2) United States Patent Baensch (54) PROCESS FOR DEFATTING COCONUT MEAT. (76) Inventor: Werner Buensch, KGnigsberperstrasse 32, 37608 Holzminden (DE) (4) Notice: Suibject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extendod of adjusted under 35 USC. 154(b) by 820 days (21) Appl. No. 10790,440 (22) Filed: Jul, 13, 2004 ws) Prior Publication Data US 2005/0013909.A1 Jan, 20, 2008 G0) Foreign Application Priority Data Jul, 18,2003 (DE) 03 32.719 (SI) Ine ch. A231 1212 (2006.01) (2) US. 426/617; 4261489; 426/481 8 (58) Field of Classiieation Search None ‘Sce application file for complete search history. 66) References Cited USS. PATENT DOCUMENTS. 2DITTAS A * 12/1959. Kelley ota 426617 3860731 A LI97S: Forkner 426617 3890606 A * $1975 Forknee 426250 409881242 T1978 Luteo a sseais 4296.36 4 * LOIS. Zicearll ota 426533 'US007364765B2 US 7,364,765 B2 Apr. 29, 2008. (10) Patent No. (4s) Date of Patent: 447.832 BL* 912002 Epps @ a POREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 20617 FR Vse4¥87 41969 Gn. aoa «911982 (OTHER PUBLICATIONS Woodioof, JG. 1979, Coconuts: Production, Pocesing. Products, 2" eion. AVI Publishing Company, Ine, Westpot, CL, p. 102 HD. Bolte, W. Grosh, Lebrbuch der Lebeasmitelchemi ringr-Verlag, Bilin, Heidelberg New Yor, Tokyo, 496. * cited by examiner Carolyn Paden MeGilew and Tuttle PC Primary Bvaminer: (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm. on ABSTRACT During the defatting of coconut gratings ftom freshly hat= vested coconuts, the gratings ae cooled to temperatures at ‘which erystallization, ie, solidification of the fat compo- ‘ens occurs, before the coconut gratings are pressed, Hot\- ‘ever this temperate must not drop below the feng point fof water, preferably <2° Cin onler to avoid erystallzation ‘ofthe agueousTiquid components ofthe coconut milk, As a result, the aqueousliguid coconut milk with redveed Fat content is separated from the coconut gratings in the next pressing, To separate the coconut oil from the coconut ‘tatings, these are subsequently heated 0 temperatures at Which the eaconut oil becomes liguid ia order to thea separate it from the coconut gratings by pressing. The coconut il (irgin coconut ol) is now oblained in an extremely eficient and gentle manner. 20 Claims, No DrawingsUS 7,364,765 B2 1 PROCESS FOR DEEATTING COCONUT MEAT CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED 'APPLICATIONS| s ‘This application claims the benefit of priority under 35, US. § 19 of DE 103327193 filed Jul. 18, 2003, the entire ‘contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to a process for de wing BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A process for producing coconut flakes and the product ‘obtained therefrom is shown and described in DE 24 22 640) Al, To produce an cil cake, which i to be subjected to frer processing, this process provides for coring the harvested coconut, fine grinding and pressing out the coco- ‘nut meat in a suitable pressure vessel and thus separating the ‘cocont milk from the oil eake. This ol eke is mixed with the inner Mud obtained during the drilling ofthe coconut and water and subjected (0 another pressing in order t separate ‘more milk and a second cake. Te total coconut milk obtained from these pressings is ‘centrifuged, and a cream and a skimmed milk are obtained, After coresponding dewatering and centrifuging the eream ‘yields coconut oi, Which is intended for consumption 1 was found that this process is extraordinarily compli ‘cated, and itis aimed primarily at obtaining coconut flakes ‘or powder rather than at obtaining oi French Patent No. 1 568 857, also deseribes a process for the treatment of the fresh core of the coeonut, which is similar to the above-deseribed process. The coconut milk is separated from the oil eake by pressing in this case as well, ‘and skimmed milk is then obtained, and the cream is subjected to further treatment in order to oblain the fresh ‘coconut ol and. food product therefrom. Four products that ae important for human nutrition ae ths obtained, namely, Tesh coconut oil the eonceniated cocomut milk, as well as 1 prodict containing the coconut proteins, and an ol eake, ‘whose solids are partially leached out is obtained as 3 byproduct for fooding animals © This process is also very luborintensive, and the efi ciency of the production of the cocoa oil i not optimal DE 1 047 971 B proposes a process and a device for isolating ol and fa from coconuts, ia Which provisions are made for heating @ mixture of Higuid aad coconut meat _aatings ta temperature of 30°C. and for obtaining a filtrate by pressing out, which sid filtrates subsequently subjected to churning, The churned filtrate i heated to separate i into protein and liguid as well a solid residues, and the protein ‘as well a the liguid are separated by settling, and the pure oil is separated mectianicaly from the est of the liquefied sae, Consequently, a filtrate, which contains all the coast ‘ents, ie, also the fat component ofthe coconut meat, which requires’ complicated further processing 10 obtain the ‘cocoa ol, is obtained here in fist operation, o 2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ‘The basic objet of the present invention is to propose an especialy efiient and gentle process for removing the fit {rom the edible component of the coconut meat ‘According to the invention, a process is provided for ‘defating coconut meat. The process comprise the separa tion of the encomut meat from the coconut shell and size redvetion of the coconut meat. The temperature of the coconut gratings is set (brought) to a value below the ‘melting point of the coconut oil contained, which is atleast 20° C.and at most 28° C., preferably at 15° C, but above {he freezing point of water This is fllowed by pressing (oF other suitable separation) ofthe eoconut gratings (that have been brought to the temperature range below the melting point of the coconnt oi) from the coconut milk, which now thas a reduced fat content. The coconvt gratings obtained are bested to a temperature above the meltigg point of the remaining coconut oil, which is at « minimum 20° C. and Whiek is at most 28° C. The heating is preferably o about 35°C. The separation proces is repented! (or other suitable Separation step i. centrifuge press) ofthe coconut gratings fad separation and isolation af the cocamt oil. The cell Jose-contaning fers obtained from the coconut meat may then be washed and dryed, ‘A beat pump may be used for heating and evoling. The {evaporator side of the evaporator ofthe heat exchanger has the temperature set for cooling inthe process above and the condenser side of the condenser of the heat exchanger provides the reheating of the coconut gratings “The pressing operations may he carried out by means of ceatifiges. “The essence of the present invention is thatthe separation ‘ofthe coconut oi fom the eaconut meat is brought about by the physical binding ofthe fatto the coconut meat, so that the fat components adhere to the coconut meat diving the pressing of the eoconut milk aut of the coconut meat, and ‘hese fat components are then separated from the eaconut ‘eat seperately in a subsequent afterteatment operation. The piysical binding ofthe fat components to the coconut mest oocirs die t0 the fac is set at temperatures below the state of solidification of the fat and thus trans- {formed into the solid phase, Its important ia this connection tat this setting doesnot lead ro such low temperature ranges that the Water-coaining components ofthe coconut would freeze, Separation of the fat and the milk would thus no Tonger be possible Based on this novel separation process with its extraor- inarly gentle effect on the isolation of the coconut prod vets, these products ean be widely used for human notation, ce. a8 ‘coconut milk with reduced fat content, coconut milk puddings, {econat milk yogurt, diewetic bread spreads (cheese spread), h-fat coconut gratings, spray-dried coconut milk with reduced fat content, cold-pressed, native coconut oi cosmetic products from tis oj These above-mentioned coconut products ean be rely classified to the group of the dietetic foods, which arises from the fat thatthe eocont milk with reduced fat content is free from cholester, lactose and gluten. The ahove- ‘mentioned derived prodvets prepared from them corre: spondingly belong 1 this oup of products a wel. "The varius features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in theUS 7,364,765 B2 3 ‘annexed to and forming a part ofthis disclosure. Fora better understanding of the invention, its operating sdvantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the secompanying descriptive “matter in which prefered ‘embosiimentsof the invention ate described, DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS ‘The production process shall be deseribed on the basis of tan example, and only the essential process steps will be ‘described here, In a first operation, the freshly harvested coconuts ate broken open, alved and grated ino fine coconut gratings by means of a grinding mill, while the tomperature of these ratings rises, ‘In. subsequent process step, the coconut gratings are set by a continuously or intermittently operating cooling plant toa temperature helow the melting point of the cocomt cil hich iat least 20°C. and at most 28° C nearly complete crystallization of the fats contained in the ‘coconut gratings has aecured. A temperate of 15° C. as proved t be especially ellective for this purpose. This ‘cooling process must not advance so far thatthe aqueous ‘components in the coconut gratings would erystalize. Provisions are made inthe further process sep for freeing the cooled coconnt gratings from the coconut milk by means ‘ofa press ora centrifuge. The aqueousliquid coconut milk ‘with reduced fat content is dhs separated Irom the solidified ‘econut il. The coconut milk with reduced fat content, Which ie thus obtained and is extraordinarily rich in con. stituents, such as carbohydrates, protein, minerals, vitamins as well'us other secondary accompanying and flavoring substances that occur in plants, in is natural composition, ‘ean be used further as a food. The high-fat coconut gratings obtained seconting to the above process step are heated in another process step (0 3 temperature above the meling point of the coconut, cil, €8 to 35" C,, as a eesult of which the eocoaut oil passes over Iino the liguid state ‘A repeated, continuous oF intermittent pressing is then performed in # next process step, and the fat components, Which are to be obtained inthis process in a gentle manne, fare now obtained. This cocantt oil ean then he subjected to further processing for human nutition because of its high purity "The remaining filter cake obtained according tothe above process step i finally food from residues of the coconut milk and the eoconit ofl with water and other suitable solvents in the known manner by washing. The cellulose- ‘containing fibers ths obtained may likewise be subjected to urther use; they are fre from lignin and are suitable for use, for example, as a raw material for paper-making a wel as Jor numerous other industrial applications, including appi- ‘etions in food technology. “The use of « heat pump proved to be especially advan- tageous in the navel process, the grated coconut gratings being set to a temperature below the melting point of the ‘eocoat oil on the cold side, ie. at the evaporator heat ‘exchanger, and the beating ofthe eoconut gratings alter the separation of the coconut milk taking place on the wan side, i,t the condenser heat exchanger. The costs forthe thermal processes are thus reduced to. minimum ia this process, because it was found that if the outpat is selected properly forthe amount of gratings to be processed, the heat mp reaches temperatures around 10° Con the evaporator side at a condenser temperature of approx. 40° C., ie ie, cooled, until 3 0 o 4 temperatures that are best suited for cooling aad reheating the coconut gratings, without the introduction of additional energy. “The novel process proved tobe technically so uncom cated that it can also be readily used in the producer counties by the population living there, whichis of espe- cially great economic significance in those countries. ‘While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and deseribed in detail illustrate the aplication of the principles ofthe invention, i will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing Irom such principles ‘Whar is claimed is 1. A process for defiting coconut meat, the process ‘comprising the steps of: separating the coconut met from the eoconut shell redue~ ing the sizeof the separated coconut meat sting the temperature ofthe separated coconut meat {0 ‘2 value bolow the melting point of the coconut oil ‘contained in the separated coconut meat but above the freezing point of coconut milk: pressing the set temperature coconut meat to separate the reduced fat content coconit milk from the remaining coconut gratings: heating the remaining coconvt gratings toa temperature ‘above the melting point of the remaining coconut oil; and pressing the heated remaining coconut gratings to sepa Tate and isolate the eoconst oil from remaining celhi- lose-containing fiber material 2.A process according to claim 1, wherein the remaining celulose-containing fiber 18 material from the coconut meat fs washed and dried. 3A process according to claim 1, wherein the tempera ture setting of the separated coconut meat is at most 28°C. and above the lreezing point of water. 4. process according to claim 3, whervin the tempera- ture setting ofthe separated coconut meat is 20° C. or lower, 8. A process according to claim 4, wherein the tempera- ture setting ofthe separated coconut meat is about 15° C, 6. A process according to claim 4, wherein the step of heating the remaining coconut gratings to a temperatare hove the melting point ofthe remaining coconut oil i to @ Temperature above 28° C. 7A process uecording (0 claim 6, wherein the step of hating The remaining cocont gratings to a temperatnre hove the melting point ofthe remaining caconnt ofl i (0 a temperature of about 35° C. '8.A proces in accordance with elaim 1, farther compris- ‘ng using heat pump with an evaporator side senting the temperature ofthe separated coconut meat to a value below the meling point ofthe coconut oil contained in the sepa- rated eocontit and the condenser side reheating of the focontt gratings in said step of heating the remaining coconut gratings fo temperature above the melting point of the remaining eocontt oi. '9. A process in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pressing steps are canied out by means of centrifuges. 10, A process in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pressing stops are catied out by means of presses 11. A coconut treatment proeess comprising the steps of separating the caconut mest from the cocontt shell; reducing the sizeof the separated coconut meat cong the separated coconut meat toa value below the melting point of the coconut oil contained in the separated eocomt meat but above the freezing point of ‘coconut milk:US 7,364,765 B2 5 pressing the cooled coeonnt meat fo separate the reduced Fat content coconut milk from the remaining coconut ating heating the remaining coconst gratings ta temperature above the melting point of the remaining eocondt oils and pressing the heated remaining cocomst gratings to sepa ‘ite and isolate the coconut oil from remaining celle Jose-eontaining fiber material 12. A process according to claim 11, wherein the remain- ing cellulose-containing fiber material from the coconut sical is washed and dried. 13. A process aceoring o claim 11, wherein the cooling ‘oF the separated coconut meat isto a temperature of at most 28° C. and above the freezing point of water 14, Approcess according to claim 13, wherein the evoling ‘of the separated coconut meat isto a temperature of 20° C. or lower 15.A process according to claim 14, wherein the cooling ‘ofthe separated coconut meat isto a temperature of 15° C. 16, A process according to claim 14, wherein the step of heating the remaining coconut gratings to a tempersture above the melting point of the remaining cocontt oil is 10 @ temperature above 28° C. 6 17. A process according to claim 16, wherein the step of heating the remaining coconut gratings to a temperatnre hove the melting point ofthe remaining coconut oil is to a temperature oF shout 35° C. 18, A process in accordance with elsim 11, further com- prising using a heat pump with an evaporstor sk setting the temperature of the separated coconti meat to a vale below the melting poiat ofthe coconut oil contained in the sepa- rated coconut and the condenser side reheating of the coconut gratings in said step of heating the remaining ‘coconut gratings to a temperature above the melting point of the remaining coconut oi 19, A process in aoeordance with claim 11, wherein said resting sleps are catied out by means of centrifuges 20. A process in aecondance with claim 11, wherein said resting sleps are catied out by means of presses