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AssigneeSociete d'Etude d'Exploition et d'Algues et Produits Maritimes Setexam
InventorsLebbar Thami, Lebbar Rachid, Riad Abdelwahab
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The present invention relates to a process for obtaining agar-agar that can be solubilized quickly in water at a temperature higher than its gelling temperature. It consists of using the classical agar-agar in the form of dried powder or dehydrated agar gel granules obtained after the operation of mechanical pressing or of freeze-thawing, to pass through a single-screw or twin screw extruder in mixture with water principally and other products such as the Locust Been Gum, the Guar Gum, Sugar, Peptones . . . or dispersants like the Metarine, fatty acids or organic silicones. Such process allows to produce at a reduced price, an agar-agar with properties of instantaneous dissolution in hot water at a temperature higher than its gelling temperature.
In method for processing agar-agar, agar agar is extracted from seaweed in an extraction step and then dehydrated in a dehydrating step to form an agar-agar gel or powder having molecules which exhibit a double helical molecular configuration, said gel or powder having a certain solubility in water, the improvement comprising, after the dehydrating step, extruding the gel or powder in a single or twin screw extruder having a die plate, with a sufficient shearing force so that the die plate is kept at a temperature between 118.degree. C. and 170.degree. C. thereby improving the solubility of the gel or the powder so the gel or powder solubilizes in water at 50.degree. C. under agitation in less than two minutes.
A method of treating an agar-agar composition that has been extracted from seaweed and dehydrated to form an agar-agar gel or powder, said powder containing a moisture content of less than 20% said method comprising extruding the extracted and dehydrated gel or powder in a single or twin screw extruder having a die plate, at sufficient shear so that the die plate is kept at a temperature between 118.degree. C. and 170.degree. C. and after the gel or powder has been extruded, said gel or powder dissolves in water at 50.degree. C. under agitation in less than two minutes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.