United States Patent

6 wherein the said membrane filtration is carried out using a hollow fiber membrane.

The process of claim 6 wherein the said membrane 45

filtration is carried out using a spiral wound membrane.

9. 
   A process which comprises the steps of:
   
   1. 
      recovering inulin from a natural inulin source to produce thereby a first aqueous solution containing (i) inulin having a range of degrees of polymerization and 50
      

(ii) impurities, said impurities including at least one member of the group consisting of minerals, amino acids, proteins, fats, cell wall fragments, colloidal matter, and particulate matter;

2. 
   subjecting said first aqueous solution to a denaturing 55 step to denature at least one enzyme selected from the group consisting of inulin degrading enzymes and color forming enzymes to produce a second aqueous solu­ tion;
   
3. 
   clarifying said second aqueous solution to remove 60
   

particulate matter, colloidal matter and microorganisms to produce a third aqueous solution;

4. 
   removing ionic impurities and color-forming impuri­ ties from said third aqueous solution to form a fourth aqueous solution; and
   

produce thereby a first aqueous solution containing (i) inulin having a range of degrees of polymerization and
(ii) impurities, said impurities including at least one member of the group consisting of minerals, amino acids, proteins, fats, cell wall fragments, colloidal matter, and particulate matter;

2. 
   subjecting said first aqueous solution to a denaturing step to denature at least one enzyme selected from the group consisting of inulin degrading enzymes and color forming enzymes to produce a second aqueous solu­ tion;
   
3. 
   clarifying said second aqueous solution to remove particulate matter, colloidal matter and microorganisms to produce a third aqueous solution;
   
4. 
   removing ionic impurities and color-forming impuri­ ties from said third aqueous solution to form a fourth aqueous solution; and
   
5. 
   subjecting the inulin in said fourth aqueous solution into fractions having different average degrees of poly­ merization which comprises subjecting the fourth aque­ ous solution to ultrafiltration through more than one membrane having predetermined pore sizes whereby inulin fractions having average degrees of polymeriza­ tion less than a predetermined value pass through the membranes as permeate and inulin fractions having average degrees of polymerization greater than said predetermined value are collected as retentate.
   

* * * * *