METHOD FOR GRINDING MACROALGAE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method (1) for comminuting macroalgae in a process chamber (4), wherein at least one first conveying device (7.1) and at least one first comminuting device (7.2) are arranged in the process chamber (4), the method (1) comprising the steps of: filling the macroalgae (8) into the first conveying device (7.1); feeding the macroalgae (8) to the first comminuting device (7.2) by means of the first conveying device (7.1); comminuting the macroalgae (8) in the first comminuting device (7.2) by means of pressure, friction and/or shearing; and discharging the comminuted macroalgae (8) from the first comminuting device (7.2) by means of subsequently conveyed macroalgae, wherein the moisture content of the macroalgae (8) in the first conveying device (7.1) is set so that the comminuted macroalgae (8) are pasty when they are discharged from the first comminuting device (7.2). The invention also relates to a corresponding device (3).

Claims

1. A method (1) for grinding macroalgae (8) in a process chamber (4), wherein at least a first conveying device (7.1) and at least a first grinding device (7.2) are arranged in the process chamber (4), wherein the method (1) comprises the steps of: filling the macroalgae (8) into the first conveying device (7.1); feeding the macroalgae (8) to the first grinding device (7.2) by means of the first conveying device (7.1); grinding the macroalgae (8) in the first grinding device (7.2) by means of pressure, friction and/or shearing; and discharging the ground macroalgae (8) from the first grinding device (7.2) by subsequently conveyed macroalgae (8); wherein the moisture content of the macroalgae (8) in the first conveying device (7.1) is set in such a way that the ground macroalgae (8) are pasty when discharged from the first grinding device (7.2).

2. The method (1) according to claim 1, wherein the moisture content of the macroalgae (8) is set to 20 to 95%, preferably 25 to 88%, more preferably 30 to 88%, more preferably 30 to 70% and still more preferably 45 to 70%.

3. The method (1) according to claim 1, wherein a liquid (9) is supplied to the first conveying device (7.1) to adjust the moisture content of the macroalgae (8).

4. The method (1) according to claim 1, wherein a process temperature prevailing in the process chamber (4) is between 2 and 150 C., in particular between 5 and 150 C.

5. The method (1) according to claim 1, wherein a process pressure prevailing in the process chamber (4) is between 0.5 and 500 bar.

6. The method (1) according to claim 1, wherein macroalgae (8) of the species Rhodophyta, Phaeophycae and/or Chlorophyta are used as macroalgae (8).

7. The method (1) according to claim 1, wherein the macroalgae (8) are dried, at least partially refined, preconditioned and/or pretreated with acid and/or base before being fed to the first grinding device (7.1).

8. The method (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first conveying device (7.1) is supplied with at least one additive.

9. The method (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one second conveying device (7.3) is arranged in the process chamber (4) and wherein by means of the second conveying device (7.3) ground macroalgae (8) discharged from the first grinding device (7.2) are conveyed away from the first grinding device (7.2).

10. The method (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first conveying device (7.1), the second conveying device (7.3) and/or the first grinding device (7.2) are designed as screw elements (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) of a screw extruder, in particular a twin-screw extruder.

11. The method (1) according to claim 10, wherein the screw elements (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) are arranged in a housing (4.1), and wherein the housing (4.1) has a contoured inner wall.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Hereinafter, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings based on preferred embodiments. The phrase Figure is abbreviated to FIG. in the drawings.

[0035] In the drawings;

[0036] FIG. 1 is a schematic process diagram of a method according to the first aspect of the invention; and

[0037] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a device according to the second aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The described exemplary embodiments are only examples that can be modified and/or supplemented in a variety of ways within the scope of the claims. Each feature described for a particular exemplary embodiment can be used independently or in combination with other features in any other exemplary embodiment. Each feature described for an exemplary embodiment of a particular claim category can also be used in a corresponding manner in an exemplary embodiment of a different claim category.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a method 1 according to the first aspect of the invention for grinding macroalgae in a process chamber, wherein at least one first conveying device and at least one first grinding device are arranged in the process chamber.

[0040] In a first step 11, macroalgae are filled into the first conveying device. Here, the macroalgae are untreated, dried, at least partially refined, preconditioned and/or pretreated with acid and/or base. Particularly preferably, macroalgae of the species Rhodophyta, in particular the species Kappaphycus Alvarezii and Eucheuma Denticulatum, Phaeophycae and/or Chlorophyta are used as microalgae. In addition to the macroalgae, further substances, in particular a liquid and/or additives, can be introduced into the first conveying means.

[0041] In a second step 12, the macroalgae are fed to the first grinding device by means of the first conveying device. For this purpose, a conveying force is applied to the macroalgae by the first conveying device.

[0042] In a third step 13, the macroalgae are ground in the first grinding device by means of pressure, friction and/or shearing. In a fourth step 14, the ground macroalgae are discharged from the grinding device by subsequently conveyed macroalgae. The macroalgae subsequently conveyed from the first feeding device into the first grinding device thus push the ground macroalgae out of the first grinding device. The moisture content of the macroalgae is adjusted in advance in the first conveying device so that the ground macroalgae when discharged from the first grinding device are in a pasty state, i.e. in an intermediate state between liquid and solid aggregate state, in which the ground macroalgae are not flowable on their own, but are flowable under external forces. The moisture content is adjusted in particular by dehumidifying or humidifying the macroalgae in the first conveying device.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a device 3 for grinding macroalgae according to the second aspect of the invention/for carrying out a method 1 according to the first aspect of the invention. The device 3 is configured as a twin-screw extruder and comprises a process chamber 4, which is formed by a housing 4.1 and in which two screws 5.1, 5.2 are arranged on parallel axes of rotation AX.1, AX.2. The screws 5.1, 5.2 strongly simplified comprise windings with helically extending flanks. The windings or flanks of the two screws 5.1, 5.2, moreover, have geometries corresponding to each other und mirrored with respect to one another.

[0044] The screws 5.1, 5.2 are formed from several merging screw elements 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, wherein the first screw element 6.1 forms a first conveying device 7.1 with windings extending strongly in the axial direction A. Macroalgae 8 are filled into the first conveying device 7.1 via a funnel and a liquid 9 is filled into the process chamber 4 via a hose, and these are then conveyed by means of the first conveying device 7.1 to a first grinding device 7.2, which is formed by the second screw element 6.2. In the first grinding device 7.2, the windings extend less strongly in the axial direction A and more strongly in the circumferential direction, so that the distance between the windings decreases and pressure, friction and shearing act on the macroalgae 8 for grinding them. The macroalgae 8 are thereby pushed through the first grinding device 7.2 by means of the conveying force of the first conveying device 7.1. Finally, the third screw element 6.3 forms a second conveying device 7.2, which in turn, like the first conveying device 7.1, is configured with windings extending strongly in the axial direction A and conveys ground macroalgae 8 discharged from the first grinding device 7.2 away from the first grinding device 7.2 by means of a further conveying force.

[0045] The screws 5.1, 5.2 cause a process pressure to build up over the course of the screw elements 6.1, 6.2, 6.3. Furthermore, the macroalgae 8 located in the process chamber 4 are tempered to a process temperature by means of tempering means 10. Moreover, heat energy is also introduced via the mechanical work that the screws 5.1, 5.2 perform on the macroalgae 8. The housing 4.1 further has a contoured inner wall. For this purpose, a tongue 4.2 extending in the axial direction A is arranged on the inner wall, by means of which the macroalgae 8 are prevented from rotating with the screws 5.1, 5.2.