Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A process for producing a sugar beet pulp bulking agent from peeled whole sugar beet slices or particles, or spent sugar beet cossettes which comprises: (a) placing said peeled cossettes, particles or slices into a stabilizer solution of a water-soluble sulfite, bisulfite or metabisulfite in an effective concentration to prevent enzymatic and non-enzymatic darkening of the sugar beet pulp; (b) washing the thusly stabilized cossettes, particles or slices with water to remove substantially all of the soluble carbohydrates; (c) contacting the water-washed cossettes, particles or slices with an alcoholic solution to remove substantially all of the color and flavor constituents; and (d) removing water and alcohol from said cossettes, particles or slices to produce a bland, decolorized and odorless sugar beet pulp bulking agent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A process for producing a sugar beet pulp bulking agent from peeled whole sugar beet slices or particles, or spent sugar beet cossettes which comprises: (a) placing said peeled cossettes, particles or slices into a stabilizer solution of a water-soluble sulfite, bisulfite or metabisulfite in an effective concentration to prevent enzymatic and non-enzymatic darkening of the sugar beet pulp; (b) washing the thusly stabilized cossettes, particles or slices with water to remove substantially all of the soluble carbohydrates; (c) contacting the water-washed cossettes, particles or slices with an alcoholic solution to remove substantially all of the color and flavor constituents; and (d) removing water and alcohol from said cossettes, particles or slices to produce a bland, decolorized and odorless sugar beet pulp bulking agent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the stabilizer is sodium metabisulfite at a concentration from 0.005 to 0.5M.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 1 which further comprises removing water from the water-washed sugar beet pulp cossettes, particles or slices by a dewatering procedure prior to the contacting with the alcoholic solution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 3 wherein the dewatering procedure consists of screw pressing, centrifugation, alcoholic dehydration or sieving.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the alcoholic solution is selected from the group consisting of isopropanol, methanol and ethanol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein the alcoholic solution is isopropanol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 6 wherein the isopropanol is of a concentration greater than 70 weight percent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the contacting of the water-washed sugar beet pulp cossettes, particles or slices with the alcoholic solution is accomplished by continuous countercurrent extraction, batch extraction or single column leaching.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the removal of alcohol and water from the sugar beet pulp cossettes particles or slices is accomplished by vacuum-drying, fluid-bed-drying or air-tray-drying.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 1 further comprising the step of finely comminuting the sugar beet pulp bulking agent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process according to claim 10 wherein the finely comminuted sugar beet pulp bulking agent is of an average particle size of 100 microns or less.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process according to claim 11 wherein the finely comminuted sugar beet pulp bulking agent is of an average particle size of 50 microns or less.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said sugar beet pulp bulking agent is non-caloric.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The product produced by the process of claims 1, 2, 6, 7, 10 or 13.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The product of claim 14 which has a water binding capacity of from 15 to 25 grams of water per one gram of said sugar beet pulp bulking agent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A food product containing from 0.1 to 60% (dry basis) of the sugar beet pulp bulking agent of claim 14.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
102 words
A bland, decolorized, odorless sugar beet pulp bulking agent produced by the process of claim 1 and containing: less than 1% soluble carbohydrates; less than 1000 ppm residual alcohol; less than 10% moisture content; greater than 95% removal of coloration; within the range of from 40-55 Neutral Detergent Residue; within the range of from 20-35% total pectin; within the range of from 20-35% cellulose; within the range of from 10-20% hemicellulose; within the range of from 1-5% lignin; within the range of from 2.5-5% ash; within the range of from 6-15% protein; and within the range of from 0.1-0.5% bulk density (g./cc.).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The produce of claim 17 wherein said sugar beet pulp bulking agent is non-caloric.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The product of claim 17 which will bind from 15 to 25 grams of water per 1 gram of said sugar beet pulp bulking agent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A food product containing from 0.1% to 60% (dry basis) of the sugar beet pulp bulking agent products of claims 17, 18, or 19.