Citrus peel processing system and method

Abstract

A method and system for processing citrus peel to produce food grade products and environmentally safe liquid discharge, by cutting mixing, heating, separating, pressing and drying the citrus peel.

1 . A system for processing citrus peel to produce useful liquid and solid products, said system comprising: 
 conduit means for conveying citrus peel, liquid, liquid products and solid products through said system;    cutting means to cut said citrus peel into particles to create a slurry of solid particles and liquid;    first tank means to receive and heat said slurry of solid particles and liquid;    first separator means to separate said solid particles and said liquid from said first tank means;    finisher means to separate said liquid from said first separator means into waste solids and finished liquid;    centrifuge and decanting separator means to separate said finished liquid from said finisher means into citrus peel oil, liquid products and waste sludge;    polisher means to produce high grade peel oil from said citrus peel oil;    evaporator means to separate said liquid products from said centrifuge and decanting separator means into water for recycling within said system, food grade citrus peel juice and aromas and essences;    first press means to remove liquid from said solid particles from said first separator means for recycling to said first tank means;    second tank means to receive and heat said solid particles from said first press means, and to receive recycled liquid from said polisher means and from a second separator means;    second separator means to separate said solid particles and said recycled liquid from said second tank means;    second press means to remove liquid from said solid particles from said second separator means for recycling to said second tank means;    first dryer means to dry said solid particles from said second press means;    second dryer means to further dry said solid particles from said first dryer means to produce consumable peel mass products.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said cutting means are adapted to cut said citrus peel into said particles of approximately 0.1875 inches in size.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first tank means is adapted to heat said slurry to between approximately 120 to 140 degrees F.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said second tank means is adapted to heat said solid particles to between approximately 110 to 135 degrees F.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first dryer means is adapted to dry said solid particles at up to 350 degrees F.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said second dryer means is adapted to dry said solid particles from said first dryer means at less than 150 degrees F.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said cutting means comprises a blade-type disintegrator.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second separator means each comprises a vibratory conveyor/shaker bed apparatus.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said polisher means comprises a centrifuge apparatus.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said evaporator means comprises a thermally accelerated short term evaporation system.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising pasteurization and de-bittering means to treat said liquid products from said centrifuge and decanting separator means prior to delivery to said evaporator means.  
   
   
       12 . A system for processing citrus peel comprising: 
 cutting means to cut said citrus peel into particles to create a slurry of solid particles and liquid;    first tank means to receive and heat said slurry of solid particles and liquid;    first separator means to separate said solid particles and said liquid from said first tank means;    finisher means to separate said liquid from said first separator means into waste solids and finished liquid;    finishing separator means to separate said finished liquid into citrus peel oil, liquid products and waste sludge;    polisher means to produce high grade peel oil from said citrus peel oil;    evaporator means to separate said liquid products into water for recycling within said system, food grade citrus peel juice and aromas and essences;    first press means to remove liquid from said solid particles from said first separator means;    second tank means to receive and heat said solid particles from said first press means;    second separator means to separate liquid from said solid particles from said second tank means;    second press means to remove liquid from said solid particles from said second separator means; and    dryer means to dry said solid particles from said second press means;    wherein liquid from said first separator means and said first press means is recycled within said system, and wherein liquid from said second separator means and said second press means is partially recycled within said system and partially discarded from said system.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising pasteurization and de-bittering means to treat said liquid products from said finishing separator means prior to delivery to said evaporator means.  
   
   
       14 . A system for processing citrus peel comprising: 
 cutting means to cut said citrus peel into particles to create a slurry of solid particles and liquid;    first tank means to receive and heat said slurry of solid particles and liquid;    first separator means to separate said solid particles and said liquid from said first tank means;    means to produce high grade peel oil, food grade citrus peel juice, and aromas and essences from said liquid from said first separator means;    first press means to remove liquid from said solid particles from said first separator means;    second tank means to receive and heat said solid particles from said first press means;    second separator means to separate liquid from said solid particles from said second tank means;    second press means to remove liquid from said solid particles from said second separator means; and    dryer means to dry said solid particles from said second press means to produce consumable dried peel mass products;    wherein liquid from said first separator means and said first press means is recycled within said system, and wherein liquid from said second separator means and said second press means is partially recycled within said system and partially discarded from said system.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said means to produce high grade peel oil, food grade citrus peel juice, and aromas and essences from said liquid from said first separator means comprises: 
 finisher means to separate said liquid from said first separator means into waste solids and finished liquid;    finishing separator means to separate said finished liquid into citrus peel oil, liquid products and waste sludge;    polisher means to produce high grade peel oil from said citrus peel oil; and    evaporator means to separate said liquid products into water for recycling within said system, food grade citrus peel juice and aromas and essences.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising pasteurization and de-bittering means to treat said liquid products from said finishing separator means prior to delivery to said evaporator means.