number of drawings. The drawings show:

[0061] FIG. 1: a schematic representation of a method according to the invention;

[0062] FIG. 2: a schematic representation of a further method according to the invention;

[0063] FIG. 3: a schematic side view of a drying apparatus according to the invention;

[0064] FIG. 4: a partial section of a variant of the drying apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

[0065] FIG. 5: a partial section of a further variant of the drying apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

[0066] According to the method shown in FIG. 1 for producing a protein meal from insect larvae, the insect larvae (here black soldier fly (BSF) larvae) are fed first (step 101). The insect larvae are crushed to form a pulp or pure in a press (step 102), wherein a solids-containing fraction 111 is separated from a liquid fraction 112.

[0067] Said liquid fraction 112 is split into an aqueous fraction 113 and a fat fraction 114 in a 2-phase separator. The water content of the aqueous fraction 113 can be reduced prior to further processing, for example in an evaporator or in a membrane filter.

[0068] The solids-containing fraction 111 and the aqueous fraction 113, which both contain protein, are mixed in a mixer to form a homogenous compound (step 104). Any clumps of the homogenous compound are comminuted during mixing. To reduce the water content of the homogenous compound, portions of the dried protein meal are fed to the mixer during mixing (step 106). Optionally, the homogenous compound is cooled after mixing.

[0069] The mixer has, for example, a conveying device by means of which the mixed homogenous compound is fed to the drying apparatus for drying. The conveying device is, for example, part of the mixer.

[0070] The homogenous compound is subsequently dried in a shaking fluidized bed dryer as drying apparatus (step 105) until the dried protein meal 115 is available. Any clumps of the homogenous compound are comminuted during drying. After or during drying (step 105), the dried protein meal 115 can be ground (step 107). The dried protein meal 115 is cooled after drying (step 105) (=step 108).

[0071] According to the alternative method shown in FIG. 2 for producing a protein meal from insect larvae, the insect larvae (here black soldier fly (BSF) larvae) are first fed to a cutter (step 201). In the cutter, the insect larvae are comminuted to form a pulp or a pure (step 202).

[0072] Said pulp or pure is split in a 3-phase separator (step 203) into a solids-containing fraction 211, an aqueous fraction 213 and a fat fraction 214. The water content of the aqueous fraction 213 can be reduced prior to further processing, for example in an evaporator or in a membrane filter.

[0073] The solids-containing fraction 211 and the aqueous fraction 213, which both contain protein, are mixed in a mixer to form a homogenous compound (step 204). Any clumps of the homogenous compound are comminuted during mixing. To reduce the water content of the homogenous compound, portions of the dried protein meal 215 can be fed to the mixer during mixing.

[0074] The homogenous compound is subsequently dried in a rotary mixer as drying apparatus (step 205) until the dried protein meal 215 is available.

[0075] For example, the dried protein meal 215 can then be ground, depending on the further use. Alternatively or additionally, the dried protein meal 215 can also be cooled.

[0076] The drying apparatus 11 shown in FIG. 3 is designed as a shaking fluidized bed dryer which is mounted on bearings 12. The drying apparatus 11 is also guided by means of the bearings 12, for example in the direction of the double arrows. The frequency of movement of the drying apparatus 11 is 2.5 Hz to 4.0 Hz, ideally 3.0 Hz to 3.5 Hz, preferably 3.3 Hz to 3.4 Hz.

[0077] As drying devices, the drying apparatus 11 comprises a first feed 22 for hot air having an air temperature of 140 C. to 150 C. and a second feed 24 for hot air having an air temperature of 150 C. to 180 C. or less than 200 C. and a third feed 26 for cooled air or ambient air having an air temperature of 15 C. to 25 C. The first feed 22 is provided in a first treatment zone 21, the second feed 24 is provided in a second treatment zone 23 and the third feed 26 is provided in a third treatment zone 25.

[0078] The drying apparatus 11 has an inlet opening 13 for the homogenous compound which, after being fed into the drying apparatus 11, comes to rest on the fluidized bed 14. Furthermore, two exhaust air openings 15 and 16 are provided through which air can escape from the drying apparatus 11.

[0079] The homogenous compound that comes to rest on the fluidized bed 14 is transported continuously by the movement of the fluidized bed 14, which movement is caused by the fluidized bed dryer that shakes during operation, from the inlet opening 13 to a discharge opening 18 from which the dried protein meal exits. During transport on the fluidized bed 14, the homogenous compound passes through the first treatment zone 21, in which the homogenous compound is pre-dried, the second treatment zone 23, in which the homogenous compound is dried to form the protein meal, and the third treatment zone 25, in which the dried protein meal is cooled.

[0080] The moving fluidized bed 14 forms the device for comminuting clumps of the homogenous compound of the drying apparatus 11.

[0081] FIG. 4 shows a drying apparatus 31 which is designed as a rotary dryer. The drying apparatus 31 has a grinding rotor system 36 in the drying chamber 33 as a device for comminuting clumps in the homogenous compound. The drying chamber 33 forms the drying device of the drying apparatus 31. The homogenous compound is ground during drying, and clumps which are present in the homogenous compound or which arise during the drying process are destroyed. The drying temperature in the drying chamber 33 is less than 200 C. The drying space 33 can be subdivided, for example, and have different temperatures in these subdivisions, so that the drying apparatus 31 has a plurality of treatment zones.

[0082] Instead of a grinding rotor system 36, a rotary mixer (not shown here) can be provided, which makes it easy to destroy clumps which are present in the homogenous compound or which form during the drying process. An advantageous geometry of the rotary mixer is selected as a function of the type of composition and/or the consistency of the homogenous compound.

[0083] FIG. 5 shows a drying apparatus 41 which is likewise designed as a rotary dryer, namely as a so-called turbo dryer. A drying chamber 43 forms the drying device of drying apparatus 41. In the drying chamber 43, a rapidly rotating rotor 45 with blades 46 is provided, which pushes the homogenous compound against the wall of the drying chamber 43 at high speed during drying, wherein clumps which are present in the homogenous compound or which are produced during the drying process are destroyed. The drying temperature in the drying chamber 43 is less than 200 C. The drying chamber 43 can also be subdivided and have different temperatures in these subdivisions, so that the drying apparatus 41 has a plurality of treatment zones.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0084] 11 Drying apparatus [0085] 12 Bearings [0086] 13 Inlet opening [0087] 14 Fluidized bed [0088] 15 First outlet opening [0089] 16 Second outlet opening [0090] 18 Discharge opening [0091] 21 First treatment zone [0092] 22 First feed [0093] 23 Second treatment zone [0094] 24 Second feed [0095] 25 Third treatment zone [0096] 26 Third feed [0097] 31 Drying apparatus [0098] 33 Drying chamber [0099] 36 Grinding rotor system [0100] 41 Drying apparatus [0101] 43 Drying chamber [0102] 45 Rotor [0103] 46 Blade [0104] 101 Feeding insect larvae [0105] 102 Comminuting insect larvae [0106] 103 Separating the pulp or pure [0107] 104 Mixing 111 and 113 [0108] 105 Drying [0109] 106 Feeding 115 to 104 [0110] 107 Grinding [0111] 108 Cooling [0112] 111 Solids-containing fraction [0113] 112 Liquid fraction [0114] 113 Aqueous fraction [0115] 114 Fat fraction [0116] 115 Dried protein meal [0117] 201 Feeding insect larvae [0118] 202 Comminuting insect larvae [0119] 203 Separating the pulp or pure [0120] 204 Mixing 211 and 213 [0121] 205 Drying [0122] 211 Solids-containing fraction [0123] 213 Aqueous fraction [0124] 214 Fat fraction [0125] 215 Dried protein meal