EP3504247A1

EP3504247A1 - Method for processing dandelion plant components

Info

Publication number: EP3504247A1
Application number: EP17754313.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Steffen Hruschka; Luis Peixoto; Alexander ROSSMEISL; Frans Kappen; Richard OP DEN KAMP
Original assignee: GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH
Current assignee: GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH
Priority date: 2016-08-26
Filing date: 2017-08-09
Publication date: 2019-07-03
Also published as: RU2741106C2; DE102017118163A1; CA3033656A1; RU2019107685A3; UA123023C2; WO2018036825A1; RU2019107685A; US11028236B2; US20190233595A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for processing dandelion plant components, particularly dandelion plant components of the taraxacum kok-saghyz variety, in which, according to the method, rubber is obtained as a first valuable product, said method being characterised by the following steps: A) grinding and/or squeezing the dandelion plant components, preferably while adding water to form a pulp; and B) first separation of the pulp into at least one phase 80 which is high in inulin and low in rubber and at least one phase 90 which is high in rubber and low in inulin, the phase 90 which is high in rubber and low in inulin forming the first valuable product or the first valuable product being obtained from the phase which is high in rubber and low in inulin.

Description

Process for processing dandelion plant parts

The present invention relates to a process for the processing of dandelion plant parts, in particular of dandelion plant parts of the variety Taraxacum kok-saghyz, wherein in the process a recovery of an elastomer, in particular a rubber, as a first value product.

As gum in the context of the present invention, in particular the so-called dandelion rubber to understand how he already in numerous

Publications, such as in Kern, Timo: Promoting latex made of dandelion. Hrsg.: Biotechnologie.de. 201; in van Beilen JB, Poirier Y,: Guayule and Russian Dandelion as Alternative Sources of Natural Rubber. In: Crit. Rev. Biotechnol.

Vol. 27, 2007 and in T. Schmidt, M. Lenders, A. Hillebrand, N. van Deenen, O. Munt, R. Reichelt, W. Eisenreich, R. Fischer, D. Prüfer, C.S. Gronover:

Characterization of rubber particles and rubber elongation in Taraxacum koksaghyz. In: BMC biochemistry. Volume 1 1, 201 0, p. 1 1, was described., So the Russian dandelion supplies 1 milliliter of rubber per plant. In addition, the short life cycle of six to eight months and the possibility of the

Tissue cultures have additional advantages over other potential ones

Rubber suppliers. The rubber particles that are extracted from the Russian dandelion are very similar to those from Hevea brasiliensis. They contain very pure poly (cis-1,4-isoprene) with a high molecular mass.

The extraction of rubber from Russian dandelion and its processing, for example, to tires, is a topic which is already known and which has been taken up again in recent times.

From US 2,399,156 A a process for the recovery of rubber is known. This can be obtained from plant parts of Russian dandelion. The dandelion is treated with hot alkali metal hydroxide and a water-insoluble fatty acid added to saponify the hydroxides. Then, the recovered rubber is washed and dried. This process is aimed exclusively at the extraction of rubber and has u.a. due to the use of chemicals and the resulting disposal costs proved to be less profitable.

US 9 346 924 B2 discloses a process for recovering gum and an inulin-containing phase. In this case, a degradation of the plant fibers by the use of cellulase and / or hemi-cellulase enzymes. In order to provide optimal conditions for enzyme replication, the solution is maintained at 40-70 ° C. It deals a biological digestion. However, the use of enzymes has several disadvantages. On the one hand, the use of enzymes is cost and

time-consuming. On the other hand, the biological load of the inulin-containing aqueous phase is very high. Any wastewater must therefore be disposed of separately if necessary.

Starting from this prior art, it is now the object of the present invention to provide a method which has a higher

Profitability promises.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1.

The inventive method is concerned with the processing of

Dandelion plant parts, in particular of dandelion plant parts of the variety Taraxacum kok-saghyz.

The process results in recovery of rubber as a first value product. This may be raw rubber or a cleaned rubber. The term "gum" includes in particular the so-called dandelion gum.

In contrast to US Pat. No. 9,346,924 B2, degradation takes place precisely while avoiding biodegradation of plant parts by enzymes. Accordingly, the process temperature is selected. The method has at least the following steps:

A) crushing and / or squeezing the dandelion plant parts,

preferably with addition of water to form a slurry; The comminution or squeezing out of the dandelion plant parts can preferably take place with the addition of additional water. The crushing and / or

Squeezing can, also preferably, be divided into several steps. The slurry formed is preferably a suspension of water in which solids of the comminuted dandelion plant parts are suspended.

As dandelion parts for processing by the method according to the invention, the entire plant or, more preferably, only the root and the hypocotyl, ie the lowest part of the shoot axis can be used. This can be purified by prior treatment of sand and other surface-adhering materials such as soil or loam. After the formation of the porridge, enzymes in the dandelion may result in fermentation, in which other valuable products such as inulin and fructose are degraded. In order to prevent this, the processing in the following steps can be done very quickly. In addition, measures can be taken to slow down the fermentation.

The resulting slurry may have a preferred dilution ratio of 1 part root to 10 to 20 parts water. Following the formation of the slurry, this will be described below

described step B) further worked up.

B) first separating the slurry into at least one inulin-rich low-rubber phase and at least one rubber-rich inulinarme phase, wherein the rubber-rich inulinarme phase forms the first product of value or the first product of value is obtained from the rubbery inulinarmen phase;

The separation of the slurry can be carried out for example by sieving, filtering and / or particularly preferably by centrifugal separation. It can the

Separation in one stage in three phases (rubber, water, and inulin phase) or carried out in two stages by water either first with the rubber or alternatively first with the inulin phase or in both phases, ie the rubber and

Inulin phase is separated distributed. If a rubber-water phase is separated from an inulin phase, the rubber can be sieved out of the water as a bead. If an inulin-water phase separated from the gum phase, the separation between the water and the inulin phase by

Centrifugation is carried out as cold and fast as possible in order to avoid enzymatic degradation of the inulin to fructose. The aforementioned inulin phase may still contain 5-15 wt.% Water even after separation of the water phase. The aforementioned inulin phase also comprises about 10% dry matter content.

Rubber as the first value product can thus be used directly after separation by the rubber-rich inulinarme phase. In the context of the present invention, such a gum is also called "raw gum." However, it is advantageous to remove this raw gum, for example by washing, if necessary with heating,

preferably to a temperature between 70 to 100 ° C, further purify. In addition or alternatively, in this step of the process enzymes can be used which degrade impurities, for example cellulase, pectinase. Purified gum is thus produced, which may likewise be the first desired product. In itself, the extraction of rubber from dandelion is already known. However, this rubber is not obtained by gentle squeezing but by thermal treatment. Inulin containing in plants is converted into fructose. A much better, in particular economical, process procedure results when inulin is not converted into fructose if possible before the rubber separation.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of

Dependent claims.

C) heating the inulin-rich low-gum phase to a temperature at which inulin is at least partially converted to fructose;

To obtain the second desired product, the inulin-rich phase can preferably be heated. The temperature should be at least so high that it is for

Splitting the polysaccharide chains of inulin to form fructose comes, which is soluble in a water phase.

In the case of a high concentration of fructose in the water phase, the inulin splitting only partially or not at all, but the inulin itself can go into solution and deposited as a product of value by fractional precipitation or fractional crystallization from the water phase.

Other organic solids, e.g. Cellulose, which is in the inulin rich

contained in this treatment are not in solution, but can be separated as a slime-like solid phase.

This is preferably done in step D by a second separation:

D) Secondary separation of the inulin-rich low-rubber phase into one

fructose-rich phase, in particular in a fructose-rich aqueous phase, and in a fructose-poor solid phase, wherein the fructose-rich phase is a second desired product or a second valuable product is recovered from the high-fructose phase.

The second desired product is thus fructose or inulin or a mixture of both in dissolved form or as solids.

The process becomes much more economical by obtaining the second product of value and is suitable for mass production. According to the invention, at least step A), but preferably also step B), is carried out at a temperature below 40 ° C.

This largely prevents the degradation of inulin by plant-own enzymes.

In particular, the processing of plant parts after step A) and the

Separation after step B) without enzyme addition. Without enzyme supplementation means that while the inevitable plant-own enzymes are present, however, no additional enzymes are added for the digestion of the plants.

This also prevents inulin from degrading at the wrong time and that this form of digestion also less burdensome for the wastewater, so both the pressed water and the accumulated elsewhere in the process water.

The steps A) and B) are preferably carried out, apart from the addition of water and / or inorganic salt, in particular sodium chloride, exclusively by mechanical means. So no organic chemicals are used so that the accumulated water is only slightly chemically or biologically contaminated.

The porridge preferably maintains a liquid consistency and does not become iced up. Accordingly, the temperature, ie the processing temperature, to choose so that the slurry remains flowable. So there is the separation of a flowable slurry in step B).

The crushing and additional squeezing out of the dandelion plant parts can advantageously take place in such a way that a release of rubber particles takes place from the dandelion plant parts and that inulin for the most part remains in the plant cells of the dandelion plant parts. For this purpose, the crushing should not be done in too small pieces, but so extensively that the rubber in the form of rubber particles, which float on the mash, is released. Too much crushing would make it difficult to extract the rubber. The comminution of the dandelion plant parts may advantageously comprise milling to form the slurry, in particular a suspension, in which the

Dandelion plant parts with an average diameter between 2 to 10 mm, preferably 3 to 6 mm, are suspended in water. The addition of water can take place before, during and / or after comminution and / or squeezing. The comminution of dandelion plant parts can also advantageously comprise at least one pre-crushing, which takes place before grinding and in which the dandelion plant parts are comminuted to an average diameter between 9 to 21 mm.

Pre-shredding and subsequent grinding and / or squeezing

allow greater homogeneity of the crushed plant parts in the pulp. Grinding and / or squeezing can usually be done with a bead or ball mill.

Particularly preferably, one or more hammer mills can be used for pre-crushing and / or grinding and / or squeezing. Particularly preferably, a combination of one or more hammer mills and one or more hammer mills are used for the two aforementioned process steps.

Particularly preferred may be for pre-crushing and / or grinding and / or

Squeezing one or more hammer mills and one or more ball mills are used.

When grinding and / or squeezing and / or pre-crushing can be done advantageously a water addition. More preferably, the water is added to the plant parts in a ratio of 1 to 10 to 1 to 20.

In this addition of water, the water may advantageously have a pH-neutral or more preferably an acidic pH, in particular a pH between pH = 3 and 7.

To reduce the fermentation tendency e.g. due to plant-specific enzymes, the added water may have at least one sulfide and / or monochloramine compound. The preferred concentration of the sulfide and / or monochloramine compound in the added water is between 0.01 and 0.1 mol / l.

Alternatively or additionally, the aforementioned treatment can be carried out in the completely or almost fermentation-free state by physical methods. These physical methods include, in addition to the separation of dispersed

Solids through filters or centrifuges also treat with ozone and / or UV light.

The pulp and / or the inulin-rich low-rubber phase can thus advantageously with ozone or UV irradiation, in particular by means of UV light in the normal pressure or Medium pressure range, treated to lower the fermentation tendency of the pulp or inulin rich phase.

In the first separation of the slurry, according to step B can advantageously a

Water phase are formed, which, for. when grinding and / or

Pre-shredding supplied water and more solutes of the dandelion plant.

This water phase can

i) together with the inulin-rich low-rubber phase;

ii) together with the rubber-rich, inulinar phase; or iii) or separately from the phases, e.g. after treatment in a three-phase decanter,

be dissipated.

The abovementioned separated water phase can advantageously be reused, in particular recycled to form the slurry in step A).

Depending on the progressing fermentation, the aforementioned water phase may already have a proportion of fructose. However, inulin predominantly or even almost completely accumulates in the inulin-rich low-gum phase, which

typically heavier than the water phase and consisting predominantly or wholly of organic solids. The first separation of the slurry can advantageously take place as a single or multiple centrifugal separation, preferably in a solid bowl screw centrifuge.

If the water phase is removed together with the rubber-rich inulinarmen phase, it can be advantageous to separate the two phases by sieving, so that the water phase and the rubber-rich inulinarme phase are removed separately.

If the water phase is removed together with the low-rubber inulin-rich phase, advantageously a third separation for separating the two phases can take place, which takes place before the second separation, this third separation comprising a single or multiple separation, preferably with a sieve so that the water phase and the low-rubber inulin-rich phase are removed separately. The separately discharged water phase, which is obtained in a three-phase separation during the first separation, or by sieving or after the third separation, can advantageously be recycled for addition to the dandelion plant parts during comminution, in particular during pre-comminution and / or milling. This saves the use of chemicals to stabilize the water and reduces the amount of wastes to be disposed of.

The inulin-rich viscous phase must be diluted again with water before or during the heating in step C). Also, this water should be pH neutral or preferably have an acidic pH. Due to the added water, the inulin-derived fructose can be better separated from the remaining solids and transferred to the aqueous phase.

The aqueous phase can be advantageously reused. It can in particular be recycled in step A).

The process is usually carried out up to and including step B) at temperatures less than or equal to the ambient or room temperature. It is advantageous if the inulin-rich viscous phase is heated to at least 55 ° C, preferably to 60 to 100 ° C when heated in step C).

The first desired product can be advantageously obtained from the rubber-rich inulinarmen phase by washing with water, optionally with heating, in particular to temperatures between 70-100 ° C, as a purified gum.

The second desired product can be obtained from the high-fructose phase by crystallization, the second desired product being inulin and / or fructose.

In order to prevent fermentation by enzymes, the processing after the formation of the slurry in step A) should be relatively fast

The first separation according to step B) may advantageously take place within less than 30 minutes, in particular within less than 10 minutes, after step A) has been completed.

The first separation according to step B) and the heating according to step C) may advantageously be effected within less than 40 minutes, in particular within less than 15 minutes, after step A) has been completed. It is particularly advantageous if the first separation according to step B), the heating according to step C) and the second separation according to step D) were effected within less than 50 minutes, in particular within less than 20 minutes, after step A. ), ie the formation of the porridge, is completed.

Advantageously, before or after the pre-crushing and / or the grinding and / or squeezing of the dandelion plant parts, a water addition takes place and a

Squeezing the water before the first separation takes place to obtain an inulin syrup.

The remaining solids after squeezing may preferably be resuspended to a slurry with the addition of water.

In the formation of the slurry according to step A) or after the formation of the slurry, however, before the first separation, it is advantageously possible to add a salt, in particular common salt, as a solid or solution for agglomerating rubber particles.

Before or after the pre-crushing and / or grinding and / or squeezing the dandelion plant parts, a water addition can take place and a squeezing out of the water before the first separation take place to obtain an inulin syrup and / or inulin press water.

The remaining solids after squeezing again under

Add water to a porridge.

In the formation of the slurry according to step A) or after the formation of the slurry, however, before the first separation, it is possible to add a salt, in particular common salt, as a solid or solution for the agglomeration of rubber particles.

The method will be explained in more detail with reference to several embodiments and with the aid of the accompanying figures. Show it:

Fig. 1 shows a first variant of the process according to the invention wherein rubber is the first desired product and inulin or fructose as the second product of value

Dandelion is won;

2 shows a second variant of a method according to the invention for the production of rubber and another product of value from dandelion; 3 shows a third variant of a method according to the invention for obtaining rubber and another product of value from dandelion; and

Fig. 4 shows a fourth variant of a method according to the invention for the production of rubber and another product of value from dandelion.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a method according to the invention. One of the won value products is a rubber, which also as

Dandelion rubber is known. The other product of value is either inulin or fructose. This valuable product can be dissolved in water, e.g. as a sugar molasses, or as a solid.

The method according to the invention is based on plant parts, in particular roots, of the dandelion 10 of the variety "Taraxacum kok-saghyz." The roots are already freed from sand by preparatory steps such as washing and brushing can be a hammer mill or can be several consecutive

Hammer mills be provided and at least in each case a perforated plate and / or at least one sieve with a predetermined hole diameter or a predetermined mesh size. Through the perforated plate and / or the sieve, the plant parts are pressed through the hammer mill. In the application of the

Hammer mill satisfies the particle size distribution of the particles passed in as the ^Gauss's normal distribution. The mean particle diameter or

Particle diameter of the plant parts is after this first stage in the first step preferably between 1 and 5 cm, preferably 2-3 cm. To small

Plant parts lead to small rubber particles with too little

Polymerization. Also, a chopping is possible and can be used in the context of pre-shredding. Subsequently, the second step is followed by a finer grinding and / or squeezing 50 of the comminuted plant parts. In the second step of comminution, water 30 can also be supplied. This grinding and / or squeezing corresponds in comparison to the pre-shredding rather a squeezing of the plant parts. This is also referred to as squeeze grinding in the context of the present invention. This can e.g. in a ball mill or bead mill, in particular using other perforated discs and / or screens done. These preferably have a smaller hole width or mesh size than those in the pre-crushing 20

used perforated discs and / or sieves. The mean particle or

Particle diameter of the rubber-free organic plant parts which are suspended in the pulp in this case is 0.2 to 1, 0 cm, in particular 0.3 to 0.6 cm. Because they are unevenly shaped particles or plant particles, the mean particle diameter comprises the mean of all diameters that pass through the center of gravity of a particle. Then, all of these averages for the respective particles in a given volume segment are added together and by the number of particles in the particular one

Calculated volume. This gives the mean particle diameter. The determination of this value can be done by optical measuring methods.

The supplied water in the first step 20 and the second step 50 is preferably 5 to 20 times by weight of the divided one

Plant parts.

The added water may preferably be stabilized with sulfides or monochloramine to maintain a fermentation-free state. Alternatively or additionally, the stabilization can also be achieved by a physical method. Such a physical process may involve, apart from the separation of dispersed solids by filters and centrifuges, also a treatment of a slurry 60 formed by comminution or inulin-rich phase 80 or 80 'separated therefrom with ozone or ultraviolet light. The UV light is preferably used in normal or medium pressure range at an intensity of at least 0.5 watts per liter of fluid.

Likewise, the added water may have a sugar content, in particular an initial fructose content of more than 1% by weight, especially when the water is circulated.

By grinding and / or squeezing the plant parts can only be crushed so far that the rubber is released from the plant parts and a large part of inulin remains in the plant cells. The formed slurry 60 thus has water-dispersed organic solids which can settle and rubber particles which float on the water.

Preferably, the grinding and / or squeezing 50 and / or the pre-crushing 20 at temperatures below 30 ° C, preferably below 25 ° C.

Also preferably, the plant parts-water mixture in pre-crushing 20 and / or grinding and / or squeezing 50 a neutral or acidic pH. The slurry 60 is then in a third step of that described in FIG

Process variant divided by a first separation 70 into a low-rubber, inulin-rich phase 80, in a rubber-rich, inulinarme phase 90 and in an aqueous, inulin and rubber-poor phase 100.

The low-rubber, inulin-rich phase 80 is essentially an organic one

Solid phase, which is heavier than the aqueous phase 100.

The aforementioned low-rubber inulin-rich phase has a dry matter content of preferably 8-12%.

The rubbery, low-phase phase 90 is essentially a rubbery one

Solid phase, which is lighter than the aqueous phase 100. The first separation 70 can, for example, and preferably by a

Dreiphasendekanter done, wherein the inulin-rich phase 80 is transported in a first direction and the second rubber-rich phase 90 in a second direction.

The recovered aqueous phase 100 usually has a certain amount of fructose and can be used as water for addition to the plant parts in the

Processes, usually in the pre-crushing 20 and / or grinding 50 recycled.

The rubber-rich, inulin- and / or fructose-poor phase 90 can already be sold as the first value product, as so-called raw rubber.

However, it is also possible to heat the rubbery phase 90, even after an enzymatic intermediate treatment to decompose organic compounds, optionally with the addition of further water in a further step "heating" 10, in particular at temperatures between 70 to 100 ° C. , and

then the water, e.g. by sieving, to separate. Finally, purified rubber 120 is obtained as desired product.

The inulin-rich phase 80 is heated, if necessary with the addition of water 131. This phase 80 is preferably diluted to a dry matter content of about 5-15% by weight, preferably 8-12% by weight, with water.

The inulin rich phase 80 is heated to a temperature of preferably 60 to 100 ° C. By heating, this becomes much of the inulin in fructose converted and thereby dissolves, while other organic components, such as cellulose or proteins remain as solids.

The inulin- and / or fructose-rich phase 80 is pH-neutral or acidic.

Subsequent to the heating, a second separation 140 takes place, for example by filtration or by centrifugal separation.

Heating 130 of inulin or high fructose phase 80 and the second

Separation 140 may be immediately followed by first separation 70 and may preferably be initiated within less than 30 minutes, more preferably within less than 10 minutes of first separation 70. As a result, an enzymatic degradation in the course of fermentation is preempted.

Particularly preferably, the two steps "heating" and "separating" 130 and 140 are completed within less than 30 minutes, in particular within 10 minutes. After separation 140 there is an organic fructose-free solid phase 150, which contains, for example, cellulose and other sparingly water-soluble plant ingredients.

In addition, a fructose-rich aqueous phase 1 60 is present. This can already be sold as a sugar solution, without separate isolation of the fructose, as a second product of value. The sugar solution can also be further mono- or

Disaccharides, e.g. Glucose, included. However, the proportion by weight of these saccharides in solution is advantageously less than 10%, preferably less than 5%, relative to the proportion of fructose. Alternatively, the fructose may optionally after further purification steps from the sugar solution, e.g. isolated by evaporation and crystallization as a solid and recovered as a second product of value.

Fructose is a popular substitute for sucrose and can be used in a variety of ways in the food or chemical industries.

Fig. 2 shows a second variant of the method according to the invention. The

Comminution steps 20 and 50, with which the slurry 60 is obtained, is analogous to the procedure of FIG. 1. This is followed by the first separation 70. In this case, a two-phase decanter or separator, optionally a nozzle separator can be used, which the slurry into an aqueous, rubbery and inulinarme phase 90 'and in an inulinreiche

low-energy phase 80 divides. The aqueous phase 90 'is water, optionally with further dissolved constituents in which rubber particles or rubber beads or rubber agglomerates are dispersed.

These can be in the episode as a rubbery solid phase 90, or as

Raw rubber and thus as the first value product to separate. This can preferably be done by sieving 170. There remains water 100 back, which can be recycled analogous to the separated water in Fig. 1 in the process.

The crude rubber can then, analogously to FIG. 1, be further processed to give purified rubber 120 by addition of water and / or heating.

The inulin-rich phase 80, preferably a substantially organic

Solid phase, can then be processed analogously to Fig. 1 to fructose-containing sugar water 1 60 or to fructose as a solid as a second value product. Fig. 3 shows a third variant of the method according to the invention.

Fig. 3 shows a third variant of the method according to the invention. The

Comminution steps 20 and 50, with which the slurry 60 is obtained, are also analogous to the procedure of FIG. 1.

In the first separation 70, the slurry 60 is then divided into a rubber-rich and inulin- and low-fructose phase 90 and into an aqueous, inulin-rich phase 80 '. This separation is usually done by sieving. The aqueous phase 80 'is water with dissolved and dispersed organic constituents, which are used as e.g. as cellulose, proteins or inulin.

The rubber-rich and inulinarme phase 90 thereby, analogous to FIG. 1, the

Raw rubber, which can be used as a valuable product or can be further processed to purified rubber 120.

The aqueous inulin-rich phase 80 'is then divided into a third phase separation 180, which takes place prior to the second separation 140 carried out analogously to FIG. 1, into an aqueous, low-energy phase 100 and into an inulin-rich phase 80, which is essentially a solid phase , This third separation 180 should be cold, ie at temperatures of less than 30 ° C., preferably less than 25 ° C. It is recommended to separate in the

Centrifugal field of a separator. In addition, this third separation 180 may directly follow the first separation 70 and may preferably be initiated within less than 30 minutes, more preferably within less than 10 minutes after the first separation 70. This preempts enzymatic degradation, which would convert the inulin to fructose.

Water 131 is then added to inulin-rich phase 80, the specific heavy phase, again forming a dispersion. Thereafter, the inulin-rich phase 80 is subjected to the subsequent steps analogous to FIG. 1, ie heating and further separation, in this case a third separation. Thus, analogously to FIG. 1, fructose-containing water 1 60 or to fructose as solid can be obtained as the second desired product.

The first separation should preferably take place in all the described variants of FIGS. 1-3 immediately after the grinding 50, and should therefore be initiated in a period of less than 30 minutes, preferably less than 10 minutes after grinding 50.

For separating 70 of the slurry 60 in the rubber-rich, optionally aqueous, phase 90 and in the inulin- and / or fructose-rich phase 80, a decanter may preferably be used. The optimum number of revolutions for a decanter separation is 3000 to 4500 (rpm) revolutions per minute. It is also possible to use a separator with an acceleration of approx. 12,000 x g. For the embodiment of Fig. 3, a sieve or filter is used to separate the aqueous inulin-rich phase from the gum.

To separate the inulin-rich aqueous phase 80

Solid bowl centrifuges, plate separators or nozzle separators applied.

In an embodiment variant of the process, not shown, inulin can be obtained as an alternative value product. This is the case in particular if the water added before the second and / or third separation has an increased fructose content, so that inulin degradation takes place at least only partially during the dissolution of the inulin in the water. The inulin can then be considered

Recyclable material to be precipitated or remain in solution. The water 100 obtained after the first and / or second separation in Fig. 1 -3, which can then be recycled in the process, has a

Dry matter content of less than 1% by weight and a yellowish brown to black color. It can be used multiple times.

Inulin may preferably be used as a thickener, for example in the food or cosmetics industry.

The water recovered on separation may have a dry matter content of less than 1%.

The variant of a method according to the invention shown in FIG. 4 has some modifications with respect to FIGS. The pre-shredded with fresh water material of the dandelion is first during or after a

Pre-crushing process by pressing 310 pressed. In this case, part of the inulin passes into the pressed-out water and a so-called inulin press water 340 is formed, in which gel-like inulin and water are mixed together. The result is a kind of inulin syrup, which is not yet converted into fructose, since the recovery is done without a step of heating.

Then the crushed root granules are resuspended with water to form a slurry. The suspension may then be in one or more

Passages in the ball mill are crushed.

Since part of the inulin has already been obtained by the extrusion process, the recovery of further inulin by a second separation process can advantageously be dispensed with or optionally carried out. For this purpose, the inulin content in the pressed-out water and in the pulp can be determined in order to assess whether further recovery analogous to that in FIGS. 1 -3 is still economical.

For better agglomeration of the rubber particles, a salt, in particular sodium chloride 320, can be added in the variant of FIG. 4, but also in the variants of FIGS. Alternatively, salt water 330 may also be added in the formation of the slurry. The addition is preferably, however, immediately before the ball mill and more preferably only after the separation of the inulin syrup in Figure 4. It may preferably be 1-3 wt.% Of common salt, based on the mass of pulp. Thus, the electrical conductivity is changed and crushed by the ball mill gum, which preferably has a particle size of below 0.5 mm, can agglomerate into larger rubber nodules and can thus be better screened out.

The salt water 330, also called electrolyte water, can be recycled or circulated.

In the following, some concrete examples are mentioned, which, however, are not to be understood as limiting the aforementioned embodiment variants. Unless otherwise indicated, the percentages in the examples are percentages by weight.

Example 1 :

300 g of roots with a TS content of 25% were comminuted with the Thermomix with the addition of a total of 2070 g of water in a total of 6 intervals for 20 seconds at stage 7. One third of this is diluted with a tl of water (sample A), another third diluted with 2 parts of water (sample B), and a third of the third diluted with three parts of water (sample C). Each of these samples was finely ground with the Labstar laboratory ball mill from Netzsch.

The result of the spin test 2 min at 6000 rpm (4500 g), first run: Sample A showed a flotation layer of 7% with free gum below the flotate, a dark brown water phase and 22% solids.

Sample B showed 5% as a compact flootate with incorporated gum, a medium brown water phase and 22% solids.

Sample C showed 4% as a compact float incorporated graft, a light brown water phase and 26% solids.

After the second run, the water phase was illuminated, the flotate phase was reduced to 2% sample A, 3% sample B and 3% sample C. The proportion of solid phase was also reduced to 17% (sample A), 15% (sample B). and 19% (Sample C).

After the third run, the water phase continued to light up, the

Flotation phase was 3% sample A, 2% sample B and 2% sample C. Also, the solid phase fraction was reduced to 14% (sample A), 13% (sample B) and 12% (sample C). Example 2:

100 g of dried roots were soaked in water for about 40 minutes at about 22 ° C. and then weighed out. Its wet weight was 266 g (TS = 40%). Together with further water and other wet roots (obtained by swelling from an additional portion of root dry matter of 100 g) with the total amount of 200 g of root dry matter and 1872 g of water were thermosixed in a total of 4 intervals for 15 seconds at level 9 crushed in two batches. By dripping with shaking with a kitchen sieve 430 g of water were obtained with about 3 ° Brix. The separated inulin-water was replaced with fresh water and the total amount was then diluted with 2 parts of water. This suspension was finely ground in 3 passages with a ball mill Labstar Fa. Netzsch. Result of the spin test 2 min at 6000 rpm (4500 g), first run:

Sample A showed a low flotate layer with 0.5% of a dark brown

Water phase and 10% solids. After the second run, the water phase in each case brightened, the flotate phase was increased to 1%, consisting of light rubber particles, the solid phase took 1 6%. After the third run, the water phase continued to light up, the flotation phase was 1% as a dark gum-containing flotate. The heavy solid phase was 1 6%.

Example 3: 40 kg of dried roots were cleaned of the sand and impurities and then ground in a hammer mill (Netzsch, hole 15 mm) with the addition of water to a total of 180 kg with 17.2 kg dry matter fraction. The water of the dispersion after milling had an average of 3 ° Brix. With the addition of water in the ratio of 1 + 1, the hole width of 5 mm was further comminuted with a hammer mill. As a result, there was a dispersion amount of 359 kg, with 2.4 ° Bhx in the fluid portion.

This dispersion was ground with the addition of 60 kg of water with a ball mill Fa. Netzsch and a throughput of 200 kg / h. This process was repeated again without further addition of water.

The finely ground dispersion was diluted with 100 kg of water and pumped into a separating decanter from GEA, type CA 226. With the water phase, only about 50 g of rubber were discharged and separated from the water by means of vibrating screen. The solid with 15.33% DM and visible rubber and the liquid with 1, 1% solids were mixed again and after 3 weeks in two parts of 129 kg and 148 kg resuspended with 80 kg of water. 2% salt was added. A total of 2.8 kg of wet rubber was discharged with the water phase and separated from the water by means of a vibrating sieve (mesh size 500 μm). Dried and washed, this gave about 500 g of dry gum.

reference numeral

10 plant parts

20 pre-shredding

30 water

40 wash water

50 grinding

60 porridge

70 first separating

80 Inulin rich phase

80 'Inulin rich aqueous phase

90 rubber-rich phase

90 'rubber rich aqueous phase

100 water phase

1 10 heating

120 Cleaned rubber

130 heating

131 water

140 second separation

150 low fructose solids

160 fructose-rich phase

170 seven

180 third separation

310 presses

320 table salt

330 salt water

340 inulin press water

Claims

claims

1 . Process for processing dandelion plant parts (10),

in particular of dandelion plant parts of the variety Taraxacum kokhaghyz, in which process a recovery of rubber takes place as a first value product and is characterized by the following steps:

A) crushing and / or squeezing the dandelion plant parts (10), preferably with the addition of water (30), to form a slurry (60);

B) first separating (70) the slurry (60) into at least one inulin-rich low-rubber phase (80, 80 ') and at least one rubber-rich low-phase phase (90, 90'), wherein the rubber-rich low-phase phase (90, 90 ') is the first Value product forms or the first product of value from the rubbery inulinarmen phase (90, 90 ') is obtained, wherein at least step A) takes place at a temperature of less than 40 ° C.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the steps A) and B) take place without enzyme addition.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the

Steps A) and B), apart from the addition of water and salt, in particular sodium chloride, takes place exclusively by mechanical means.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that step A) and step B) takes place at a temperature of less than 40 ° C.

5. The method according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that as a further step C) a recovery of sugar from the inulin-rich low-rubber phase (80, 80 ') from step B by heating (130) of the inulin-rich rubbery phase (80, 80 '), to a temperature at which inulin is at least partially converted to fructose.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that a second separation (140) of the inulin- and / or fructose-rich low-rubber phase (80, 80 ') after step C) in claim 2 into a high-fructose phase (1 60), in particular into a high-fructose aqueous phase, and into a low-fructose solid phase (150), wherein the high-fructose phase (1 60) is a second desired product or a second valuable product is recovered from the high-fructose phase.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the dandelion plant parts (10) are preferably dandelion roots

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the comminution of the dandelion plant parts (10) takes place such that a release of rubber particles from the

Dandelion plant parts is made and that inulin remains for the most part in the plant cells of dandelion plant parts (10).

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the comminution of the dandelion plant parts (10) comprises grinding and / or squeezing (50) to form the slurry (60) in which the dandelion plant parts having an average diameter between 2 to 10 mm, preferably 3 to 6 mm, in water are suspended.

A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the

Shredding the dandelion plant parts (10) at least one pre-crushing (20), which takes place before grinding and / or squeezing (50) and in which the dandelion plant parts to a middle

Diameter between 10 to 50 mm, preferably 20 to 30 mm, crushed.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that during grinding and / or squeezing (50) and / or pre-comminuting (20) a water addition takes place, wherein the water (30) is added in an amount of 5 to 20 parts, based on the weight of the plant parts.

Method according to one of the preceding claims during grinding and / or squeezing (50) and / or during pre-comminution (20)

Water is added, the water (30) is a pH neutral or particularly preferably has an acidic pH, in particular a pH between pH = 3 and 7.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the added water (30) for maintaining a fermentation-free state comprises at least one sulfide and / or monochloramine compound.

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the first separation (70) of the slurry (60) forms an aqueous phase (100) which

i) together with the inulin-rich low-rubber phase (80);

(ii) together with the rubber-rich indigenous phase (90); or iii) or separately from the phases (80, 90)

is dissipated.

15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that one or more hammer mills and / or one or more ball mills are used for pre-comminuting (20) and / or grinding and / or squeezing.

16. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the first separating (70) of the slurry (60) comprises a single or multiple centrifugal separation, preferably in a decanter or separator.

17. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that

if the aqueous phase (100) is removed together with the rubber-like inulinarmen phase (90) as an aqueous rubber-rich inulinarme phase (90 '), a separation between the two phases 100, 90) by sieving (170), so that the aqueous phase (100) and the rubber-rich inulinarme phase (90) are discharged separately.

18. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that

if the aqueous phase (100) together with the low-gel inulin-rich phase (80) is removed as a low-aqueous inulin-rich phase (80 '), a third separation (180) is carried out to separate the two phases (100, 80), this third separation (180) a single or multiple centrifugal separation, preferably in a separator, includes, so that the aqueous phase (100) and the low-rubber

Inulin rich phase (80) are removed separately.

19. The method of claim 13 to 1 6, characterized in that the separately discharged aqueous phase (100) for addition to the

Dandelion plant parts (10) is recycled during crushing.

20. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the aqueous phase (100) is reused, in particular in step A) is recycled.

21. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the inulin-rich low-rubber phase (80) is diluted with water (131) before or during the heating in step C).

22. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the water phase (100) is treated with ozone or a UV irradiation to maintain a fermentation-free state.

23. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the inulin-rich low-rubber phase (80) in the

Heating in step C) is heated to at least 55 ° C, preferably to 60 to 100 ° C.

24. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the first product of value from the rubbery inulinarmen phase (90) by washing with water, optionally with heating (1 10), in particular to temperatures between 70-100 ° C, as a purified gum (120) is obtained.

25. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the second product of value from the high-fructose phase (1 60) is obtained by crystallization, wherein the second

Value product inulin and / or fructose is.

26. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the first separation (70) according to step B) within less than 30 minutes, especially within less than 10 minutes, after step A).

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the first separation (70) according to step B) the heating (130) according to step C) is completed within less than 40 minutes, in particular within less than 15 minutes, after step A.

28. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the first separation (70) according to step B), the heating (130) according to step C) and the second separation (140) according to step D) within less than 50 minutes, in particular within less than 20 minutes Step A) is completed.

29. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that before or after the pre-comminuting (20) and / or grinding and / or squeezing the dandelion plant parts (10) a water addition takes place and a squeezing out of the water before the first separation is carried out to obtain an inulin syrup and / or inulin press water ( 340).

30. The method according to claim 29, characterized in that the

remaining solids after pressing again under

Add water to a porridge.

31. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that in the formation of the slurry according to step A) or after the formation of the slurry but before the first separation (70) an addition of a salt, in particular saline (320), takes place as a solid or solution for agglomerating rubber particles.