Insoluble and dispersible protein and dye-containing particles for use as colorants
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsHassan Firoozmand, Richard Hartel
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Abstract
Colorant particles made from an insoluble protein-based substrate to which a dye is adsorbed are disclosed. The colorant particles are highly dispersible onto solid surfaces or within liquid systems, and thus can be used as substitutes for the alumina-based lake particles that are conventionally used as colorants in consumer products, such as food or beverage products, cosmetic products, pharmaceutical products, nutraceutical products, or toys.
Claims17
A colorant particle comprising:
- (a) an insoluble substrate comprising one or more proteins;
- and
- (b) a dye that is adsorbed onto the insoluble substrate;
- wherein the colorant particle is both insoluble in a liquid system and dispersible within a liquid system or onto a solid surface
- wherein the insoluble substrate is part of or all of a biologically inactivated single-celled microorganism denatured to be insoluble and inactivated, and selected from the group consisting of a lactic acid bacterium, a baker's yeast, and a brewer's yeast.
A method of making a colorant particle comprising adsorbing a dye onto an insoluble substrate comprising one or more proteins, whereby a colorant particle that is both insoluble in a liquid system and dispersible within the liquid system or onto a solid surface is produced
- wherein the insoluble substrate is part of or all of a biologically inactivated single-celled microorganism denatured to be insoluble and inactivated, and selected from the group consisting of a lactic acid bacterium, a baker's yeast, and a brewer's yeast.
A method of making a colorant particle from a biologically inactivated single-celled microorganism or a microparticulated protein particle, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) adding a dye to and acidifying an aqueous solution that is in contact with a biologically inactivated single-celled microorganisms or microparticulated protein particle;
- and
- (b) subsequently raising the pH of the aqueous solution that is in contact with the biologically inactivated single-celled microorganism or microparticulated protein particle;
- whereby the dye is stably adsorbed to the biologically inactivated single-celled microorganism or microparticulated protein particle to form a colorant particle
- wherein the biologically inactivated single-celled microorganism or the microparticulated protein particle is denatured to be insoluble and inactivated, and selected from the group consisting of a lactic acid bacterium, a baker's yeast, and a brewer's yeast.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.