Production process of encapsulated bodies

• US 4,814,274 A
• Filed: 02/02/1987
• Issued: 03/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snow Brand Milk Products Co. Ltd. (Megmilk Snow Brand Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Snow Brand Milk Products Co. Ltd. (Megmilk Snow Brand Company Limited)
• Inventors: Shiinoki, Yasuhiko, Shioya, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Kepplinger, Esther M.
• Application Number:
  US07/009,926
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 435/178, 435/179, 435/182, 435/240.22, 435/240.2, 435/174, 264/4, 264/4.1, 264/4.7, 264/4.3, 427/213.3, 427/213.32, 427/213.34, 426/289, 426/573, 426/575, 426/599, 426/577, 426/104, 426/803
• US Class Current: 435/174
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/00 Non-alcoholic beverages; Dry compositions or concentrates therefor soup concentrates A23L23/10; Their preparation preparation of non-alcoholic beverages by removal of alcohol C12H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 10/30 Encapsulation of particles, e.g. foodstuff additives
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 20/105 Coating with compositions containing vegetable or microbial fermentation gums, e.g. cellulose or derivatives; Coating with edible polymers, e.g. polyvinyalcohol
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 13/04 by physical processes, e.g. drying, spraying
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 13/08 Simple coacervation, i.e. addition of highly hydrophilic material combined with spraying B01J13/043; combined with mechanical division B01J13/04
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 11/04 entrapped within the carrier, e.g. gel or hollow fibres
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 426/803 Simulated fruit or vegetable

Abstract

Encapsulated bodies are produced by bringing a fluid, which is to form the cores of the encapsulated bodies, and a solution, which has ability to form gel skins upon contact with the fluid, into contact and including a gelling reaction therebetween. A desired liquid, which is suitable for the utilization of the encapsulated bodies, is introduced successively into the reaction mixture in which the encapsulated bodies formed by the gelling reaction are dispersed. The liquid portion of the reaction mixture is hence substituted with the desired liquid and the resultant encapsulated bodies are therefore recovered in a form dispersed in the desired liquid. An apparatus suitable for use in the practice of the encapsulation is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A process for preparing encapsulated bodies dispersed in a desired liquid, which comprises,

bringing a fluid which is to form the core of said encapsulated bodies into a solution, other than in the desired liquid, which has the ability to form a gel skin by contact with said fluid in a vessel to form encapsulated bodies,

successively replacing said solution with said desired liquid by introducing said desired liquid into said vessel at the lower part of said vessel while permitting the mixture of said fluid and said desired liquid to overflow through a screen positioned at an upper peripheral portion of the wall of said vessel, said screen retaining the encapsulated bodies, thereby forming a dispersion of said encapsulated bodies in said desired liquid.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the successive introduction of the desired liquid is effected by first introducing water into the reaction mixture to dilute the reaction mixture and then introducing a syrup or fruit juice, whereby the resultant encapsulated bodies are recovered in a form dispersed in the syrup or fruit juice.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid contains cells to be cultured and the desired liquid is a physiological saline or phosphate-buffered saline.