Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling the foam in a vinegar fermentation process. As in the prior art, the foam accumulating on the upper surface of the fermentation substrate is moved along a given path axially through a rotor of the apparatus and revolved about the path by the rotor so as to be subjected to centrifugal forces and broken up into a gas portion which is exhausted in the direction of movement along the path and a liquid portion, possibly still including some foam particles, which is separated from the gas portion in a direction radially of the path. According to the invention, in order to minimize the foam accumulation in the fermentation tank, it is proposed to completely eliminante the liquid portion of the broken-up foam from the fermentation process, i.e., not to recycle the separated liquid portion into the fermentation tank, either by disposing of it or by further processing it and/or mixing it with the recovered vinegar end product apart from the fermentation process.

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First Claim