STERILISATION PROCESS BY MEANS OF HEAT TREATMENT FOR PRESERVING THE INK OF COLEOID CEPHALOPOD MOLLUSCS

Abstract

Procedure comprising the stages of: Homogenisation and first heat treatment (1) in which a temperature of at least 70 C. is attained for over 10 minutes; Cooling (2) in a tank that is set to a temperature of below 30 C. The process continues with filling, turning, blowing and marking (3) of the expiry dates. A second heat treatment (4) is then performed in an autoclave at a sterilisation temperature greater than or equal to 110 C. for a time that will depend on the quantity to be canned, until reaching f.sub.06.

Claims

1. A sterilization process by means of heat treatment to preserve the ink of coleoid cephalopod molluscs, comprising: homogenizing and first heat treating (1) the ink in a reactor for pasteurising treatment in which a temperature of at least 70 C. is attained for over 10 minutes; cooling (2) the homogenized ink in a tank set to a temperature of below 30 C. and retaining the ink in the tank to lower its temperature; continuing by filling, turning, blowing and marking (3) the expiry dates; and second heat treating (4) the ink in an autoclave in which a heat treatment is performed to achieve a sterilization temperature greater than or equal to 110 C. for a predetermined time based upon the quantity to be canned.

2. The sterilization of claim 1, wherein the second heat treating varies as to temperature and time according to the quantity being canned as follows: TABLE-US-00002 Minimum Minimum Minimum temp. in time of correct C. of the correct sterilisation Canning the correct heat value weight process process (F.sub.0) Weight < 90 g >110 C. >2 6 minutes Weight >= 90 g >110 C. >20 6 minutes

3. The sterilization process of claim 1, further including the step of adding a thickener during the homogenizing and first heat treating.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0020] To complete the description made herein and in order better to aid understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferential example of a practical embodiment thereof, this description is accompanied by a set of drawings showing as follows in indicative, but not limitative terms.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of the stages in the procedure.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0022] One form of the preferred embodiment of the proposed invention is described below.

[0023] The procedure includes the following stages as described above, which in a preferred embodiment comprises: [0024] Homogenisation and first heat treatment (1) in a reactor to perform pasteurising treatment in which a temperature of at least 70 C. is attained for over 10 minutes. [0025] Cooling (2) of the homogeneised ink in a tank set to a temperature of below 30 C. and retention of the ink in said tank to lower its temperature. [0026] The process continues with filling, turning, blowing and marking (3) of the expiry dates. [0027] A second heat treatment (4) is then performed in an autoclave in which a heat treatment is performed to achieve a sterilisation temperature that will ensure the absence of micro-organisms, which in one possible embodiment may be a coefficient of f.sub.06. The temperature guaranteed by the treatment must be above 110 C., which ensures that the product remains stable during the useful life provided by said treatment.

[0028] Optionally, during the homogenisation process and first heat treatment, a thickener may be added.

[0029] The second heat treatment, performed in an autoclave, has a minimum initial temperature and a minimum process temperature and the time varies depending on the quantity canned.

[0030] Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, and the means of implementing it, it is noted that within the same essence, it may be made in other embodiments differing in detail from that indicated herein as an example, and to which the protection obtained shall equally extend, provided that it does not alter, change or modify its basic principle.