Polymeric Adsorbent for CIP Media Aromatic Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current CIP media systems fail to effectively remove non-polar aromatic substances like aldehydes, ketones, esters, phenols, anisoles, and heteroaromatics, leading to off-flavors in products and a shortened service life of CIP media, making it difficult to fill products with different taste intensities on the same bottling plant.

Innovation Solution

The use of crosslinked polyethylene as an adsorbing polymeric material for direct contact with CIP media to adsorb and reduce aromatic substances, ensuring they do not impair the taste of filled products, with the adsorbent material being used in amounts ranging from 2g/L to 200g/L.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If CIP media are reused multiple times, then cost efficiency improves, but aromatic substances accumulate and cause off-flavors in products

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice life of CIP mediaVSAvoidoff-flavors in products
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes aromatic substances from the CIP media through filtration and adsorption processes. The returning CIP media are treated to separate and eliminate the harmful aromatic compounds that cause off-flavors, allowing the media to be reused without contaminating subsequent products.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary treatment system between the CIP media circulation and the product filling process. This intermediary system includes filtration units and adsorption materials that mediate the interaction by capturing aromatic substances before they can contaminate products, enabling extended media reuse.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If different taste intensity products are filled on the same bottling plant, then production versatility improves, but cross-contamination of flavors occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct variety capabilityVSAvoidcross-contamination of flavors
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes aromatic substances from CIP media through filtration and adsorption, preventing these extracted contaminants from transferring between different product batches. This extraction process enables the system to handle diverse products with different taste intensities without cross-contamination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent discards the harmful aromatic substances from the CIP media through adsorption onto polymeric materials while recovering and reusing the cleaned CIP media. This selective discarding of contaminants and recovery of the cleaning medium enables versatile product production without flavor cross-contamination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If CIP media flow through product-carrying lines, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but aromatic substances are transported and stored in polymeric components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidaromatic substance accumulation in seals
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts aromatic substances from the CIP media that have been circulating through the system. By removing these substances from the returning media, the patent prevents their accumulation in polymeric seals and components, maintaining cleaning effectiveness while avoiding contamination storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a filtration and adsorption intermediary system that processes the returning CIP media. This intermediary treatment prevents aromatic substances from being transported to and stored in polymeric components, while still allowing the CIP media to perform their cleaning function effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method significantly extends the service life of CIP media by preventing off-flavors and allowing for the filling of diverse products without taste contamination, reducing the frequency of media replacement and associated costs.

Implementation Method 1

aromatic substances or aromatics present in the respective CIP media are advantageously removed by adsorption with the adsorbing polymeric material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP2961505B1Method and device for processing cip media
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 KHS GMBH
  • EP2961505B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2961505B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A method and device for processing used liquid CIP media in plants for treating containers, wherein aroma compounds present in the respective CIP medium are removed by adsorption to and/or in a polymeric adsorbent material.