METHOD OF COMBINING CRYSTALLINE SUGAR WITH IMPREGNATING AGENTS AND PRODUCTS PRODUCED THEREBY
First Claim
2. The method of claim 1 in which the dextrose microcrystals of said granules at the beginning of said application are at least partially in anhydrous form.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Massecuite Aggregated Microcrystalline Sugar granules (structurally comprising cohered sugar microcrystals with internal capillary networks) are employed as a means to combine crystalline sugar with solid or liquid modifying agents which are dissolved (or otherwise dispersed) in an aqueous or organic solvent carrier, which is sprayed (or otherwise applied) onto a bed of the granules while they are being agitated and intermixed. The liquid carrier and modifying agent are absorbed into the granules to achieve internal impregnation thereof. Where the liquid carrier is relatively volatile compared to the modifying agent, as when the added substance is normally a solid, the carrier can be evaporated leaving the added substance within the granules. Either with or without removal (viz by evaporation or drying) of the liquid carrier, the impregnated granules can be subjected to a second treatment in which a pore closure material is applied to reduce the porosity of the surface layers of the granules, and thereby at least partially seal off the impregnated agent from escape to or contact with the atmosphere. Alternatively, the impregnated granules without drying and/or subjected to a second treatment can be packaged in sealed containers.
56 Citations
15 Claims
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2. The method of claim 1 in which the dextrose microcrystals of said granules at the beginning of said application are at least partially in anhydrous form.
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3. The method of claim 1 in which said granules at the beginning of said application contain from 0 to 6 percent by weight water of crystallization.
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4. The method of claim 1 in which said carrier is composed substantially entirely of water and said granules at the beginning of said application contain fRom 0 to 6 percent by weight water of crystallization in the dextrose hydrate portion of said microcrystals, said granules on the completion of said application having the dextrose microcrystals thereof substantially entirely in their hydrated form and containing not over 4 percent by weight free water.
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5. The method of claim 1 in which said carrier is composed substantially entirely of water and said granules at the beginning of said application contain not over 8 to 9 percent by weight water, said granules on the completion of said application containing at least 4 to 5 percent added water.
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6. The method of claim 1 wherein said granules after absorption of said carrier are treated with a sealing material, said sealing material being effective to at least partially close the outer ends of said capillary passages.
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7. The product produced by the method of claim 6.
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8. The method of claim 1 wherein said impregnating additive is a water-soluble normally solid substance, and said granules after absorption of said carrier are subjected to drying to remove water while leaving said additive within said granules.
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9. The product produced by the method of claim 8.
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10. The method of claim 8 wherein after said drying step the granules thus obtained are subjected to at least one additional cycle, including a carrier application step and a drying step.
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11. The method of preparing an intimate mixture of starch hydrolysate sugar with an impregnating additive, comprising providing a free-flowing bed of granules composed essentially of cohered dextrose microcrystals and oligosaccharides in solid solution, said granules being porous with internal capillary networks, having been aggregated from a microcrystalline massecuite of a starch hydrolysate Total Sugar with D.E. of at least 92 percent, the granules of said bed initially having a free water content of less than 1 percent by weight, applying to said bed a non-toxic edible organic solvent carrier containing an impregnating additive, while agitating and intermixing the granules of said bed to promote the absorption of said carrier by said granules, said bed being maintained in essentially free-flowing condition during said absorption, and the application of said carrier being terminated before said granules begin to pack or cake.
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12. The method of claim 11 wherein said granules after absorption of said carrier are treated with a sealing material, said sealing material being effective to at least partially close the outer ends of said capillary passages.
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13. The method of claim 11 in which the dextrose microcrystals of said granules at the beginning of said application are at least partially in anhydrous form.
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14. The method of claim 11 wherein said impregnating additive is a normally solid substance dissolved in said carrier, and said granules after absorption of said carrier are subjected to drying to remove said carrier while leaving said additive within said granules.
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15. The method of claim 14 wherein after said drying step the granules thus obtained are subjected to at least one additional cycle, including a carrier application step and a drying step.
Specification