Starch settling recovery system

US10113008B2 · kind B2 · utility

Inventors

• Larry Ferro · Pocatello, US
• Christopher Mann · Southeast 1st Street, GB
• Kevin D. Thompson · Indianapolis, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 21, 2016
• Grant date: Oct 30, 2018
• Expiry date: Dec 23, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C02F2303/24
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

This invention describes the equipment and a method to recover starch from a dilute starch stream produced by manufacturing facilities which process the starch-containing materials, such as potato and corn. The process comprises feeding a dilute aqueous slurry of less than about 5% by weight starch to a classifier to concentrate the slurry by a factor of at least 5 and produce a concentrated slurry, wherein the classifier has at least one overflow exit and at least one underflow exit; drawing off the overflow and underflow from the classifier; feeding the concentrated slurry from the underflow exit of the classifier into a settling tank having at least one underflow exit and at least one overflow exit to produce an underflow layer of starch with a concentration of at least 40% starch proximate to the underflow exit and an aqueous overflow with a concentration of less than about 5% by weight starch proximate to the overflow exit; drawing off the overflow from the tank; and opening a orifice at the underflow exit of the tank to allow the distal most fraction of the underflow to exit the tank.