HARVESTING OIL FROM FATTY MEAT MATERIALS TO PRODUCE LEAN MEAT PRODUCTS AND OIL FOR USE IN BIO-DIESEL PRODUCTION
A method for separating lean and/or fat from lean meat-containing material, including introducing a fluid containing particles of varying densities into a vessel. The vessel separates the fluid into low density and high density fractions. The material from the low density fraction is removed via an outlet and has a higher percentage of fat than the material introduced into the vessel. The material from the high density fraction is removed via an outlet and has a higher percentage of lean than the material introduced into the vessel. The vessel can be a cyclone having a tangential inlet and a cone-shaped body. The denser particles, which are predominantly lean, are separated, and leave via an outlet at a lower end of the vessel, while the lighter particles, which are predominantly fat, leave via an outlet at an upper end of the vessel.
1 . A method for separating fat and lean, comprising:
introducing a fluid comprising lean particles and fat particles into a vessel at an inlet tangential to the vessel, wherein the lean particles have a density greater than a density of the fluid; and
collecting the majority of the lean particles below the inlet.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising suspending the fat particles and the lean particles in the fluid.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising pressurizing the fluid to create a velocity that causes a centrifugal force that forces dense particles toward the sides and bottom of the vessel and forces the less dense particles towards the center and top of the vessel.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising cutting boneless beef, and chilling the particles to about 0° F. to 29° F.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising chilling the particles to at least about 29° F.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising grinding boneless beef to a small size that results in grind particles being predominantly lean particles and predominantly fat particles.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising creating particles of an average size of about 3/16 inches to about ¼ inches in diameter and/or length.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising collecting the fat particles via an outlet that is above the tangential inlet.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising heating the fat particles to produce oil and centrifugally spinning to separate the oil.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising creating a vapor space above a fluid suspension in the vessel to allow fluctuations in the flow of the suspension and/or the pressure within the vessel.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising controlling the temperature and/or pressure within the vessel by introducing a gas into the vapor space of the vessel and allowing the vapor to precipitate on the surface of the fluid.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising cutting boneless meat into particles that are individually quick frozen to prevent the particles from forming larger masses.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a cone that decreases in diameter in a direction toward the bottom of the vessel below the inlet.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is a hydrocyclone.
15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising introducing an acid in the fluid.
16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising introducing carbon dioxide in the fluid.
17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising introducing a salt into the fluid.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises water.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is biocidal.
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid includes acidified sodium chlorite.
21 . A method for the separation of fat and lean, comprising:
producing particles from beef of varying densities;
combining the beef particles with a fluid;
introducing the fluid with the beef particles into a hydrocyclone; and
collecting the heavier particles separate from the lighter particles, wherein the heavier particles comprise predominantly lean, and the lighter particles comprise predominantly fat.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the fluid comprises an acid.
23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the fluid comprises acidified sodium chlorite.