Nonaggregating hydrocolloid microparticulates, intermediates therefor, and processes for their preparation

• US 5,624,612 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 04/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FMC Corporation
• Original Assignee: FMC Corporation
• Inventors: Riley, Peter J., Sewall, Christopher J., Renn, Donald W., Crosby, Guy A., Thomas, William R., Dumont, Lisa E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nutter, Nathan M.
• Application Number:
  US08/476,989
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 264/4.1, 264/4.3
• US Class Current: 264/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: A23D 7/0056 Spread compositions
• CPC Class Codes: A23D 7/015 Reducing calorie content; Reducing fat content , e.g. "halvarines"
• CPC Class Codes: A23D 7/05 characterised by essential cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A23D 9/007 characterised by ingredients other than fatty acid triglycerides
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 19/115 Konjak; Konntaku
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 27/72 Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 29/212 Starch; Modified starch; Starch derivatives, e.g. esters or ethers containing starch hydrolysates, e.g. dextrin, A23L29/30
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 29/256 from seaweeds, e.g. alginates, agar or carrageenan
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 29/262 Cellulose; Derivatives thereof, e.g. ethers
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 10/30 Encapsulation of particles, e.g. foodstuff additives
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 10/35 with oils, lipids, monoglycerides or diglycerides
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 10/40 free-flowing powder or instant powder, i.e. powder which is reconstituted rapidly when liquid is added A23P10/20, A23P10/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 426/804 Low calorie, low sodium or hypoallergic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249953 Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249955 Void-containing component partially impregnated with adjacent component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249958 Void-containing component is synthetic resin or natural rubbers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2991 Coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2998 including synthetic resin or polymer

Abstract

Substantially dry, rehydratable, water-dispersible, gel-forming, porous hydrocolloid microparticulates containing internally or internally and externally at least one water-soluble, non-gelling, hydration enhancing hydrocolloid, processes and intermediates for their preparation, and their uses.

Claims

1. A process for the preparation of substantially dry, rehydratable, water-dispersible, gel-forming, porous hydrocolloid microparticulates which comprise:

(a) a gel-forming hydrocolloid which comprises a matrix of the porous microparticulates; and

(b) at least one water-soluble, non-gelling, hydration-enhancing hydrocolloid;

wherein the component (a) matrix contains component (b) internally within its porous structure, and wherein component (b) may be on at least a portion of the outer surfaces of the microparticulates comprising the steps of

(a) forming hydrocolloid gel microparticulates from the gel-forming hydrocolloid,

(b) contacting the hydrocolloid microparticulates with at least one water-soluble, non-gelling, hydration enhancing hydrocolloid in an aqueous medium, and

(c) drying the resulting hydrocolloid microparticulates.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the microparticulates in step A) have an average particle size diameter of from about 0.1 to about 150 microns.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein the microparticulates are substantially spheroidal in shape.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein in step A) the gel-forming hydrocolloid is heat stable cold-melt konjac.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein step C) is carried out by either air drying, spray drying, oven drying, fluidized bed drying, freeze drying, vacuum drying, or coagulating with a water-miscible organic solvent followed by oven drying.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein drying is carried out using isopropyl alcohol containing from 0 to about 20% by volume of water, followed by oven drying.

7. A process for the preparation of substantially dry, rehydratable, water-dispersible, gel-forming, porous hydrocolloid microparticulates which comprise:

(a) a gel-forming hydrocolloid which comprises a matrix of the porous microparticulates; and

(b) at least one water-soluble, non-gelling, hydration-enhancing hydrocolloid;

wherein the component (a) matrix contains component (b) internally within its porous structure, and wherein component (b) may be present on at least a portion of the outer surfaces of the microparticulates

comprising the steps of

A) forming an aqueous composition comprising at least one gellable hydrocolloid and at least one water-soluble, non-gelling, hydration enhancing hydrocolloid,

B) forming hydrocolloid gel microparticulates from the composition of step A), and

C) drying the resulting hydrocolloid microparticulates.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the microparticulates in step B) have an average particle size diameter of from about 0.1 to about 150 microns.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the microparticulates are substantially spheroidal in shape.

10. The process of claim 7 wherein in step A) the gellable hydrocolloid is heat stable cold-melt konjac.

11. The process of claim 7 wherein step C) is carried out by either air drying, spray drying, oven drying, fluidized bed drying, freeze drying, vacuum drying, or coagulating with a water-miscible organic solvent followed by oven drying.

12. The process of claim 11 wherein drying is carried out using isopropyl alcohol containing from 0 to about 20% by volume of water followed by oven drying.