Hydration drying process
AssigneeThe Coca-Cola Company
InventorsGeorge L. K. Hunter, Daniel B. Dennison, Charles E. Stephens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for hydration drying a solids containing aqueous product is disclosed in which particulate anhydrous alpha-dextrose is violently agitated with the aqueous product for a predetermined short period of time, with the temperature agitated product maintained at or below 50.degree. C. Specifically a process to be carried out at room temperature is disclosed in which the temperature of the agitated products is maintained at or below 50.degree. C. by allowing the agitated products to remain quiescent for some period after violent agitation to dissipate the heat of hydration and the heat generated by friction during agitation.
Claims12
A process for drying a solids-containing aqueous product comprising the steps of:
- adding the aqueous product to a pre-determined quantity of particulate anhydrous alpha-dextrose and aqeous product;
- hydrating said particulate anhydrous alpha-dextrose with the aqueous component of the aqueous product by repeatedly agitating the particulate anhydrous alpha-dextrose and the aqueous product in a violent manner, whereby a substantial portion of the anhydrous alpha-dextrose is hydrated to alpha-dextrose monohydrate by the water in the aqueous product;
- and
- maintaining the temperature of the hydrating particulate anhydrous alpha-dextrose and aqueous product at or below 50.degree. C. by allowing the anhydrous alpha-dextrose, aqueous product and alpha-dextrose monohydrate to remain quiescent after each agitating step whereby the heat generated by the agitating step is dissipated and the temperature of the alpha-dextrose monohydrate and the remaining anhydrous alpha-dextrose and aqueous product is maintained at or below 50.degree. C.;
- wherein
- the hydration reaction is not inhibited by temperatures greater than 50.degree. C. and a dry, free-flowing non-hygroscopic powder results;
- conditions are such that temperature would rise above 50.degree. C. in the absence of admixing using intermittent, brief periods of substantially violent agitation;
- and
- formation of the dry, free-flowing non-hygroscopic powder is a result of water in the aqueous product forming alpha-dextrose monohydrate.
A process for drying a solids-containing aqueous product comprising the steps of:
- adding said aqueous product to particulate anhydrous alpha-dextrose;
- agitating said particulate anhydrous alpha-dextrose and aqueous product violently so that at least a portion of said anhydrous alpha-dextrose is hydrated and converted to alpha-dextrose monohydrate;
- stopping the agitating before the temperature of the anhydrous alpha-dextrose, aqueous product, or alpha-dextrose monohydrate reaches 50.degree. C.;
- and
- dissipating the heat generated by the agitating and the conversion of anhydrous alpha-dextrose to alpha-dextrose monohydrate;
- wherein
- the remaining anhydrous alpha-dextrose, aqueous product and alpha-dextrose monohydrate can be violently agitated again and the temperature maintained at or below 50.degree. C.;
- conditions are such that temperature would rise above 50.degree. C. in the absence of admixing using intermittent, brief periods of substantially violent agitation;
- and
- formation of a dry, free-flowing non-hygroscopic powder is a result of water in the aqueous product forming alpha-dextrose monohydrate.
A process for drying a solids-containing aqueous product comprising the steps of:
- selecting a quantity of particulate anhydrous alpha-dextrose having a moisture content in the range from about 0.1% to about 0.3% by weight;
- adding said aqueous product to said particulate anhydrous alpha-dextrose;
- hydrating said particulate anhydrous alpha-dextrose with the aqueous component of the aqueous product by repeatedly agitating the particulate anhydrous alpha-dextrose and the aqueous product in a violent manner, whereby a substantial portion of the anhydrous alpha-dextrose is hydrated to a alpha-dextrose monohydrate by the water in the aqueous product;
- and
- maintaining the temperature of the hydrating particulate anhydrous alpha-dextrose and aqueous product at or below 50.degree. C. by allowing the anhydrous alpha-dextrose, aqueous product and alpha-dextrose monohydrate to remain quiescent after each agitating step whereby the heat generated by the agitating step is dissipated and the temperature of the alpha-dextrose monohydrate and the remaining anhydrous alpha-dextrose aqueous product is maintained at or below 50.degree. C.;
- wherein
- the hydration reaction is not inhibited by temperatures greater than 50.degree. C. and a dry, free-flowing non-hygroscopic powder results;
- conditions are such that temperature would rise above 50.degree. C. in the absence of admixing using intermittent, brief periods of substantially violent agitation;
- formation of the dry, free-flowing non-hygroscopic powder is a result of water in the aqueous product forming alpha-dextrose monohydrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.