Today in 1986, US Patent 4612196 A was issued, an invention of Henry Goldstein, Charles L. Cronan, and Etzer Chicoye, assigned to the Miller Brewing Company, for their “Preparation of Low Alcohol Beverages by Reverse Osmosis.” Here’s the Abstract:
A traditional flavored fermented alcoholic beverage of low alcohol content is prepared by reverse osmosis with a thin layer composite membrane which has a support layer of polysulfone, a barrier layer of polymer prepared from a polyamine and a polyacyl, and a fiber backing. The membrane has a molecular weight cut-off of less than about 100 for organics and rejects the volatile components which contribute to flavor and aroma and permits about 25 to about 30% alcohol in the beverage to pass.
