초록 ▼

Low-ethanol wines, beer, distilled spirits, and other alcoholic beverages are produced by treating ordinary alcoholic beverages with novel membrane extraction methods. Semipermeable membranes and gas-phase extraction fluids are employed to selectively extract ethanol into the gas-phase, while leavin

Low-ethanol wines, beer, distilled spirits, and other alcoholic beverages are produced by treating ordinary alcoholic beverages with novel membrane extraction methods. Semipermeable membranes and gas-phase extraction fluids are employed to selectively extract ethanol into the gas-phase, while leaving substantially intact the complement of other organic constituents that contribute to the color, aroma, and taste of the beverage. Methods are provided for balancing the water activity of the gas-phase extraction fluid about equal to that in the beverage, so as to inhibit water transport across the membrane independent of the ethanol/water selectivity of the membrane.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for producing from a first alcoholic beverage a second beverage of reduced alcoholic content comprising the steps: providing a membrane which is alcohol permeable; feeding a first alcoholic beverage across a feed side of said membrane; feeding a gas-phase extraction fluid across a permeate

A method for producing from a first alcoholic beverage a second beverage of reduced alcoholic content comprising the steps: providing a membrane which is alcohol permeable; feeding a first alcoholic beverage across a feed side of said membrane; feeding a gas-phase extraction fluid across a permeate side of said membrane, said extraction fluid being alcohol absorbing and comprising water vapor in an amount sufficient to minimize the diffusion of water from said first alcoholic beverage to said permeate side of said membrane by balancing the activity of water on said feed side of said membrane and said permeate side of said membrane; under conditions of temperature and pressure which are sufficient to evaporate into said gas-phase extraction fluid the portion of the alcohol initially present in said first alcoholic beverage which has crossed to the permeate side of said membrane, thereby forming from said first alcoholic beverage a second beverage having reduced alcoholic content; withdrawing said gas-phase extraction fluid containing water vapor and alcohol from said permeate side of said membrane, whereby said second beverage having reduced alcoholic content is produced on said feed side of said membrane.