Method and system for producing ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverages using an enhanced draw solution
Methods and systems are described that produce an ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage from a high gravity alcoholic beverage stream using an efficient, low waste, combination reverse osmosis and forward osmosis system and an enhanced draw solution. Utilizing a reverse osmosis system prior to using a forward osmosis system in removing water content from a high gravity alcoholic beverage stream significantly reduces a draw solution load when compared to a process that utilizes a forward osmosis system alone or prior to using any other dewatering system. In addition, the enhanced draw solution, comprising at least one of acetaldehyde, amyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl octanoate, iso-amyl acetate, iso-amyl alcohol, iso-butanol, n-propanol, pentyl acetate, and phenyl ethyl alcohol, offers an efficient and low-cost alternative to ethanol-based draw solutions.
1 . A method, comprising:
processing a high gravity alcoholic beverage having an alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage between 5% and 14% to produce an ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage having an ABV percentage between 24% and 46%, wherein the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage comprises a greater ABV percentage than the high gravity alcoholic beverage; and
wherein processing the high gravity alcoholic beverage into the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage utilizes a draw solution and produces therefrom a spent draw solution, wherein the spent draw solution is processed into the draw solution by at least one of reverse osmosis or distilling, and wherein the draw solution and/or the spent draw solution comprises at least one of acetaldehyde, amyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl octanoate, iso-amyl acetate, or pentyl acetate.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein prior to processing the high gravity alcoholic beverage, the method comprises:
receiving the high gravity alcoholic beverage as part of a continuous infeed stream.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein processing the high gravity alcoholic beverage to produce the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage comprises:
conveying the high gravity alcoholic beverage to at least one forward osmosis filter membrane that separates an amount of water from the high gravity alcoholic beverage.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
converting the spent draw solution into a fresh draw solution; and
reintroducing the fresh draw solution for processing the high gravity alcoholic beverage to produce the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the high gravity alcoholic beverage is a beer, cider, or an alcoholic malt base.
6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein processing the high gravity alcoholic beverage to produce the ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage further comprises:
providing a flow path for the high gravity alcoholic beverage, wherein the flow path includes a serpentine pattern.