PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DEODORIZING AND/OR PHYSICAL REFINING OF COCOA BUTTER AND COCOA BUTTER SUBSTITUTES.

摘要

DEODORIZING AND/OR PHYSICAL REFINING OF COCOA BUTTER AND COCOA BUTTER SUBSTITUTES IS CARRIED OUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLE OF CONTINUOUS COUNTERCURRENT FALLING FILM STRIPPING STEAM DISTILLATION IN AN EXTERNALLY IMPOSED TEMPERATURE FIELD IN AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT ZONES, WHERE DIFFERENT FLOW AND CURRENT CONDITIONS PREVAIL FOR THE LIQUID AND FILM AND THE VAPOURS, RESPECTIVELY. THE APPARATUS MAINLY INCLUDES DEGASIFICATION STAGE (4), THE HEAT EXCHANGER (27) AND (28), A FIRST FALLING FILM COLUMN (10), THE JET CONDENSER (12) WITH A COOLER (14) DISPOSED IN THE CIRCULATION LINE TO THE VACUUM-PRODUCING SYSTEM (16) (16A) THE FINAL FALLING FILM COLUMN (22) HAVING ITS TOP IN LIQUID COMMUNICATION VIA LINE (17) AND IN VAPOUR COMMUNICATION VIA THE LINE (23) TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FALLING FILM COLUMN( 10), AND THE STRIPPING STEAM SUPPLY MEANS (24).(FIG 1)