Aqueous dispersions of zein and preparation thereof
AssigneeEuroceltique, S.A.
InventorsBenjamin Oshlack, Mark Chasin, James McGinity, Roland Bodmeier
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Abstract
Aqueous dispersions of zein which may be used in the coating of pharmaceutical, animal, health, or food products in an inorganic solvent-free environment are disclosed, as well as methods for preparing the same.
Claims24
A method for preparing an aqueous dispersion of zein, comprising
- preparing a solvent mixture comprising water and from about 60 to about 90 percent of an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of ethanol, acetone, and mixtures thereof,
- adding a material consisting essentially of zein to said solvent mixture in such a proportion to said solvent mixture that the zein dissolves in the solvent mixture,
- precipitating the zein by pouring said solution of zein as a stream into an aqueous phase under continuous mixing such that the zein precipitates as fine particles in a colloidal dispersion, and
- removing the organic solvent to obtain an aqueous dispersion comprising from about 0.1 to about 10 percent w/v of zein.
A method for preparing a redispersible zein powder, comprising
- preparing a solvent mixture comprising water and from about 60 to about 90 percent of an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of ethanol, acetone, and mixtures thereof,
- adding a material consisting essentially of zein to said solvent mixture in such a proportion to said solvent mixture that the zein dissolves in the solvent mixture,
- precipitating the zein by pouring said solution of zein as a stream into an aqueous phase under continuous mixing such that the zein precipitates as fine particles in a colloidal dispersion and removing the organic solvent to obtain an aqueous dispersion comprising from about 0.1 to about 10 percent w/v of zein, and
- drying the resultant aqueous dispersion to obtain a zein powder which is redispersible in aqueous solutions.
An aqueous dispersion of zein produced by adding a material consisting essentially of zein to a solvent mixture comprising water and from about 60 to about 90 percent of an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of ethanol, acetone, and mixtures thereof, in such a proportion that the zein dissolves in the solvent mixture, and pouring said solution of zein as a stream into an aqueous phase under continuous mixing such that the zein precipitates as fine particles in a colloidal dispersion, the organic solvent thereafter being removed to obtain an aqueous dispersion comprising from about 0.1 to about 10 percent w/v of zein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.