Simulated Moving Bed Ion-Exchange for Grape Juice Sugar Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved systems and methods to control the alcohol concentration in wine products, as existing methods lack efficiency in achieving desired alcohol levels.
Innovation Solution
The use of a continuous separation process, specifically a simulated moving bed (SMB) ion-exchange process, to separate grape juice into high-sugar and low-sugar streams, allowing for the production of low-alcohol wine and other beverage products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional fermentation methods are used to control alcohol concentration, then the process is simple and equipment requirements are low, but the ability to precisely control alcohol concentration is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The grape juice stream is segmented into multiple fractions with different sugar concentrations through the SMB ion-exchange process. The continuous separation process divides the feed stream into high-sugar and low-sugar streams, enabling precise control of alcohol concentration in the final wine product by selecting appropriate fermentation substrates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/physical separation methods with an ion-exchange-based SMB process. This chemical separation mechanism provides more precise and controllable separation of sugar components, enabling better alcohol concentration control compared to conventional mechanical filtration or settling methods.
2Manufacturing precision
If SMB ion-exchange separation process is implemented, then alcohol concentration control is improved, but the device complexity and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The SMB ion-exchange device performs multiple functions: it separates sugar from grape juice, concentrates sugar streams, and produces fractions suitable for different wine alcohol concentration requirements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate processing units, thereby simplifying overall plant configuration despite the advanced separation technology used.
Solution Approach 2:
The SMB process operates continuously rather than in batches, maintaining constant separation and production of high-sugar and low-sugar streams. This continuous operation improves manufacturing efficiency and makes the process more suitable for industrial-scale wine production, offsetting the initial complexity through operational simplicity and consistency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If grape juice is separated into high-sugar and low-sugar streams, then low-alcohol wine production is enabled, but the loss of time for separation processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The SMB separation process operates continuously, producing high-sugar and low-sugar streams without interruption. This eliminates the time losses associated with batch processing, including setup, loading, and cleaning cycles, thereby reducing overall processing time while enabling flexible production of multiple wine types with different alcohol concentrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation of grape juice into high-sugar and low-sugar streams is performed in advance of fermentation. This preliminary action allows the fermentation process to proceed with pre-prepared substrates of known sugar content, enabling better process planning and reducing the total production time for multiple product variants.
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 effectively controls the alcohol concentration in wine products by fermenting the low-sugar grape juice to produce low-alcohol wine, while the high-sugar grape juice can be used to create various beverage products.
Implementation Method 1
A grape juice can be separated into a high-sugar grape juice and a low-sugar grape juice using a continuous separation process, which can be or include a simulated moving bed (SMB) ion-exchange process
Implementation Method 2
For the production of wine, a grape juice can be subjected to a fermentation process in which yeast converts sugar in the juice into alcohol
Implementation Method 3
The fructose and glucose streams can be subjected to evaporation and/or drying processes to produce fructose crystals and glucose crystals, respectively
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to a method and a system for processing grapes. An example system includes a simulated moving bed (SMB) device configured to receive a feed stream and an eluent stream as inputs and provide an extract stream and a raffinate stream as outputs. The feed stream includes a grape juice, the extract stream includes a high-sugar grape juice, and the raffinate stream includes a low-sugar grape juice. The system also includes fermentation equipment configured to produce a low-alcohol wine from the low-sugar grape juice.