Molded object comprising alpha-1,4-glucans and/or modifications thereof and process for producing the same

• US 20060134417A1
• Filed: 07/09/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ezaki Glico Company Limited, Sanwa Cornstarch Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ezaki Glico Company Limited, Sanwa Cornstarch Company Limited
• Inventors: Sunako, Michihiro, Kuriki, Takashi, Kudo, Kenichi, Takaha, Takeshi, Fujii, Kazutoshi, Wada, Mamoru, Takahara, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,013,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/400
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 5/00 Compositions of polysaccharides or of their derivatives not provided for in groups C08L1/00 or C08L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 9/00 Artificial filaments or the like of other substances; Manufacture thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture of carbon filaments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2978 Surface characteristic

Abstract

The present invention discloses a molded article containing high molecular weight α-1,4-glucan and/or its modification, and low molecular weight α-1,4-glucan and/or its modification. The low molecular weight α-1,4-glucan has the degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 180 and less than 620. And the high molecular weight α-1,4-glucan has the degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 620 and less than 37000. The high molecular weight α-1,4-glucan may preferably have a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25, and the low molecular weight α-1,4-glucan may preferably have a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25. The present invention also discloses a process for preparing the molded article, wherein the process comprises the step of adding the low molecular weight α-1,4-glucan and/or its modification to a solution comprising the high molecular weight α-1,4-glucan and/or its modification to gel the solution.

Claims

1. A molded article comprising

high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification, and

low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification, wherein

the low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 180 and less than 620, and

the high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 620 and less than 37000.

2. A molded article according to claim 1, wherein the low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has the degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 180 and less than 560, and the high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has the degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 680 and less than 37000.

3. A molded article according to claim 1, wherein the low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25, and the high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25.

4. A molded article according to claim 1, wherein the α

-1,4-glucans are enzyme-synthesized α

-1,4-glucan.

5. A molded article according to claim 1, wherein the modification of the α

-1,4-glucans is a chemical modification selected from the group consisting of esterification, etherification and crosslinking.

6. A molded article according to claim 1, wherein a weight ratio of high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification;

low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification is within the range of 99;

1 to 25;

75.

7. A molded article according to claim 1, wherein a weight ratio of high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification;

low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification is within the range of 99;

1 to 50;

50.

8. A molded article according to claim 1, wherein a weight ratio of high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification;

low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification is within the range of 99;

1 to 75;

25.

9. A molded article according to claim 1, wherein the molded article is film, sheet, coating, fiber, yarn, non-woven fabric, a food container, an edible container, a medical material, a medical device or a gelatinous molded article.

10. A molded article according to claim 1, wherein the molded article is a contact-type food container which directly covers a surface of an agricultural product or a food product.

11. A molded article according to claim 1, wherein the molded article is a hard capsule, a soft capsule or a seamless capsule.

12. A molded article according to claim 1, wherein the molded article is a feed for an animal, a food or a food additive.

13. A process for preparing a molded article comprising high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification and low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification, wherein the process comprises the step of;

adding the low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification to a solution comprising the high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification to gel the solution.

16. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 13, wherein

the low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 180 and less than 620, and has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25 and,

the high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 620 and less than 37000, and has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25.

17. process for preparing a molded article according to claim 13, wherein

the low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 180 and less than 560, and has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25 and,

the high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 680 and less than 37000, and has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25.

18. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 16, wherein the α

-1,4-glucans are enzyme-synthesized α

-1,4-glucan.

19. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 13, wherein the modification of the α

-1,4-glucans is a chemical modification selected from the group consisting of esterification, etherification and crosslinking.

20. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 13, wherein a weight ratio of the high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification and the low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification is within the range of 99;

1 to 25;

75.

21. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 13, wherein a weight ratio of high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification;

low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification is within the range of 99;

1 to 50;

50.

22. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 13, wherein a weight ratio of high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification;

low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification is within the range of 99;

1 to 75;

25.

14. A process for preparing a molded article comprising high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification and low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification, wherein the process comprises the step of;

cooling a solution comprising the high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification and the low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification to gel the solution.

24. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 14, wherein

the low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 180 and less than 620, and has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25 and,

the high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 620 and less than 37000, and has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25.

26. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 14, wherein

the low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 180 and less than 560, and has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25 and,

the high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 680 and less than 37000, and has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25.

28. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 14, wherein the modification of the α

-1,4-glucans is a chemical modification selected from the group consisting of esterification, etherification and crosslinking.

30. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 14, wherein a weight ratio of the high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification and the low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification is within the range of 99;

1 to 25;

75.

32. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 14, wherein a weight ratio of high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification;

low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification is within the range of 99;

1 to 50;

50.

34. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 14, wherein a weight ratio of high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification;

low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification is within the range of 99;

1 to 75;

25.

15. A process for preparing a molded article comprising high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification and low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification, wherein the process comprises the step of;

neutralizing an alkaline solution comprising the high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification and the low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification to gel the solution.

25. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 15, wherein

the low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 180 and less than 620, and has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25 and,

the high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 620 and less than 37000, and has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25.

27. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 15, wherein

the low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 180 and less than 560, and has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25 and,

the high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 680 and less than 37000, and has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25.

29. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 15, wherein the modification of the α

-1,4-glucans is a chemical modification selected from the group consisting of esterification, etherification and crosslinking.

31. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 15, wherein a weight ratio of the high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification and the low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification is within the range of 99;

1 to 25;

75.

33. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 15, wherein a weight ratio of high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification;

low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification is within the range of 99;

1 to 50;

50.

35. A process for preparing a molded article according to claim 15, wherein a weight ratio of high molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification;

low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan and/or its modification is within the range of 99;

1 to 75;

25.

23. Use of low molecular weight α

-1,4-glucan with a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 180 and less than 620, in the step of gelling a solution containing α

-1,4-glucan.