Rapidly-soluble sweetener, process for its preparation and beverage mix employing it

#1. Technical Field

#The present invention relates to the field of sweeteners, and more particularly to a rapidly-soluble sweetener, especially one suitable for dry beverage mixes.

#Dry mixes for beverages, puddings, gelatin desserts, whipped toppings, frostings, icings, ice cream, and the like must be free-flowing to provide satisfactory dispensing, accurate measuring and uniform mixing. Many sweeteners form clumps, which not only adversely affect these functions, but make dissolving them more difficult. Other sweeteners, such as sucrose, which is the typical sweetener used in dry mixes, are ordinarily difficultly soluble at concentrations required. For example, when whipped topping mixes contain granular sucrose, a slight graininess sometimes remains even after vigorous mixing. And, in beverage mixes, vigorous mixing is usually required to obtain complete dissolution of granular sucrose. This can be a mild annoyance to a hot, thirsty individual trying to prepare a single serving of a beverage from a dry mix, especially in ice water. More critically, however, the need for vigorous stirring can seriously detract from the ability of a dry carbonated beverage mix to satisfactorily perform. The degree of stirring necessary to adequately dissolve sucrose in cold water can seriously dissipate beverage carbonation.

#The following examples are presented for the purpose of further illustrating and explaining the present invention and are not to be taken as limiting in any regard. Unless otherwise indicated, all parts and percentages are by weight.

#This example describes a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein an aqueous solution of 60 parts sucrose, 20 parts Isomerose 900 high fructose corn syrup, and 20 parts Morex 1918 10DE dextrin, and containing 70% total solids is dried on a DEC Damrow Company Model F500 Filtermat dryer of the type shown in said U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,756. The Isomerose 900 contains 90% fructose on a dry solids basis; thus, the amount of fructose in the solution is 18% on a dry solids weight basis.

#The solution is fed to one SX-60/21 spray nozzle manufactured by Spraying System Corp., at a temperature of 120.degree. F., a pressure of 1500 psig (approximately 105 Kg/cm.sup.2), and at a rate of 300 pounds (approximately 136 Kg) per hour. Air is supplied to the first chamber at a temperature of 210.degree. F. and at a rate of 2000 cubic feet (approximately 57 cubic meters) per minute. The air at the outlet from the chamber is cooled by the drying process to about 150.degree. F. (approximately 66.degree. C.). Prior to discharge from the nozzles, air under a pressure of 1700 psig (approximately 120 Kg/cm.sup.2) is charged into the line carrying the solution to disperse it within the solution. The solution is discharged into the drying air in minute droplets which expand and lose moisture as they decend onto a porous belt and form a mat. The material on the mat has a moisture content of about 85%, never actually measured, as it is removed from the first stage. In a second stage, air at a temperature of about 165.degree. F. (approximately 74.degree. C.) and a relative humidity of about 20% is passed through the product on the belt at a rate of about 500 cubic feet (approximately 14 cubic meters) per minute. Upon exiting the second stage, the moisture content of the product in the mat is at about the final level. The third stage cooling chamber is not employed and the product is allowed to cool to ambient. The matted product, which appears amorphous, is ground by passing it through a 20 mesh U.S. Standard sieve. It is found to have a density of 0.260 grams per cubic centimeter, as measured by the following procedure: Product flows through a funnel into a measure cup. Density is equal to the net weight of a leveled cup over volume. Its moisture content is found to be 1.06%, as measured by the following procedure: vacuum oven for 24 hours at 26 inches Hg and 140.degree. F. (approximately 660 mm Hg and 60.degree. C.). The product is tested for solubility by dispersing in 60.degree. F. (approximately 16.degree. C.) water without stirring. It is found to be excellent, rating a 10 on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being the highest.