Gel strength enhancer for gelatin compositions including an oxidized polysaccharide

#I. Field of the Invention

#Chemically modified dialdehyde polysaccharides provide superior hardeners for gelatin compositions. In particular, the use of the specific dialdehyde polysaccharides disclosed herein enables replacement of gelatin with non-gelatin materials at high concentration levels with an improvement in hardening properties.

#II. Brief Description of the Prior Art

#The invention will be further illustrated by, but not intended to be limited to, the following examples. In the examples all parts are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

#Dialdehyde starch approximately 90% oxidized prepared from waxy maize starch was treated with 3% by weight octenyl succinic anhydride using the basic procedure described in Example V of U.S. Pat. No. 2,661,349.

#Then 9.9 parts of gelatin was hydrated in 90 parts of water and sufficient octenyl succinated dialdehyde starch added as a 10% solution to the hydrated gelatin to provide an amount of 0.1 part of the modified dialdehyde starch. The mixture was heated at 58.degree. C. for a period of 1 hour. The resulting dispersion was poured into small jars and aged for 16 hours at 24.degree. C., 55% relative humidity.