Cellulase-free xanthan gum and process for producing same
AssigneeMerck & Co., Inc.
InventorsRichard A. Empey, David J. Pettitt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Intimate intermingling, as in a tumble reactor, of wet particulate xanthan gum, with either propylene oxide, .beta.-propiolactone, glutaraldehyde or pivalolactone, as essentially the only gas present, at about 40.degree.-70.degree. C., for from 1-5 hours, produces xanthan gum in which the cellulase enzyme is inactivated, but in which the viscosity of solutions is increased; the propylene oxide is removed to afford a residual propylene oxide content of not more than 300 ppm in the product xanthan gum.
Claims9
A process for inactivating cellulase enzyme in xanthan gum precipitated from a fermentation beer at a pH of from about 4 to about 8 comprising intermingling wet particulate chemically unmodified xanthan gum, having a solids content not above about 90% by weight, with 2-20% based on xanthan dry weight of an oxide reagent which is either propylene oxide, B-propiolactone, glutaraldehyde, pivalolactone, glycidol, epichlorohydrin or ethylene oxide at from about 40.degree. to about 70.degree. C., for from about 1 to about 5 hours, at ambient pressure and recovering the cellulase-inactivated xanthan gum thus produced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.