METHOD FOR PRODUCING BEVERAGES BY ACID REMOVAL

摘要

The present application relates to methods for producing beverages with low levels of acids, cations and/or sugars. The methods comprise the step of removing acidic ions through an AX-REED membrane stack and optionally removing cations through a CX-REED membrane stack. In certain embodiments, the AX-REED and the CX-REEF membrane stacks are operated in parallel. The methods may also comprise a step of converting sugar to organic acid, while simultaneously removing the generated organic acid through the AX-REED membrane stack. The sugar may for example be converted with the aid of enzymes and/or microorganisms.

主权项

1. A method of preparing a beverage, wherein the method comprises the steps of
a) providing a starting liquid comprising at least one micro-nutrient and at least one sugar; and c) incubating said liquid with
(i) one or more glucose fermenting microorganisms and/or(ii) with an enzyme or a mixture of enzymes capable of catalysing conversion of glucose to form an organic acid and/oriii) with one or more glucose fermenting microorganisms capable of fermenting glucose to an organic acid and/oriv)) with an enzyme or a mixture of enzymes capable of catalysing conversion of sugar to form an organic acid; and d) removing at least 10% of one or more acidic ions from said liquid while retaining at least 65% of said at least one micro-nutrient in said liquid, thereby obtaining an AX-REED liquid, wherein said acidic ion is removed through an Anion Exchange Reverse Electro-Enhanced Dialysis (AX-REED) membrane stack, said membrane stack containing
i) at least one cell consisting of:
a) two an-ion exchange membranes defining a chamber for the starting liquid; andb) two further chambers for a dialysis liquid, wherein said two further chambers are positioned adjacent to the chamber for the starting liquid on opposing sides and wherein said two further chambers may be connectedii) a set of end membranesiii) means for applying an electric field over the membrane stack by means of at least two electrodesiv) means for reversing the direction of the electric field within said membrane stack and wherein the removal involves the steps of
I. inserting the starting liquid into the chamber for the starting liquid; andII. inserting a dialysis liquid in the two further chambers for the dialysis liquid; andIII. applying an electric field over the membrane stack;IV. incubating said starting liquid in said chamber, whereby the direction of electric field is reversed at intervals,wherein steps c) and d) are performed at least partly simultaneously, and wherein said AX-REED liquid is the beverage or said AX-REED liquid may be further processed to obtain the beverage.