# US 4,393,087 A · Process for the production of a floating aquatic food pellet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,393,087 A - Document ID: US4393087A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/259,882 - Filed: 1981-05-04 - Granted: 1983-07-12 - Earliest claimed: 1981-05-04 - Assignees: Ralston Purina Company - Inventors: Richard D. Sullins; Kent J. Lanter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4393087A ## CPC - A23K 50/80: for aquatic animals, e.g. fish, crustaceans or molluscs - A23K 40/10: by agglomeration; by granulation, e.g. making powders - A23K 40/20: by moulding, e.g. making cakes or briquettes - Y02A 40/818: Alternative feeds for fish, e.g. in aquacultures - Y10S 37/901: Bucket cleaners - Y10S 426/807: Poultry or ruminant feed - A23K: FODDER - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A process for the production of a floating aquatic food pellet is disclosed which avoids the use of extrusion-expansion equipment to provide floatability. Conventional pelleting equipment may be used to produce a pellet from farinaceous-proteinaceous mixtures, which contains sufficient expanded grain particles to provide buoyancy or floatability. A hardenable or vitrifiable matrix containing a liquid carbohydrate material, a water soluble phosphorous source, a colloid material and an alkaline earth oxide is included to prevent compaction of the expanded grain particles during pelleting and provide structural integrity and floatability to permit feeding by an aquatic species. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for the production of a floating aquatic food pellet comprising: (a) forming a first mixture of proteinaceous and farinaceous materials with fat and sufficient expanded grain particles to provide floatability for said pellets; (b) separately forming a hardenable carbohydrate matrix and combining said matrix with said first mixture, (c) pelleting the combined matrix and mixture by the application of heat and pressure with the matrix preventing compaction of the expanded grain particles to and form a floating aquatic food pellet with good structural integrity in water. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said first mixture contains about 25-50% expanded grain particles by weight of said pellet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said first mixture contains about 35-50% expanded grain particles by weight of said pellet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said fat is present in an amount of about 7-13% by weight of said pellet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein said fat is present in an amount of about 9-10% by weight of said pellet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said hardenable matrix is present in an amount of between about 5-15% by weight of said pellet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein said hardenable matrix is present in an amount of about 10-13% by weight of said pellet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said expanded grain particles are selected from the group consisting of popped and puffed grains. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein said popped grain is selected from the group consisting of corn and milo. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said hardenable carbohydrate matrix is prepared by mixing a liquid carbohydrate material, water, a water soluble phosphorous source, a colloid material and an alkaline earth oxide. ### Claim 11 A process for the production of a floating aquatic food pellet comprising; (a) forming a first mixture of about 25-50% by weight of said pellet of expanded grain particles, proteinaceous and farinaceous materials, and fat; (b) separately forming a hardenable carbohydrate matrix comprising mixing a liquid carbohydrate material, water, a colloid material, a water soluble phosphorous source and an alkaline earth oxide, and combining said matrix with said first mixture, (c) pelleting the combined matrix and mixture by the application of heat and pressure with the matrix preventing compaction of the expanded grain particles to and form a floating aquatic food pellet with good structural integrity in water. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said expanded grain particles are present in an amount of about 35-50% by weight of said pellet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said fat in said first mixture is present in an amount of about 7-13% by weight of said pellet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein said fat is present in an amount of about 9-10% by weight of said pellet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said hardenable matrix is present in an amount of about 5-15% by weight of said pellet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein said hardenable matrix is present in an amount of about 10-13% by weight of said pellet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said expanded grain particles are selected from the group consisting of popped and puffed grains. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein said popped grain is selected from the group consisting of corn and milo. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said liquid carbohydrate medium comprises molasses. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said colloid material comprises clay. ### Claim 21 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said alkaline earth oxide is magnesium oxide. ### Claim 22 A process for the production of a floating aquatic food pellet comprising; (a) forming a first mixture of about 25-50% by weight of said pellet of floatation imparting expanded grain particles, proteinaceous and farinaceous materials, and about 7-13% by weight of said pellet of fat, (b) separately forming a hardenable carbohydrate matrix comprising mixing about 40-75% by weight of said matrix of a liquid carbohydrate medium, water, about 0.5 to 4% of said matrix of a colloid material about 0.1 to 8% by weight of said matrix of a water soluble phosphorous source and 3 to 10% of an alkaline earth oxide and combining 5-15% by weight of said pellet of said matrix with said first mixture, (c) pelleting the combined matrix and first mixture by the application of heat and pressure with the matrix preventing compaction of the expanded grain particles to and form a floating aquatic food pellet with good structural integrity in water. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 wherein said first mixture contains about 35-50% expanded grain particles by weight of said pellet. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 wherein said fat is present in an amount of about 9-10% by weight of said pellet. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 wherein said hardenable matrix is present in an amount of about 10-13% by weight of said pellet. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 wherein said expanded grain particles are selected from the group consisting of popped and puffed grains. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 wherein said popped grain is selected from the group consisting of corn and milo. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The product produced by the process of claim 1. ### Claim 29 (depends on 11) The product produced by the process of claim 11.