Process for clarification of xanthan solutions and xanthan gum produced thereby
AssigneeCP Kelco U.S., Inc.
InventorsJoseph M. Kobzeff, Daniel E. Mead, Todd A. Talashek, Don DiMasi
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Abstract
A process is disclosed for clarifying an aqueous xanthan gum solution comprising treatment of the xanthan solution with at least one chelating agent, surfactant, organic acid, or a mixture thereof, and with a protease enzyme or a lysozyme and a protease enzyme. Also disclosed is a highly purified solid xanthan gum and compositions containing the same, wherein the gum is obtained from the clarified xanthan gum solution.
Claims24
A process for the preparation of a clarified xanthan gum solution, said process comprising the steps of:
- 1) treating an aqueous solution containing xanthan gum with at least one chelating agent, surfactant, organic acid, or a mixture thereof;
- 2) adding a lysozyme enzyme and a protease enzyme to the aqueous solution subsequent to or simultaneous with treating with the at least one of the chelating agent, surfactant, organic acid, or mixture thereof;
- and
- 3) treating the aqueous solution containing xanthan gum with the lysozyme and protease enzymes at a temperature of about 40° C. to about 80° C. at a pH of about 6 to about 8;
- wherein said xanthan gum solution is not subjected to heating at a pH of 9 or greater, thereby forming a clarified xanthan gum solution in which the xanthan gum has an acetate concentration of at least about 90 percent of that of the xanthan gum in the solution before treatment.
A process for the preparation of a clarified xanthan gum solution, said process comprising the steps of:
- 1) treating an aqueous solution containing xanthan gum with at least one chelating agent, surfactant, organic acid, or a mixture thereof;
- 2) adding a protease enzyme to the aqueous solution subsequent to or simultaneous with treating with the at least one of the chelating agent, surfactant, organic acid, or mixture thereof;
- and
- 3) treating the aqueous solution containing xanthan gum with the protease enzyme at a temperature of about 40° C. to about 80° C. at a pH of about 6 to about 8, thereby forming a clarified xanthan gum solution in which the xanthan gum has an acetate concentration of at least about 90 percent of that of the xanthan gum in the solution before treatment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.