Ethanol removal from alcoholic beverages - by extn. with carbon di:oxide at high pressure

摘要

Removal of ethanol from alcoholic beverages (e.g. beer or wine) is effected by (a) introducing the beverage into one or more pressure vessels, (b) injecting liq. or "fluid" CO2 into the vessel(s), (c) intensively mixing the beverage and CO2, (d) withdrawing CO2 contg. dissolved EtOH and other volatiles, and (e) expanding the CO2 to release EtOH and volatiles. The treatment is pref. effected at a temp. of -10 to +35 deg.C and a pressure of 5-250 bar. Step (c) can be effected in a pressurised centrifuge, cyclone or high-speed mixer. Step (e) can be effected in one or more stages. Multi-stage expansion is pref. effected at progressively decreasing pressure, opt. with progressively decreasing or increasing temp. The process allows low-alcohol beverages to be produced without significant loss of quality.