JP2000042406A - Production of concentrated substance - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing a concentrated substance hardly affected by sterilization and scarcely damaged on the taste, the aroma, the nutrients, and the aiming extract components. SOLUTION: This method for producing a concentrated substance keeps an objective substance to be concentrated in the same state, e.g. a liquid-state, a gel state, a paste state, a powder state, a particle state, or a solid state, as it is. Alternatively, the method includes a process of removing the surface and unnecessary parts of the objective substance to be concentrated or cutting the objective substance into a prescribed size with scarce effect of oxidation. Then, the resultant objective substance is set in a pressure-decreased vessel and the pressure of the pressure-decreased vessel is controlled to be a single or a plurality of aiming vacuum degrees and heating treatment is simultaneously carried out by a controlled microwave heating or controlled far infrared heating during a part or all of the concentration process to lower the water content to an aiming level. After that, a stirring or a pulverizing and stirring process is carried out to give a product.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a wide range of industrial fields utilizing various condensed substances such as liquid, gel, paste, powder, particle or solid, that is, the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. The technical field relates to concentration technology in industries such as the fragrance industry and the dye / pigment industry. On the other hand, in each industry, it is used as a technology of a pre-stage process of extraction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional methods for concentrating substances to be concentrated include:
First, a liquid or gel-like substance to be concentrated is stirred or a paste or a solid substance is crushed and stirred, and then water is removed. In addition, since the substance to be concentrated deteriorates also in the concentration step, a preservative such as an antioxidant is usually added at the time of crushing and stirring the solid substance before removing water. And sterilization was usually performed after the concentration was completed.

[0003]

Conventionally, a substance to be concentrated is first crushed and stirred by a mixer or the like, and then concentrated to produce a paste or a particle-concentrated substance. Oxidation of the substance to be concentrated occurs violently,
It had destroyed the essential components of the substance to be concentrated. Also, in the concentration step, oxidation may occur in the same manner, resulting in destruction of components of the substance to be concentrated. For this purpose, preservatives such as antioxidants were usually added at the time of crushing and stirring before removing water, but since they were added to the entire amount containing a large amount of water before concentration, the preservatives were added. There was difficulty in setting the input amount.

Conventionally, sterilization of a substance to be concentrated, such as a concentrated paste or a concentrated grain, is usually performed after the concentration is completed. However, the heat treatment destroys the taste, aroma, nutrients, and components to be extracted. There was something.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to prevent the destruction of components due to oxidation by a water removal technique developed by the present inventors before stirring or crushing the substance to be concentrated. Perform very little water removal quickly in large quantities, stir or crush and stir in the state of very low water content, water removal with very little oxidation is possible, the effect of concentrated substances by sterilization is small, the taste of concentrated substances, An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a concentrated substance that does not destroy fragrances, nutrients, or components to be extracted.

[0006]

The process for producing a concentrated substance according to the present invention is characterized in that the substance to be concentrated, which is in the form of a liquid, gel, paste, powder, particles or solid, is left as it is, Alternatively, when the substance to be concentrated is in a solid form, the form is such that the epidermis and unnecessary parts are removed, or the form is cut to a predetermined size at a level that is less affected by oxidation, and then the substance to be concentrated is placed in a vacuum tank. The decompression tank is pressure-controlled to one or a plurality of target decompression degrees, and controlled microwave heating and controlled far-infrared heating are applied to the substance to be concentrated in the decompression tank in one of the total concentration steps. It is manufactured by performing a heat treatment that is performed simultaneously in all or some parts, lowering the water content to a predetermined target moisture content, and then stirring or crushing and stirring.

In the method for producing a concentrated substance according to the present invention, in the case of a solid substance to be concentrated, the substance to be concentrated is removed as it is, or the epidermis and unnecessary portions are removed before setting the substance in the above-mentioned vacuum tank. Or sterilized in a form that has been cut to a predetermined size with a low level of oxidation.

[0008]

First, when the substance to be concentrated, such as vegetables, fruits, and seafood, is solid, it can be used as it is, with the skin or unnecessary parts removed, or divided into two parts to reduce the effects of oxidation. Sterilization is carried out by immersing or spraying in a sterilizing solution such as ethanol while keeping the cut into a large size such as divided. Bacteria are considered to be present in the epidermis of the solid substance to be concentrated and in the vicinity thereof. Therefore, if sterilization is performed at this stage, the solid substance can be sterilized with almost no quality deterioration.

On the other hand, in the case of a substance to be concentrated cut into a large size such as two or four in order to reduce the influence of oxidation, these are sterilized by directly immersing or spraying in a sterilizing solution such as ethanol or the like. May be. However, considering the effect of the sterilizing solution on the cut surface, first, the substance to be concentrated is in its original form,
Alternatively, sterilization is performed in a form in which the skin and unnecessary parts are removed, and then sanitary cutting is better. At the time of sterilization, in addition to ethanol, various sterilization methods are conceivable besides immersion or spraying in various sterilization solutions such as ozone water, so that it is not limited to a specific sterilization solution and a specific sterilization method. After sterilization, the substance to be concentrated is set in a vacuum tank. In the decompression tank, the heating temperature to the inside of the substance to be concentrated can be adjusted to a relatively low temperature, for example, 40 ° C. or less, by controlling the degree of decompression, and the time required for removing a large amount of moisture is also short, so oxidation is at a very low level. Can be suppressed.

In the decompression tank, the substance to be concentrated is in a liquid state,
In each case of gel, paste, powder, particle, or solid, the heating temperature to the inside of the substance to be concentrated can be adjusted to a relatively low temperature, for example, 40 ° C. or less by controlling the degree of vacuum, and a large amount of water Oxidization can be suppressed to a very low level. The operation of the water removal in the decompression tank will be described. First, the boiling point of the water of the substance to be concentrated is reduced by decompression to create a state in which the water is easily vaporized. At the same time, microwave heating with output control and far-infrared heating with output control are applied to the substance to be concentrated. In this case, since the boiling point of the water is reduced by the reduced pressure, the internal water of the substance to be concentrated is extruded very quickly to the outside of the substance to be concentrated by the microwave heating, and the microwave heating and the far-infrared heating are simultaneously performed on the water. It can be vaporized very quickly. In this case, it is important that the internal moisture of the substance to be concentrated can be extruded very quickly because of the reduced pressure, the oxidation due to the transfer of the internal moisture can be suppressed as much as possible, and the oxygen is extremely diluted because of the reduced pressure. Oxidation does not occur on the surface of the substance to be concentrated, and moisture that has come out of the surface of the substance to be concentrated is removed very quickly by the joint work of microwave heating and far-infrared heating. That oxidation can not occur in the
In addition, water can be removed without increasing the temperature of the substance to be concentrated by the cooling action of the heat of evaporation.

Further, it has been confirmed by experimental observation with a fiber thermometer that the boiling point of water due to the degree of reduced pressure is substantially balanced with the heating temperature of the substance to be concentrated by microwaves and far infrared rays. For example, if concentration is performed at a reduced pressure of 40 torr, the heating temperature of the substance to be concentrated can be maintained at approximately 34 ° C. Because, in concentration, there is basically sufficient water and cooling action on the substance to be concentrated by the heat of evaporation works continuously, so that the water boiling point and the heating temperature to the substance to be concentrated at each degree of reduced pressure are almost balanced. It is.
This further means that the heating temperature to the substance to be concentrated can be controlled by controlling the degree of pressure reduction. Thus, a high-quality concentrated substance with very little oxidation can be obtained.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the present invention, the removal of water from a substance to be concentrated is performed by a heat treatment apparatus shown in FIG. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view showing a concentration step according to the present invention. The specifications of the microwave heating device and the far-infrared heating device in the decompression tank 1 are as follows. Microwave 5kw, far infrared heater 650w x 6 = 3.9kw, pump 5.5kw
It was used. 1 is a decompression tank. Reference numeral 2 denotes a far-infrared heater set in the decompression tank 1, which is usually a ceiling surface of the decompression tank 1,
It is set at four places on the floor and both sides. The degree of decompression is set through a decompression port 6 communicating with the decompression tank 1 by using a decompression valve 4 and a decompression adjustment valve 5 in the middle of a vacuum pump 3 installed outside the decompression tank 1. The microwaves are introduced into the decompression tank 1 by a microwave power unit 7, an isolator 8, and a bifurcated waveguide 9 installed outside the decompression tank 1.
Through two locations of the microwave inlet 10 in the decompression tank 1. Reference numeral 11 denotes a stirrer for performing uniform heating.
Reference numeral 12 denotes a storage shelf installed in the decompression tank 1 so that the plate or the tray 13 can be stored in multiple stages.

[0013]

Example 1 A liquid lactic acid bacterium enzyme solution was concentrated. This is a material used for nutritional foods, and is a raw material that is processed after first producing a concentrated paste. The water content of the lactic acid bacteria enzyme solution is about 60%, and to prevent bumping during the concentration process,
Output of microwave is 1kw, output of far infrared ray is 2k
w. 3 kg of the lactic acid bacterium enzyme solution was separately mounted on the upper and lower seven plates 13 and set in a vacuum tank. Microwave heating and far-infrared heating were started simultaneously with the start of depressurization.
The central area of the pressure reduction was adjusted to about 50 torr in order to prevent bumping of the lactic acid bacterium enzyme solution, and the concentration was advanced. 50
After one minute, the operation was stopped, and the weight of the lactic acid bacteria enzyme solution after concentration was measured to be 1460 g. The lactic acid bacteria enzyme solution before concentration has a water content of about 1800 g and a solid content of about 1200 g.
g, so that about 1540 g of water was removed. The water content of the lactic acid bacteria enzyme solution after the concentration was completed was 260 ÷
By 1460, it was about 17.8%. It can be said that the heating center temperature range was about 38 ° C. due to the degree of pressure reduction of about 50 torr. Subsequent examination showed that the lactic acid bacteria were hardly destroyed, indicating that the concentrated lactic acid bacteria enzyme solution was of higher quality than ever before.

Example 2 A gel-like madder pigment was concentrated. This is a pigment mainly used as a coloring agent for foods, and has a water content of about 75% and is in a gel state. 5 kg of the Akane dye was divided and mounted on seven plates 13 vertically and vertically, and set in a decompression tank. Microwave output 3k at the same time as decompression starts
w, and far infrared rays were simultaneously oscillated at an output of 3.9 kw. After 40 minutes, the microwave heating was stopped, the pressure was reduced only by far infrared rays, and the operation was stopped after further removing water. When the Akane pigment after concentration was measured, it was 1750
g. The initial water content is about 3750 g, the solid content of the Akane pigment is about 1250 g, and the water content after concentration is about 500 g.
g, which means that about 3250 g of water has been removed. Therefore, the water content of the Akane pigment after concentration is 500 kg.
According to 1750, it is about 28.6%. The central area of the degree of reduced pressure in this concentration step was 30 torr, so
This means that concentration was performed in a heating temperature range of about 9 ° C. Subsequent spectral inspection of the dye showed that there was almost no destroyed color gamut.

EXAMPLE 3 Raw sea urchins (raw gonads) were concentrated. It is used as a fine spice in pizza, spaghetti or seafood dishes, and its subtle taste and aroma are said to be difficult to make artificially. The water content of the raw sea urchin was about 72%, and 5 kg of paste-like raw sea urchin was separately mounted on the upper and lower seven plates 13 and set in a vacuum tank. Microwave 5kw at the same time as the decompression start,
The operation was started with 3.9 kw far infrared rays. After 30 minutes, the operation was stopped, and the weight of the concentrated raw sea urchin paste was measured to be 2,100 g. Since the raw sea urchin before concentration had a water content of about 3600 g and a solids content of about 1400 g, about 2900 g of water was removed by concentration. Therefore, the water content after concentration is 7
According to 00 ÷ 2100, it was about 33%. Since the central area of the degree of pressure reduction in this concentration step was 45 torr, it means that concentration was performed in a heating temperature range of about 36 ° C. It was possible to obtain a concentrated raw sea urchin paste having extremely good aroma, taste and color.

Example 4 Strawberries were scraped, and 10 kg of the treated strawberries were set in the vacuum tank 1. The initial water content is 10
It is assumed to be about 9.01 kg by kg × 90.1%.
Also, the solid weight is assumed to be about 0.99 kg. Decompression tank 1
The degree of decompression inside was controlled around 45 torr. Microwave output is 5kw, far infrared output is 3.9kw
And Internal heating temperature for strawberries is 45 torr
The center temperature range was around 36 ° C. below around r. After 50 minutes, it was taken out of the vacuum tank 1 and its weight was measured.
kg. Therefore, the contents of the components at this stage were 0.99 kg of strawberry solids, 2.36 kg of water, and the amount of water removed was 6.65 kg. When this was crushed and stirred by a mixer, an extremely delicious and aromatic strawberry paste was completed. In addition, 70 mg of vitamin C was detected per 100 g by analysis, and it was found that the preservation rate of nutrients was extremely high.

Example 5 10 kg of carrots from which leaves were removed were set in the vacuum tank 1 with several slits formed on the surface. The water content in the initial stage is assumed to be about 9.04 kg by 10 kg × 90.4%. Also, the solid weight is assumed to be about 0.96 kg. The degree of decompression in the decompression tank 1 was controlled at around 45 torr. The microwave output is 5 kW, and the far infrared output is 3.
9 kW. Internal heating temperature for carrots is 4
The center temperature range was about 36 ° C. under about 5 torr.
After 50 minutes, it was taken out of the vacuum tank 1 and its weight was measured to be 3.55 kg. Therefore, the content of the components at this stage was 0.96 kg of solid carrots and 2.59 kg of water, and the amount of water removed was 6.45 kg. When this was pulverized and stirred by a mixer, extremely colorful and delicious concentrated granules were obtained. In the case of a carrot alone, it was not a paste but a concentrated granule. If this was combined with another kind of paste such as strawberry and crushed and stirred, a blended concentrated paste was produced.

Example 6 10 kg of tomatoes from which debris had been removed were immersed in ethanol for 1 minute and sterilized. This was mounted on a sterilized tray and set in the vacuum tank 1. Initial stage water content is 10kg x 9
5% is assumed to be about 9.5kg. Also, the solid weight is assumed to be about 0.5 kg. The degree of decompression in the decompression tank 1 is 45
Control was performed before and after torr. The microwave output was set to 5 kw, and the far infrared output was set to 3.9 kw. The internal heating temperature of the tomato was 36 degrees under a reduced pressure of around 45 torr.
The center area was around ° C. 55 minutes later, it was taken out of the vacuum tank 1 and its weight was measured to be 2.65 kg. Therefore, the ingredient content at this stage is tomato solid about 0.5k
g and water content are about 2.15 kg, and the amount of water removed is 7.
It was 35 kg. 0.5% by weight as a preservative
Was added, and the mixture was crushed and stirred with a sterilized mixer. As a result, an extremely delicious and aromatic tomato paste was produced. In addition, the number of bacteria (the number of viable bacteria) was determined to be 1.
The level was 5 × 10 ² . After refrigerated storage at 4 ° C. and analysis of the bacteria one month later, no bacterial growth was observed. Moreover, the delicious aroma was maintained as it was.

[0019]

According to the method for producing a concentrated substance according to the present invention, first, the substance to be concentrated is rapidly removed in a large amount in the form as it is or close to it without performing fine treatment such as cutting. By doing so, oxidation can be prevented. Controlling the internal heating temperature of the substance to be concentrated when removing moisture from the substance to be concentrated by simultaneously heating the substance to be concentrated in the vacuum tank with microwave heating and far-infrared heating As a result, the temperature can be controlled to a relatively low temperature, for example, 40 ° C. or lower, so that the generation level of oxidation can be kept low. When removing the substance to be concentrated from the vacuum tank after removing a predetermined amount of water and stirring or crushing and stirring,
Oxidation occurs at a very low rate because a significant amount of the initial moisture of the substance to be concentrated has already been removed. As a result, an excellent concentrated substance that leaves most of the active ingredients of the substance to be concentrated is produced. In addition, the obtained concentrated substance does not impair the taste and aroma, and almost no nutrients and extraction target components are destroyed.

The method for producing a concentrated substance according to the present invention is extremely simple and enables mass production at low cost. In addition, when the substance to be concentrated is in a solid state or in a state close to it, water can be removed. Therefore, sterilization is performed at an initial stage, and the microwave is further added while the substance to be concentrated is put into the decompression tank. If sterilization is carried out and agitated or crushed and agitated and packaged hygienically, an extremely hygienic concentrated substance can be easily produced.

In the present invention, especially in the pharmaceutical industry and the cosmetics industry, a concentration technique as a pre-step of component extraction is very important. Will make a contribution.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a step of concentrating a substance to be concentrated, showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view of an apparatus for concentrating a substance to be concentrated.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Decompression tank 2 Far infrared heater 3 Vacuum pump 4 Decompression valve 5 Decompression regulating valve 6 Decompression port 7 Microwave power unit 8 Isolator 9 Waveguide 10 Microwave inlet 11 Stirrer 12 Storage shelf 13 Plate or tray

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) F26B 23/04 F26B 23/04 B F-term (Reference) 3L113 AA01 AB06 AC10 AC13 AC24 AC45 AC46 AC58 AC59 AC67 AC85 AC90 BA03 BA36 CA08 CA16 DA04 DA06 DA11 DA21 DA24 DA25 4B022 LA05 LA06 LB06 LF01 LQ06 LQ07 LQ09 LT04 LT05 4D076 AA02 AA07 AA24 BA50 DA24 DA27 EA01Y EA14Y HA11 HA20 JA03 4G075 AA22 AA61 BB01 BB10 CA01 CA35

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A liquid, a gel, a paste, a powder, a particle, a solid or the like to be condensed as it is, or when the substance to be condensed is in a solid form, the skin or unnecessary A part is removed or cut into a predetermined size at a level that is less affected by oxidation. Then, the substance to be concentrated is set in a decompression tank, and the decompression tank is set to one or more target decompression degrees. Pressure control, and subjecting the substance to be concentrated in the decompression tank to a heating treatment in which a controlled microwave heating and a controlled far-infrared heating are simultaneously performed in part or all of the entire concentration step, and a predetermined target moisture content is obtained. A method for producing a concentrated substance, wherein the concentrated substance is produced by stirring or crushing and stirring. 2. Prior to setting a solid substance to be concentrated in the above-mentioned decompression tank, the substance to be concentrated is in a form as it is, in a form in which skin or unnecessary portions are removed, or in a predetermined level of a level at which generation of oxidation is small. 2. The method for producing a concentrated substance according to claim 1, wherein the paste is sterilized in a form cut to a size.