Starch hydrolyzate product
AssigneePenford Products Company
InventorDennis W. Caton
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Abstract
A method for improving the properties of particles of a starch hydrolyzate product made by the partial hydrolysis of cereal and root based starches. Particles of starting material are blended with a volatile liquid other than water, and the resulting blend is compacted in a roller compactor without extraneous lubricant, to form a sheet. The sheet is broken into small particles which are sieved and dried. The resulting particles are non-spherical, appear crystalline under a light microscope and have a surface topography comprising cracks, crevices and fissures. These particles have good solubility, a bulk density comparable to the starting material, and no flow or dusting problems.
Claims10
A starch hydrolyzate product produced by the partial hydrolysis of cereal and root based starches and composed of particles at least some of which are in the size range -30 to 80 mesh, wherein:
- the untapped bulk density of said product for particles thereof in the size range -80 to +80 mesh is greater than 0.5 g/cc;
- and a substantial portion of said particles have a surface topography comprising cracks, crevices and fissures into which liquid can infiltrate to increase the speed of disssolution of said particles compared to particles of the same size without said surface topography;
- said starch hydrolyzate product being the product of a process comprising the steps of:
- mixing particles of a starch hydrolyzate product produced by the partial hydrolysis of cereal and root based starches with an added liquid which will occupy spaces between the particles when they are compacted;
- forming a blend of said particles and said added liquid as a result of said mixing step;
- providing said blend with a water content derived from the bound water in said particles and the water in said added liquid;
- controlling said water content of the blend, by controlling the amount of said added liquid and the concentration thereof, so that the blend's total water content is greater than 3 wt. % and no greater than about 7 wt. %;
- compacting said blend of particles and liquid between a pair of compacting rolls to form a sheet of compacted material composed of formerly discrete starch hydrolyzate particles crushed together, with said liquid occupying spaces between said crushed-together particles;
- breaking said sheet of compacted material, after said compacting, into compacted particles of said material, wherein at least a substantial portion of said particles have a surface topography comprising cracks, crevices and fissures as a result of said above-recited steps;
- and drying said material after said breaking to eliminate said liquid which occupied the spaces between the particles;
- said liquid being one which has the ability to blend with said particles and to lubricate said compacting rolls and which is more volatile than water to facilitate the removal of the liquid during said drying step;
- said liquid being selected from the group consisting of ethyl alcohol, acetone, hexane, cyclohexane, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, propyl alcohol, butyl alcohol and pentyl alcohol.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.