Title of Invention

A METHOD FOR PROCESSING BRAN

Abstract This invention relates to a method for processing bran, in particular wheat bran, for otaining aleuron cells, in particular of the wheat grain, wherein the aleuron containing constituents in the bran are deteched from aleuron free constituents contained therein aleuron; after which the aleuron-containing constituents are removed.
Full Text

Method for Extracting Aieurone from Bran
The invention relates to a method for processing bran, in particular wheat bran, and extracting aieurone cells, in particular those of wheat kernels. Furthermore, it relates to the use of the separated or isolated aieurone components as an additive to foodstuffs and feedstock, or as a food supplement or feed supplement. In addition, it relates to aleurone-containing products and in particular to aleurone-containing functional food.
A wheat kernel can be divided into three primary components, namely the hull (or "bran"). endosperm, and germ. The hull itself consists of several finely differentiated layers, which may also be classified in three groups:
Pericarp (epidermis, longitudinal cells, cross cells, tube cells) Seed coat or testa (pigmented layer, colorless layer) Aieurone layer
The aieurone cell layer of wheat is a single-row layer consisting of thick-walled cells, the contents of which are very important from a nutritional and physiological perspective. The aieurone cells contain vitamins, minerals, fats, protein, phosphorous, and fibers (cell wall), among other things. The aieurone layer is the outermost boundary layer of the emiosperm, and it is thus botanically part of the endosperm and not the hull. The cohesion between the aieurone cell layer, the very thin hyaline layer, and the seed coat due to very strong adhesive forces is particularly evident during mechanical separation of the endosperm and hull ("cleaning the bran"). Thus from a milling standpoint, the aleurone cell layer is part of the bran or hull, which may later be used as bran for eating or feedstock.

The endosperm of a cereal grain and in particular of a kernel of wheat is surrounded by multi-layered hulls. The pericarp is located on the exterior, consisting of the epidermis, cross cells, and tube cells. Moving inward toward the endosperm, next comes the seed coat, followed by the nutritionally and physiologically important aleurone cells after a h>'aline layer. These aleurone cells contain many minerals, vitamins, and fibers, and they are adulterated with very few contaminants because they are protected by the pericarp and seed coat.
Although the pericarp can be separated from the seed coat relatively easily, it is very complicated to separate the aleurone cells from the seed coat. Therefore, the entire batch of bran is usually allocated for use as feedstock or bran for eating. Hydrothermal stabilization is performed according to DE-A-4435453 in order to obtain storable bran for tins purpose.
It is also a well-known method to produce oxidation-resistant rice bran according to Japanese publication number 111 03803 by extracting the bran from steeping water after the rice is processed ("rice polishing"). For this purpose, an agent is first added to the steqnng water, and the water is subsequently removed by thermal treatment. This forms relatively large bran particles at the same time. Bran is also obtained whole with this method.
US-PS 5082680 describes a costly mechanical method for the layer-by-layer separation of bran. With this method, the bran is removed layer-by-layer by using four polishing or scouring steps and a scmbbing stage with two wettings. After the first wetting of the cleaned, dry wheat, it is allowed to stand. The epidermis is then removed from the pericarp during the first polishing stage.
After the second wetting, cross cells and tube cells are removed from the pericarp during the second polishing stage. These bran layers are sifted to separate the germs from the ground grain. Due to their assumed low levels of phytate phosphorous content, these sifted bran layers should be used as a food additive.

In the third polishing stage, the seed coat, portions of the hyaline layer, and aleurone cells are removed.
In addition to any remaining seed coat, the fourth polishing stage specifically removes the aleurone layer, which is no longer considered worth processing.
During final scrubbing, the bran residue which is still adhering and the germs are removed, followed by cooling and wetting; it is then allowed to stand.
This prior art certainly hints at a partial use of bran; however, it does not offer any solution for the specific removal and use of aleurone cells.
The underlying problem of the invention is to avoid the indicated disadvantages of the prior art and to extract the physiologically highly valuable aleurone components, in particular those of wheat kernels, from the bran containing them in the most complete and careful manner possible.
An additional problem is to make the aleurone components extracted in this manner specifically suited for addition to and to add them to human and animal food.
These problems are solved by separating the predominantly aleurone-containing aleurone components from the predominantly aleurone-free non-aleurone components and subsequently removing the aleurone-containing components. The removed aleurone components are then added to conventional foodstuffs as an additive or as a separate supplement.
The bran can be removed with biochemical enzymatic processes, mechanical abrasive processes, or by any combination of biochemical enzymatic and mechanical abrasive treatment.

During biochemical enzymatic treatment, the bran is kept in a container filled with water at an optimal temperature and an optimal pH value for enzymes. A biochemically active substance containing enzymes is added so that the adhesive forces between the aleurone cell layer and the brown seed coat are weakened by the enzymes in such a way that the aleurone tissues can easily be separated from the seed coat undamaged by means of a mild mechanical action.
It is expedient for the bran first to be reduced to a size of 400-800 )im, which will preferably free the bran of any endosperm still adhering to it.
The aleurone tissues will preferably be separated from the seed coat undamaged by means of a mild mechanical action. It is convenient if the mechanical action is applied to the bran in the form of active shearing forces. For example, this may be accomplished by directing the liquid in which the bran is being kept into a colloid mill, by which the shearing forces are then applied. The mechanical action may also be applied by means of an extruder.
In one particularly preferred embodiment, the cell walls of the aleurone cells are at least partially ruptured by the biochemical substance so that the contents of the aleurone cells can escape. More or less complete enzymatic degradation of the aleurone cell walls may be preferred for nutritional and physiological reasons, as required. These cell walls are hemicellulose, which is an important necessary element of life for certain intestinal bacteria.
Surprisingly, it has been shown that an aleurone layer and its individual cells can be separated from the firmly adhering seed coat by weakening their adhesion. This is preferably accomplished by means of suitable enzymes; for example, endoxylanase/arabinoxylanase. Rinsing in cold water promotes the weakening of the adhesive bond.
Aggregates of aleurone cells with intact cell walls or cells in solution are obtained, the contents of which can be separated and degraded.

The enzymes to be used are also quite safe for human food, so the aleurone cells or their contents (proteins, vitamins, etc.) in particular may be used for or in dietary foodstuffs.
It has been shown that the adhesive forces between the aleurone cells and the quite tenacious brown seed coat can be neutralized by the use of enzymes and mild mechanical impaction, thus resulting in the release of intact aleurone cells from the seed coat.
This is accomplished primarily by enzymes with xylanase action and mild mechanical impaction by means of a centrifugal mill.
hi addition, it has been shown that the aleurone cells can be completely dissolved by treating bran with enzymes; thus, it is possible to separate the aleurone cell contents and tiieir cell wall fragments from the hull components situated above them which remain undamaged, in particular those of the seed coat. This is primarily done with an enzyme mixture of xylanase, betaglucanase, cellulose, and arabinase.
Summary:
Erther intact or degraded aleurone cells or their contents are obtained under the
appropriate conditions.
The enzymes used are quite safe for human food.
An additional advantage is provided by the possibility of analytical access to individual layers.
It is expedient for predominantly aleurone-containing components and predominantly aleurone-free conponents of the bran located in the hydrated mixture to be separated or isolated from one another.

This separation or isolation can be accomplished with the "wet" version of the invented mathod, whereby the hydrated mixture of enzymatically treated bran is pressed, so that dissolved and suspended aleurone components are carried in the hydrated phase as aleurone juice, and the remaining bran components remain in the press as press cake. Alternatively, the hydrated mixture of enzymatically treated bran can be filtered, so that dissolved and/or suspended aleurone components are carried in the hydrated phase as aleurone jnice, and the remaining bran components remain in the filter as filter residue.
However, the hydrated mixture of enzymatically treated bran can also be separated into the aleurone components and the non-aleurone components by decanting. Or they can be separated in two non-mixable liquids into the aleurone components and the non-aleurone components due to differences in wettability and/or differences in solubility. In some cases, it is also possible and quite convenient to perform the separation or isolation by a combination of the aforementioned separation steps. Both the same and different separation steps can be performed in sequence on the same hydrated mixture.
To separate or isolate the different aleurone components from one another, the aleurone jurice in which the aleurone components are carried will preferably be centrifuged. The aleurone juice can also be filtered by microfiltration and/or ultrafiltration for this purpose. It can even be subjected to reverse osmosis in order to separate or isolate additional specific aleurone components. In this manner, different fractions of aleurone components can be extracted which can be specifically used in functional food.
Water will preferably be extracted from the aleurone juice in which the aleurone components are carried in order to increase the concentration of aleurone components, so that concentrated aleurone juice is extracted. Alternatively, an aleurone powder consisting of aleurone components can be produced by spray drying, freeze drying, or vacuum drying. Pre-concentration will preferably be carried out in an evaporator before producing the aleurone powder. In particular, dissolved proteins are precipitated in the

aleurone juice by heating the aleurone juice or by salting out the proteins. The aleurone-containing products extracted in this way can be handled quite easily.
In order to obtain a product which does not alter its properties and which keeps well, the hydrated mixture or the aleurone juice, which contains the aleurone components and the biochemically active substance with the enzymes, is pasteurized after a sufficiently long period of enzymatic activity before concentration or pulverization.
In the "dry'" version of the mechanical abrasive treatment of the bran, the aleurone components are separated from the non-aleurone components in a rolling mill, a centrifugal impact mill, or a jet mill. These methods can also be combined, if required. It is expedient for the bran to be moistened before it is subjected to mechanical abrasive treatment.
In one particularly convenient embodiment of the invented method, i.e. the "wet" version of the mechanical abrasive treatment, the bran is added to water and the aleurone components are separated from the non-aleurone components in a colloid mill or in a ball mill in which plastic balls of the same thickness as the bran will preferably be used.
The aleurone components and non-aleurone components separated from one another in the dry or the wet method are graded and sorted into fractions. The grading and sorting of the mixture of aleurone components and non-aleurone components can also be performed by air-classification, if necessary after prior drying. It is preferable to use a channel impeller air-classifier, a zigzag air-classifier, or a cross-flow air-classifier for this purpose. Combinations of these types of air-classifiers can also be used here, if required.
In another convenient embodiment, the fine particles of a fine fraction extracted by air-classification are removed before they are subjected to additional grading by sieving.

This prevents the sieves from becoming plugged by the buildup of fine particles on them. Grounded metallic sieves will preferably be used for sieving. This will reduce the risk of the fine particles becoming charged and an agglomeration of these fine particles forming. In any necessary additional steps for separation or isolation, such agglomerations of fme particles would produce adulterated fractions.
Following grading or sorting by air-classification, there is grading or sorting in an electrical field, if required. Both spatially homogenous and heterogeneous, temporally constant fields and altemating fields can be used. This allows different particles to be separated from one another due to their different electrical charges and/or their different electrical polarization.
For example, if a channel impeller air-classifier is used to process the wheat bran, whereby the different particles of the coarse fraction of the bran, which contains both non-aleurone hull particles originating in the furrow of the wheat kemel and aleurone particles, are electrically charged and/or polarized due to static electricity in various ways during their passage through the arched or in particular the circular channel of the channel impeller air-classifier because of the particles rubbing against one another and/or the channel wall and they follow a path through an area subjected to an electrical field after leaving the channel impeller air-classifier, this allows the collection of the non-aleurone hull particles originating in the furrow at one spot and the collection of the aleurone particles at a second spot different from the first spot. This separation is particularly convenient, because this makes the white to yellowish aleurone particles released from the dark hull particles of the furrow look cleaner visually. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the furrow of wheat kernels can only be poorly cleaned, if at all, so it contains many unwanted substances and perhaps even environmental toxins.
In another embodiment, the mill product consisting of ground bran is separated by

simultaneously directing the mill product into an inclined, vibrating channel at one spot, whose inclination, surface roughness, and vibration are designed in such a way that &e different mill product components move along the channel at different migration speeds, which allows different mill product fractions with more or fewer aleurone components to be extracted at different spots further along the channel at successive time intervals.
However, it is preferable for the separation of the mill product consisting of the ground bran by means of the channel to be performed by simultaneously directing the mill product into an inclined, vibrating channel at one spot, whose inclination, surface roughness, and vibration are designed in such a way that the aleurone components migrate to the upper end of the channel while the non-aleurone components migrate to the lower end of the channel.
Another possibility for separating the mill product is sedimentation in a fluid-filled container, whereby different mill product fractions are extracted at the bottom of the container as sediment layers containing more or fewer aleurone components due to the differing sinking times of the various mill product components in the fluid-filled
The mill product can also be separated by moving the mill product particles along an equipotential surface of a heterogeneous electrical field, which causes the mill jet or the mill stream to be split into fractions containing more or fewer aleurone components due to the differing dielectric properties of the mill product particles. For example, the jet of mill product particles can be moved by means of a laminar-flow carrier fluid flowing through an equipotential surface of the electrical field in a defined path and thereby be split by the heterogeneous electrical field.
It is expedient for the mill product particles to become electrostatically charged by rubbing against one another and/or on part of the container and then moved transversely to an electrical field, which causes the mill jet or the mill stream to be split into fractions containing more or fewer aleurone components due to the differing electrical properties

of the mill product particles. In particular, the jet of mill product particles is moved in a denned path by means of a laminar-flow carrier fluid flowing transversely to the electrical field and is then split by the electrical field.
Separation can also be accomplished by a combination of the aforementioned separation steps, whereby there is preferably only one switch from the "wet" method to the "dry" method.
After the fractionation of the bran components, e.g. by means of one of the aforementioned methods, the mill product fractions extracted can be further treated with a biochemical substance specific to each fraction. This allows the properties of the product to be specifically influenced. Therefore, it is quite reasonable first to isolate the different alerone fractions from one another, then treat each fraction in a specific manner, and then to remix the specifically treated fractions. This makes it possible to alter the relative concentrations of the mixture prescribed by nature, which is important for the production of functional food.
The mochemical substance will preferably contain at least one of the enzymes betaglucanase, cellulose, xylanase, and arabinase in a hydrated medium with which the mill product fractions are mixed into a hydrated mixture.
It is particularly convenient if the biochemical substance contains at least one of the enz>TOes endoxylanase, beta-xylosidase, arabinofuranosidase, acetylesterase, xyloacetylesterase, and feruloyl esterase in this hydrated medium with which the mill product fractions are mixed.
It is preferable for the aleurone base of the food supplement or feed supplement to be in the form of a pressed pellet of aleurone components and a nutritionally and physiologically harmless binding agent. For example, the aleurone powder described above may be used in this production process.

The food supplement or feed supplement can also be in the form of a drink. The aforementioned concentrated aleurone juice, for example, may be used for this in a more or less concentrated form.
The additive or the food supplement or feed supplement can also be a powder. The aleurone powder described above may also be used for this purpose.
In addition, the foodstuff can be a starchy product or a dairy product. In principle, however, the aleurone-containing additive can be added to any desired processed food as a powder or as juice in order to produce functional food with a special physiological effect, special taste, special texture, etc.
Thus, a form of aleurone components isolated by specific microfiltration and/or specific centrifugation from the protoplasm of aleurone cells, for example, can be added to the functional food. A portion or all of the above-mentioned separated or isolated aleurone components may also be contained in the aleurone-containing product.
The invented functional food contains at least one of the substances contained in the aleurone extracted according to the methods described above.
The invented functional food may optionally contain aleurone cells which have been fully hydrolyzed by enzymatic action or aleurone cells which are still completely intact. The cell walls and cell contents of the "quasi-predigested" fully hydrolyzed aleurone cells can thus be applied directly to human metabolism. At the same time, the enzymatically partially hydrolyzed and thus "half predigested" aleurone cells with their "weakened" cell walls will be more easily digestible for humans on the one hand, but they will still be able to serve as food for intestinal bacteria on the other hand. Even the proportion of completely intact aleurone cells in this type of functional food will do a human being

good, since the hemicellulose cell walls of the aleurone cells can be digested by human beins- at least with the cooperation of intestinal bacteria.
Additional benefits, features, and potential applications of the invention may be seen in the following description of some exemplary embodiments which are to be interpreted not to exclude other embodiments.
Wet method:
Dry, cleaned wheat is stirred in a closed container filled with water mixed with enzymes.
The water is heated by the addition of the mechanical energy, or the tank may be equij5>ed with a separate heating device to accelerate the heating process.
The pericarps are removed by the action of the enzymes and may be separated. After additional stiring, the seed coat also separates from the aleurone cells, which separate film the endosperm. The endosperms can now be removed and the aleurone cells in the water can be degraded separately.
Example 1
Wheat bran with a size distribution of 400 - 8000 is mixed with water and stirred at a temperature of 45-55° C, and an enzyme solution (xylanase, betaglucanase, cellulose, and arabinase) is added. Due to the action of individual or multiple enzymes, the aleurone cells can first be separated from the seed coat as tissue, and then be completely dissolved and thus sieved off of the remaining hull components. The aleurone cells are thereby dissolved, and the cell contents pour into the solution as protoplasm. The wet sieve residue contains the non-dissolved hull components (seed coats, pericarps). The wet sieved material contains the contents of the aleurone cells and their cell wall fi-agments.

This wet sieved material is concentrated into a yellowish-gray powder by spray drying and or freeze drying.
Example 2
Wheat bran with a size distribution of 400 - 800 \i is mixed with water and stirred at a temperature of 45-55° C, and an enzyme solution (xylanase) is added. This causes weakening of the adhesive forces between the seed coat and the aleurone cell layer, resulting in the separation of the two layers adhering to one another. This effect can be optimized by mild mechanical action (centrifugal mill) without disrupting the tissues.
Example 3
Wheat bran is mixed with water and stirred for an hour at a temperature of 45-50° C, and an enzyme solution (xylanase, betaglucanase, cellulose, and arabinase) is added. The remaining suspension is divided by a disperser for two minutes. The suspension which is left after this is sieved. The wet sieved material contains the degraded aleurone cells and Their contents, while the sieve residue consists of seed coat which is completely free of aleurone cells.
Dry method:
After cleaning in the bran centrifuge, the accumulated bran is dried and slightly heated. After being ground in a mill, where the actual separating action between the hull and aleurone layer should take effect, the mixture of bran components is sieved into fractions. It is then air-classified to sort the components of the hull (pericarp, testa) and aleurone with any adhering hull components. The separation, sieving, and sifting steps will naturally be repeated multiple times to obtain the desired level of enrichment of aleurone cells. The aleurone components obtained contain a concentration of at least 60% aleurone cells, and preferably more than 80%. Depending on their use, these components

are further dried and ground, e.g. on a roller mill. The individual steps are described in greater detail below.
During the separation stage, the bran particles must be subjected to forces which cause the aleurone and hull to separate. If an impact mill is used, the pieces are substantially bent as a result of the forces applied (impact force, weight forces). With particle sizes of approximately >800 um, this results in the pieces being fragmented and not separated. Only if the pieces fall below a certain size can the aleurone and hull definitely be separated by the action of the weight forces. The size of the particles at which separation occurs depends on the strength of the various layers (pericarp -♦ cellulose; testa -* hemicellulose; aleurone -+ hemicellulose) and the adhesive forces beneath the layers. Strength and adhesive force are significantly affected by moisture and temperature. For optimal separation conditions, the bran must first be thermally treated. Tests have shown that a product moisture between 8% - 12%, preferably 10%, is optimal. In this case, the product temperature should not fall below 25 C during separation.
Impact mill speeds of approximately 70 m^s (but In addition to intact forces, collision forces such as those occurring in a jet mill or a centrifugal impact mill have proven to be beneficial. The operations in a centrifugal impact mill (MIPS) are shown to have a beneficial effect on separation, because the flaky bran particles are lined up by the guide blade in the centrifuge rotor and the impact occurs on the edge. This allows weight forces to take effect without causing any bending stress to be applied to the particles and thus without fragmentation. This causes the hull and aleurone to be separated as larger pieces, and thus simpler devices can be used for sorting.

Thus, the method for extracting aleurone can be subdivided into 5 steps:
1. Drying/Heating
2. Separation
3. Sieving
4. Air-Classification (Sifting)
5. Fragmentation
Experience shows that a bran particle goes through several cycles after drying. The number of cycles greatly depends on the desired quality (hull proportion). Particles which are part of the > 500 µm fraction during sieving after the separation stage are directed back to the separation stage again, because the testa generally has not ftilly separated from the aleurone in this fraction. Depending on the desired quality, it must go through sieving and air-classification multiple times. Experience shows that particles >300 um can be optimally sorted with a zigzag air-classifier. Particles As is well-known, fraction width and separating capacity play an important role in sorting. Tests have shown that favorable sieve fractions can be extracted for the subsequent air-classifiers by using the following mesh widths for sieving:
1. 400 µm
2. 300µm
3. 200 µm
4. 150 µm
5. 100 µm
Measurements of the most important minerals (Ca, Fe, K, Mg, P, Zn) have shown that the bran may be enriched by a factor of 2, and thus the proportion of hull components must

be If the intended use so requires, the aleurone cells may be broken up with a roller mill in a final step.



The table shows the results of a chemical analysis of aleurone extracted with the invented method performed by the applicant.
The notable improvement of many body functions due to aleurone enrichment in food should be particularly emphasized. For example, polyunsaturated fatty acids have a positive effect on the heart/circulatory system and on cholesterol levels. Vitamin E (tocopherol) has a positive effect on the heart/circulatory system and cholesterol levels, as well as the colon. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, adermine) has a particularly positive effect on general health and well-being. Like magnesium, folic acid has an extremely positive effect on mental and physical performance. Iron also contributes to one's condition of general health and well-being. Both soluble and insoluble edible fibers have a very positive effect on digestion, the heart/circulatory system, and the colon.



WE CLAIM:
1. A method for processing bran, in particular wheat bran, for obtaining aleuron cells, in particular of the wheat grain, wherein the aleuron containing constituents in the bran are detached from aleuron free constituents contained therein aleuron; after which the aleuron-containing constituents are removed.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aleuron cells are biochemically and enzymatically detached from the bran.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bran is processed in a container filled with water at a temperature optimal for enzymes and an optimal pH value with the addition of a biochemically active, enzyme-containing substance, so that the adhesive forces between the aleuron cell layer and the brown seed husk are weakened by the enzymes and the aleuron cell clusters are detached by mechanical means.
4. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bran is comminuted to 400 to 800 µm prior to processing.
5. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the endosperm is removed from the bran prior to processing.
6. The method as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein a slight mechanical exposure detaches the aleuron cell clusters from the seed husk intact.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mechanical exposure involves shearing forces acting on the bran.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the liquid that carries the bran is introduced into a colloidal mill, and exposed to shearing process.
9. The method as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein an extruder subjects the bran to mechanical exposure.
10. The method as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein in the cell walls of the aleuron cells are broken open at least partially by the biochemical substance, so that the contents of the aleuron cells exit.
11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein aleuron-containing constituents, and non-aleuron containing constituents of the bran present in the aqueous mass are separated or isolated from each other.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the aqueous mass is expressed from enzymatically treated bran, so that aleuron constituents dissolved and suspended in the aqueous phase are included in the aqueous phase as an aleuron juice, while the remaining bran constituents remain as the biscuit in the press.
13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the aqueous mass is filtered out of enzymatically treated bran, so that aleuron constituents dissolved and suspended in the aqueous phase are included in the aqueous phase as an aleuron juice, while the remaining bran constituents remain in the filter as filter residue.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the aqueous mass consisting of enzymatically treated bran is separated into the aleuron constituents and non-aleuron constituents by decanting.
15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the aqueous mass consisting of enzymatically treated bran is separated according to their wetability differences in two immiscible liquids into the aleuron constituents and non-aleuron constituents.
16. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the aqueous mass consisting of enzymatically treated bran is separated by solubility differences in two immiscible liquids into aleuron constituents and non-aleuron constituents.
17. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein separation takes place through a combination of separation steps in claims 12 to 16, wherein both the same and different separation steps are performed sequentially on the same aqueous mass.
18. The method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the aleuron juice that carries the aleuron constituents is centrifuged to separate or isolate various aleuron constituents from each other.
19. The method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein in the aleuron juice that carries the aleuron constituents is micro filtered to separate or isolate specific aleuron constituents.

20. The method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 19, wherein the aleuron juice that carries the aleuron constituents is ultra filtered to separate or isolate more specific aleuron constituents.
21. The method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein the aleuron juice that carries the aleuron constituents is subjected to reverse osmosis to separate or isolate even more specific aleuron constituents:
22. The method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 21, wherein water is removed from the aleuron juice that carries the aleuron constituents to increase the concentration of aleuron constituents, thereby yielding a concentrated aleuron juice.
23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein aleuron powder consisting of aleuron constituents is manufactured via spray drying, freeze drying or vacuum drying.
24. The method as claimed in claim 22 or 23, wherein preliminary concentration in an evaporator takes place before manufacturing the aleuron powder.
25. The method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 24, wherein proteins detached in the aleuron juice are precipitated.
26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the proteins are precipitated by heating the aleuron juice.
27. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the proteins are precipitated by salting out.

28. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the proteins are precipitated through a combination of measures from claim 26 and/or 27 and additional known measures for precipitating proteins.
29. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous mass or aleuron juice containing the aleuron constituents and the biochemically active, enzyme-exhibiting substance is pasteurized after a sufficiently long enzyme activity.
30. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aleuron cells are detached from the bran through mechanical abrasion.
31. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the aleuron constituents are detached from the non-aleuron constituents in a roll mill.
32. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aleuron cells are detached from the bran by exposing the plate-shaped bran particles primarily to mass forces, avoiding any bending stresses.
33. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the aleuron constituents are separated from the non-aleuron constituents in a centrifugal impact mill.
34. The method as claimed in claim 32, the aleuron constituents are separated from the non-aleuron constituents in a jet mill.
35. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aleuron constituents are separated from the non-aleuron constituents by combining the detachment steps in claims 31 to 34.

36. The method as claimed in any one of claims 30 to 35, wherein the bran is wetted before subjected to mechanical abrasion.
37. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the bran is introduced into water, and the aleuron constituents are detached from the non-aleuron constituents in a colloidal mill.
38. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the bran is introduced into water, and the aleuron constituents are detached from the non-aleuron constituents in a ball mill.
39. The method as claimed in claim 38, wherein plastic balls are used in the ball mill.
40. The method as claimed in claims 30 to 39, wherein the aleuron constituents and non-aleuron constituents detached from each other are classified and sorted into fractions.
41. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein classification or sorting takes place by wind sifting.
42. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein classification or sorting takes place by channel-wheel air separation.
43. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein classification or sorting takes place by zigzag air separation.

44. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein classification or sorting takes place by transverse current air separation.
45. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein classification or sorting takes place by combination of the air separation types mentioned in claims 41 to 43.
46. The method as claimed in any one of claims 40 or 41, wherein the fine particles of the fraction obtained via air separation are separated out before subjecting further classification through screening.
47. The method as claimed in claim 46, wherein grounded metal screens are used for screening.
48. The method as claimed in any one of claims 41 to 47, wherein classification or sorting by air separation is followed by classification or sorting in an electrical field.
49. The method as claimed in claim 42, wherein during the processing of wheat bran, the various particles of the coarse bran fraction, containing both the non-aleuron husk particles stemming from the furrow of the wheat grain as well as aleuron particles, are electrically charged and/or polarized while they pass through the arc-shaped, or circular channel of the channel wheel air separator as the particles rub against each other end/or the channel wall, and after exiting the channel wheel air separator follow a trajectory through a space exposed to an electrical field, as a result of which the non-aleuron husk particles stemming from the furrow accumulate at a first location, and the aleuron particles accumulate at a second location different than the first location.

50. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein milled material consisting of the milled bran is separated by simultaneously introducing the same at a first location into an inclined, vibrating groove, the inclination, surface roughness and vibration are designed in such a way that the various milled material constituents in the groove move along the groove at varying traveling rates, thereby yielding respectively different milled material fractions with a higher or lower number of aleuron constituents at various additional locations in the groove during consecutive time intervals.
51. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 50, wherein the milled material consisting of the milled bran is separated by simultaneously introducing the milled material at a fist location into an inclined, vibrating groove, the inclination, surface roughness and vibration of which are designed in such a way that the aleuron constituents wander toward the upper end of the groove, while the non-aleuron constituents wander toward the lower end of the groove.
52. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the milled material is separated via sedimentation in a container filled with fluid, and that various milled material fractions are obtained at the bottom of the container in the form of sediment layers having more or less aleuron constituents based on varying sink times of the different milled material constituents in the fluid-filled container.
53. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the milled material is separated by moving the milled material particles along an equipotential surface of an inhomogeneous electrical field, as a result of which

the milled material jet or milled material stream is sorted into fractions exhibiting a higher or lower number of aleuron constituents due to the varying dielectric properties of the milled material particles.
54. The method as claimed in claim 53, wherein the jet of milled material particles is moved on a defined path by a carrier fluid streaming in a laminar manner along an equipotential surface of the electrical field, and sorted by the inhomogeneous electrical field.
55. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the milled material particles are electrostatically changed by rubbing against each other and/or a portion of a container and moved transverse to the electrical field, causing the milled material jet to become sorted into fractions exhibiting a higher or lower number of aleuron constituents owing to the different electrical properties of the milled material particles.
56. The method as claimed in claim 55, wherein the jet of milled material particles is moved on a defined path by a carrier fluid streaming in a laminar manner transverse to the electrical field, and sorted by the electrical field.
57. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein separation takes place by a combination of separation steps described in claims 50 to 56.
58. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the obtained milled material fractions are further treated with a biochemical substance specific to the respective fraction.

59. The method as claimed in claim 58, wherein the biochemical substance has at least one of the enzymes betaglucanase, cellulase, xylanase and arabinase in an aqueous medium, with which the milled material fractions are mixed to form an aqueous mass.
60. The method as claimed in claim 58, wherein the biochemical substance has at least one of the enzymes endoxylanase, beta-xyiosidase, arabinofuranosidase, acetylesterase, xylanacetylesterase and feruloylesterase in an aqueous medium, with which the mill ed material fractions are mixed to form an aqueous mass.
61. An aleuron-containing product such as herein described containing the aleuron constituents separated or isolated as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 60.
62. The product as claimed in claim 68, wherein a powdery aleuron concentrate is present.
63. The product as claimed in claim 68, wherein an aleuron juice concentrate is present.
64. A functional food such as herein described containing at east one component of the aleuron obtained as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 60.
65. The functional food as claimed in claim 64, wherein it has enzymatically completely hydrolyzed aleuron cells.
66. The functional food as claimed in claim 64 and 65, wherein it has enzymatically partially hydrolyzed aleuron cells.

67. The functional food as claimed in claim 64 to 66, wherein it has fully intact aleuron cells.


Documents:

301-chenp-2003-abstract.pdf

301-chenp-2003-claims duplicate.pdf

301-chenp-2003-claims original.pdf

301-chenp-2003-correspondnece-others.pdf

301-chenp-2003-correspondnece-po.pdf

301-chenp-2003-description(complete) duplicate.pdf

301-chenp-2003-description(complete) original.pdf

301-chenp-2003-form 1.pdf

301-chenp-2003-form 18.pdf

301-chenp-2003-form 26.pdf

301-chenp-2003-form 3.pdf

301-chenp-2003-form 5.pdf

301-chenp-2003-pct.pdf


Patent Number 209204
Indian Patent Application Number 301/CHENP/2003
PG Journal Number 38/2007
Publication Date 21-Sep-2007
Grant Date 22-Aug-2007
Date of Filing 20-Feb-2003
Name of Patentee M/S. BUHLER AG
Applicant Address Bahnhofstrasse, CH-9240 Uzwil,
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 BOHM Arturo Schlattrainstrasse 16 CH-9242 Oberuzwil
2 BOGONI Carlo Emil-Kloti-Strasse 12a CH-8406 Winterthur
3 BEHRENS Raimund Blarerstrasse 14 78462 Konstanz
4 OTTO Thomas St. Leonhardweg 18 78465 Konstanz
PCT International Classification Number A23L 1/10
PCT International Application Number PCT/CH2001/000506
PCT International Filing date 2001-08-20
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 100 41 156.8 2000-08-21 Germany
2 100 42 188.1 2000-08-28 Germany