Granules of protein-rich microalgal biomass flour and method for preparing same

• US 10,299,500 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2014
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corbion Biotech, Inc. (Corbion NV)
• Original Assignee: Corbion Biotech, Inc. (Corbion NV)
• Inventors: Passe, Damien, Delannoy, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Barker, Michael
• Application Number:
  US15/039,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20160374379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,643 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A21D 13/80 Pastry not otherwise provided for elsewhere, e.g. cakes, biscuits or cookies
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/30 from material of plant origin, e.g. roots, seeds or hay; from material of fungal origin, e.g. mushrooms obtained by microbiological or biochemical processes, e.g. using yeasts or enzymes, A23K10/10
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/42 Dry feed
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 17/60 Edible seaweed
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 23/00 Soups; Sauces soya sauce A23L27/50; salad dressings, mayonnaise or ketchup A23L27/60; Preparation or treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 27/60 Salad dressings; Mayonnaise; Ketchup
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 27/63 Ketchup
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2236/00 Isolation or extraction methods of medicinal preparations of undetermined constitution containing material from algae, lichens, fungi or plants, or derivatives thereof, e.g. traditional herbal medicine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/10 General cosmetic use
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/85 Products or compounds obtained by fermentation, e.g. yoghurt, beer, wine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/05 Chlorophycota or chlorophyta (green algae), e.g. Chlorella
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/46 Ingredients of undetermined constitution or reaction products thereof, e.g. skin, bone, milk, cotton fibre, eggshell, oxgall or plant extracts
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/9722 Chlorophycota or Chlorophyta [green algae], e.g. Chlorella
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0056 Mouth soluble or dispersible forms; Suckable, eatable, chewable coherent forms; Forms rapidly disintegrating in the mouth; Lozenges; Lollipops; Bite capsules; Baked products; Baits or other oral forms for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2068 Compounds of unknown constitution, e.g. material from plants or animals oils, fats, waxes, shellac A61K9/2013
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/00 Preparations for care of the skin

Abstract

Granules of protein-rich microalgal biomass flour having: a particle size distribution, measured on an LS laser granulometer of the COULTER® brand, with a Dmode of 60 to 300 μm and a D4.3 of 70 to 420 μm; an aerated density, measured on a HOSOKAWA Powder Characteristics Tester, of 0.60 to 0.70 g/mL, and a compressibility, measured on a HOSOKAWA Powder Characteristics Tester, of 15 to 25%.

Claims

1. Granules of microalgal biomass flour, the granules comprising:

a particle size distribution, measured on an LS laser particle size analyzer of the COULTER®

brand, having a Dmode of between 60 and 300 μ

m and a D4,3 between 70 and 420 μ

m,

a bulk density, measured on a HOSOKAWA Powder Characteristics Tester, of between 0.6 g/ml and 0.7 g/ml,

a compressibility, measured on a HOSOKAWA Powder Characteristics Tester, of between 15% and 25%,

said microalgal biomass comprising at least 50% protein by dry weight.

2. The granules as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microalga is chosen from the group consisting of Chlorella sorokiniana and Chlorella protothecoides.

3. The granules as claimed in claim 2, wherein the microalga is Chlorella sorokiniana.

4. The granules as claimed in claim 2, wherein the microalga is Chlorella protothecoides.

5. The granules as claimed in claim 3, which have a particle size distribution having a Dmode of between 70 and 130 μ

m and a D4,3 between 75 and 140 μ

m.

6. The granules as claimed in claim 4, which have a particle size distribution having a Dmode of between 200 and 280 μ

m and a D4,3 between 300 and 420 μ

m.

7. The granules as claimed in claim 1, wherein the granules further comprise a degree of wettability, the degree of wettability measured according to a Test B, by the height of the product decanted in a beaker, at a value of between 5 and 25 mm.

8. The granules as claimed in claim 3, wherein the granules further comprise a degree of wettability, the degree of wettability measured according to a Test B, by the height of the product decanted in a beaker, at a value of between 5 and 15 mm.

9. The granules as claimed in claim 3, wherein the granules further comprise a degree of wettability, the degree of wettability measured according to a Test B, by the height of the product decanted in a beaker, at a value of between 15 and 25 mm.

10. The granules as claimed in claim 1, wherein the granules further comprise a specific surface area, the specific surface area measured according to a BET method, of between 0.45 and 0.70 m²/g.

11. The granules as claimed in claim 3, wherein the granules further comprise a specific surface area, the specific surface area measured according to a BET method, of between 0.45 and 0.50 m²/g.

12. The granules as claimed in claim 4, wherein the granules further comprise a specific surface area, the specific area measured according to a BET method, of between 0.60 and 0.70 m²/g.

13. A process for preparing the granules as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

1) preparing a suspension of microalgal biomass in water at a solids content of between 10% and 35% by dry weight,

2) spraying the suspension in a vertical spray-drier equipped with a moving belt at its base, and with a high-pressure nozzle in its upper part, while regulating;

the first temperature of the primary air at a value of between 160 and 220°

C.,

the second temperature of the primary air at a value of between 90 and 150°

C.,

the spray pressure at a value of between 50 and 250 bar,

3) regulating the entry temperature of the post-drying zone on the moving belt at a value of between 70 and 90°

C., and regulating the temperature of the cooling zone at a value of between 15 and 25°

C.,

4) collecting the granules of microalgal biomass flour thus obtained.

14. A product selected from food for human consumption, animal feed, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, comprising the granules according to claim 1.

15. The product as claimed in claim 14, in the form of orodispersible tablets.

16. The product as claimed in claim 14, which is in the form of soups, sauces, cakes, cookies, breakfast cereals, mayonnaise, ketchup, wine gums, coated peanuts, yogurts, cream desserts, vegetable nuggets, or seasoning flakes.

17. The product as claimed in claim 14, which is in the form of a bar.

18. The product as claimed in claim 14, which is in the form of a sports drink.

19. The product as claimed in claim 14, selected from the group consisting of dry dog food, dry food for horses, or dry food for alevins.

20. The granules of claim 1, wherein the compressibility, measured on a HOSOKAWA Powder Characteristics Tester is between 18% and 21%.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the spray pressure is at a value of between 80 and 150 bar.