US 5,629,187 A · Process and apparatus for forming solid particles by cross-linking drops of a cross-linkable material with a cascading stream of cross-linking agent

Abstract

A process and apparatus are provided for making solid Particles from an ionically cross-linkable material by cross-linking drops of the material with a cross-linking agent in the form of a falling stream. In one embodiment, a stream of the cross-linking agent flows down the inner walls of an enclosure and drops of the material are directed to the stream of cross-linking agent. In another embodiment, a stream of the cross-linking agent is free-falling by gravity in a cascade without contacting any surface and drops of the material are directed to the stream of cross-linking agent. Solid particles are separated from the cross-linking agent at about the bottom of the enclosure or at about the bottom of the cascade. The drops of cross-linkable material are directed at the stream of cross-linking agent preferably at an angle of incidence of less than 90.degree. such as between 5.degree. and 45.degree. and most preferably between 15.degree. and 30.degree.. Particles having a size of 10 .mu.m to 4 mm may be produced. Double layer particles can be produced by using a double nozzle constituted by two concentric orifices. The cross-linkable material may be alginic acid and the cross-linking agent may be a divalent cation such as calcium. Particles containing micro-organism cells may be obtained by combining micro-organism cells with the cross-linkable material before drops are formed. In a preferred embodiment, particles are produced containing Saccharomyces cerivisiae for making sparking wines.

Claims46

Dependent claims

A process for manufacturing solid, unagglomerated particles of materials hardened by cross-linking, which comprises:

(a) providing an ionically cross-linkable material initially in liquid form;
(b) providing an ionic cross-linking agent capable of continuous flow;
(c) producing a freely flowing stream of the ionic cross-linking agent in an essentially vertical, downward direction over a predetermined length until said stream reaches a terminal downstream end, and said flowing stream having an essentially vertical exposed outer surface along substantially the full length of said flowing stream including said terminal downstream end;
(d) generating drops of the ionically cross-linkable material;
(e) directing the drops of the ionically cross-linkable material into contact with the outer surface of the flowing stream of the ionic cross-linking agent such that said drops flow essentially vertically downward in contact with said flowing stream for a period of time effective to cross-link and harden the outer layers of said drops to form said particles;
and
(f) after forming said particles, immediately separating said particles from the flowing stream of the ionic cross-linking agent at no lower than the terminal downstream end of said flowing stream.

4 more elements

An apparatus for manufacturing solid, unagglomerated particles of materials hardened by cross-linking, which comprises:

(a) means for providing an ionically cross-linkable material initially in liquid form;
(b) means for providing an ionic cross-linking agent capable of continuous flow;
(c) means for generating a freely flowing stream of the ionic cross-linking agent in an essentially vertical, downward direction over a predetermined length until said flowing stream reaches a terminal downstream end, and said flowing stream having a downwardly directed exposed outer surface along substantially the full length of said flowing stream including said terminal downstream end;
(d) means for generating drops of the ionically cross-linkable material;
(e) means for contacting the drops of the ionically cross-linkable material with the flowing stream of the ionic cross-linking agent such that said drops flow essentially vertically downward in contact with said flowing stream for a period of time effective to cross-link and harden the outer layers of said drops to form said particles;
and
(f) means for separating said solid particles from contact with the flowing stream of the cross-linking agent immediately after said particles are formed and at no lower than the terminal downstream end of said flowing stream.

4 more elements

An apparatus for manufacturing solid, unagglomerated particles of materials hardened by cross-linking, which comprises:

(a) means for providing an ionically cross-linkable material initially in liquid form;
(b) means for providing an ionic cross-linking agent capable of continuous flow;
(c) means for generating a freely flowing stream of the ionic cross-linking agent in a downward direction over a predetermined length until said flowing stream reaches a terminal downstream end, and said flowing stream having a downwardly directed exposed outer surface along substantially the full length of said flowing stream including said terminal downstream end;
(d) means for generating drops of the ionically cross-linkable material and for directing the drops into contact with the outer surface of the flowing stream of the ionic cross-linking agent such that said drops flow downward in contact with said flowing stream to form the solid particles through ionic cross-linking within essentially a fraction of a second after the drops contact the surface of the flowing stream;
and
(e) means for separating said solid particles from contact with the flowing stream immediately after the particles are formed within said essentially a fraction of a second.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process and apparatus for forming solid particles by cross-linking drops of a cross-linkable material with a cascading stream of cross-linking agent

Life of this patent

Process and apparatus for forming solid particles by cross-linking drops of a cross-linkable material with a cascading stream of cross-linking agent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims46