Process for producing extruded hydrocolloid granules
AssigneeRhodia Inc.
InventorAlan Joseph Stern
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydrocolloid product having improved dispersibility and wettability characteristics in aqueous medium is provided by dry blending in a heated state the hydrocolloid powder particles with molten, normally solid nonionic surfactant. The heated mixing state is at a temperature greater than the melting temperature of the solid nonionic surfactant. After suitable mixing, the resulting mixture of surfactant-coated powder particles is extruded to produce granules of the hydrocolloid-nonionic surfactant mixture, which granules are cooled to below the melting temperature of the nonionic surfactant to provide a readily water dispersible, readily wettable hydrocolloid product.
Claims9
A process for preparing readily dispersible, readily wettable hydrocolloid granules comprising:
- (1) providing a water soluble nonionic surfactant that is a solid at room temperature or above;
- (2) melting said solid surfactant to a molten state and mixing the molten surfactant with particles of powdered hydrocolloid in a heated state to coat the hydrocolloid powder;
- (3) extruding the surfactant coated hydrocolloid powder formulation to produce granules thereof;
- and
- (4) cooling the extruded granules to below the solidification temperature of the surfactant,
- wherein said hydrocolloid is a guar and the guar comprises from about 75% to about 85% by weight of the formulation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.