Microencapsulation process
AssigneeGriffith Laboratories Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsJoseph Janda, Donald Bernacchi, Suzanne Frieders
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microencapsulation process in which a solid or liquid core material is dispersed in a protein slurry, is heated to create a protein melt and then denatured to bring about encapsulation of the core material and the product of that process.
Claims55
A method of microencapsulating a core material comprising:
- a) dispersing the core material in a protein slurry;
- b) heating the slurry to create a protein melt;
- c) denaturing the protein melt by treating the protein melt with acid to adjust the pH to the isoelectric point of the protein, thereby causing encapsulation of the core material;
- and
- d) comminuting the encapsulated core material to provide microcapsulates.
A method of microencapsulating a core material comprising:
- a) dispersing the core material in a protein slurry;
- b) heating the slurry to create a protein melt;
- c) denaturing the protein melt by adjusting the pH downwardly to a point short of the isoelectric point of the protein, thereby tailoring the degree of the insolubility of the protein and causing encapsulation of the core material;
- and
- d) comminuting the encapsulated core material to provide microcapsules.
The method of 29 wherein in the core material is chosen from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, niacin, vitamin B6, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin E, folic acid, vitamin D, phrenic acid, biotin, copper, iron, potassium, zinc, phosphorous, beta carotin, and combinations of two or more thereof.
A method of microencapsulating a core material comprising:
- a) dispersing the core material in a protein slurry;
- b) heating the slurry to create a protein melt;
- c) denaturing the protein melt by treating the protein melt with a proteolytic enzyme chosen from the group consisting of papain and ficin, thereby causing encapsulation of the core material;
- and
- d) comminuting the encapsulated core material to provide microcapsules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.