A TREATMENT PROCESS FOR REMOVAL OF CHLORANISOLE COMPOUNDS
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention provides a treatment process for at least the substantial removal of trichloranisole related compounds from fluids and to fluids so treated.
BACKGROUND ART
The invention relates to a problem of cork and oak mould that cause a taint that is responsible for producing trichloranisole compounds.
Cork is a preferred stopper for a variety of bottled liquids, particularly wine, since it allows its contents to develop and mature while in the bottle. Corks are sourced from the bark strips of cork oak and are subsequently cut, washed, bleached, steralised, sorted and checked for moisture. It is estimated that up to 10 percent of these corks processed in this way, when rammed into a bottle and become wet, cause the release of a musty and mouldy aroma.
A harmless mould within a cork combined with the bleach used to treat the cork and in the presence of moisture the trichloranisole compounds are created that produce the off odours associated with the liquid and wine taint.
The problem of such taint also exists in wooden barrels, storage holders, liquid treating apparatus, packaging material and other devices that come in contact with or are brought close to a vulnerable liquid.
This invention has for its object to provide a treatment process for at least the substantial removal of trichloranisole compounds from liquids.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According in one form of this invention a method is provided for removal of trichloranisole compounds from a liquid, including the steps of bringing the liquid into contact with polyethylene.
In preference this liquid is thereafter removed from contact with the polyethylene.
The invention has particular application to wine which has been stored in a container where at least a portion is a carrier of trichloranisole.
A discovery of the invention is that polyethylene provides a substantial selective adhesion to trichloranisole.
In preference polyethylene is in the form of relatively small particles which thereby provides a substantial volume to mass ratio is used.
In a further preferred form the polyethylene is in the form of particles supported in a container that includes at least one fluid inlet location and at least one fluid outlet location to effect .
In preference this container is disposable.
In preference, the polyethylene particles are restricted from discharge by having mesh means located across at least the outlet of the container.
In preference there are means to restrict discharge of polyethylene particles from the container include a porous membrane or screen, wherein the pore size of the porous membrane or screen permits only a flow of the liquid to be treated therethrough.
In preference the inlet location is positioned substantially to one end of the container and the outlet at an opposite end.
In preference these are arranged so as to receive from a bottle a liquid to be treated with the outlet location positioned substantially to the opposite end to the inlet location so designed to discharge the liquid to a receiving container.
Increase in rate of transfer through the polyethylene can be achieved by increasing the head of liquid being applied to the liquid being treated or by reducing the pressure within the receiving container.
In preference a tube or pipe extends into the bottle where a supply of air or non- oxidising non-toxic gas provides an increase in pressure that then assists in the
passage of the liquid through the media of polyethylene particles.
Alternatively in preference the receiving container is connected to a pump that creates a pressure drop within the receiving container increasing the rate at which the liquid passes through the media of polyethylene particles.
In situations where the media of polyethylene particles needs to be reactivated to further absorb and retain trichloranisole compounds of another tainted liquid, preferably a washing fluid is provided that makes contact with the media of polyethylene particles, providing a means so as to at least substantially remove any remaining portions of the liquid that has been treated for trichloranisole compounds from the media polyethylene particles.
In preference the washing fluid is a neutral liquid for example water.
In another embodiment of the invention there is a plurality of containers, each containing a media of polyethylene particles arranged in a series, all having a media of polyethylene particles that have a common source in the supply of liquid to be treated and a shared outlet conduit to the receiving container.
An advantage of such an arrangement is that larger volumes of liquid can be treated within a certain time period.
In a further form, the invention could be said to reside in a method to provide a treatment process for at least the substantial removal of trichloranisole compounds responsible for defects in bottled liquids, whereby polyethylene particles are added to the liquid to be treated with trichloranisole compounds being absorbed directly onto the polyethylene particles and with physical movement of the polyethylene particles, trichloranisole compounds are held in a suspension or colloid for removal from the treated liquid.
In a further form, the invention could be said to reside in the use of polyethylene to effect selective removal of trichloranisole compounds from a liquid.
In still a further form, the invention could be said to reside in an apparatus for holding a liquid where there is included at least a portion of the containing area that includes polyethylene that can effect removal of trichloranisole compounds.
In preference the invention can be said to reside in a method of reducing compounds within wine that cause cork taint which includes the step of causing affected wine to be in contact with a surface of polyethylene to an extent to effect such removal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of this invention, it will now be described in relation to preferred embodiments which shall be described with the assistance of drawings wherein:
FIGS 1 A and 1 B are front elevations of a container supporting a media of polyethylene particles;
FIGS. 2A and 2B are front elevations of an inverted bottle and a receiving container separated by a container supporting polyethylene particles.
FIG. 3 is a series of the container represented in FIG. 1 B lined in succession, showing a common supply of feed material and a shared outlet conduit for discharge into the receiving container.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring in detail to the drawings, a media of polyethylene particles 1 is supported in a container 2 constructed so as to have an inlet 3 which comes in contact with a bottle having a liquid containing trichloranisole compounds and an outlet 5 positioned to come in contact with a receiving container.
Porous membranes 7A, 7B confine the media of polyethylene particles 1 to the container 2.
In FIG. 2 a bottle 4 containing a tainted liquid 8 of trichloranisole compounds engages the container 2 with both bottle 4 and container 2 inverted to be positioned above a receiving container 6 with the outlet 5 aligned so that the liquid 8 passes through the inlet membrane 7A and temporarily therefore contacts the media of polyethylene particles 1 and passes out through membrane 7B into the receiving container 6.
A treated liquid 9 of substantially reduced amounts of trichloranisole compounds is collected on a permeate side of container 2 in the receiving container 6.
In FIG. 2A tubing 10 extends to bottle 4 through container 2 to supply air assisting in passing the liquid 8 through the media of polyethylene particles 1.
Air or other non-oxidising non-toxic gasses can also be supplied under pressure through 11 to build up atmospheric pressure 12 in the bottle 4 forcing down the liquid 8 to increase the rate through the media of polyethylene particles 1 into the receiving container 6.
Alternatively, in FIG. 2B a drop in pressure within the receiving container is achieved through installation of a pump 13 to the receiving container 6. The pressure drop 14 and suction created by the pump 13 increases the rate at which the liquid 8 can be collected at the receiving container 6.
In FIG. 3 there is a series of containers 2, each containing a media of polyethylene particles 1 so arranged that all operate independent treatment systems with each having a common source in supply 15 of liquid containing trichloranisole compounds and a shared conduit that discharges the liquid of substantially reduced amounts of trichloranisole compounds into the same receiving container 6.
The series of containers 2 in succession enables faster treatment of the liquid into the receiving container 6.
In a further embodiment the liquid is tainted by being stored in a wooden barrel. The liquid was decanted from the barrel and poured through fine polyethylene particles. The polyethylene was selected as being a pure form of polyethylene. The liquid was sampled both before and after the temporary passage of the liquid across the surface of the many particles of polyethylene and was found to have significant taint which was considered to be caused by trichloranisole prior to passage through the particles and was found to have no detectable taint subsequent to such passage.
It is considered that this method can apply to any liquid used as a basis for food or beverage which is spoiled by this material.
Terminology used throughout the description of the invention is designed to
illustrate the shape or characteristics of the components involved. These terms should be interpreted in their widest possible context, and where more technical names could be applied to describe the same components and effect the same results, it certainly is the intention of this description to include such terms.
Further, the present invention has been described in terms of FIGS. 1 to 3 in order to facilitate better understanding of the invention. It should be however appreciated that various modifications can be made to this description without departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, the invention should be understood to include all such modification within its scope.