# US 7,611,701 B2 · Preparation of phytase-containing granulates for use in animal feed > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,611,701 B2 - Document ID: US7611701B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/280,324 - Filed: 2002-10-25 - Published: 2003-03-13 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 1997-06-04 - Assignees: BASF SE - Inventors: Rudolph Carolus Maria Barendse; Gabriel Marinus Henricus Meesters; Hans-Peter Harz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611701B2 ## CPC - C12N 15/80: for fungi - A23K 10/14: Pretreatment of feeding-stuffs with enzymes - A23K 20/158: Fatty acids; Fats; Products containing oils or fats - A23K 20/163: Sugars; Polysaccharides - A23K 20/189: Enzymes - A23K 40/10: by agglomeration; by granulation, e.g. making powders - A23K 40/20: by moulding, e.g. making cakes or briquettes - A23K 40/25: by extrusion - A23K 50/10: for ruminants - A23K 50/40: for carnivorous animals, e.g. cats or dogs - A23K 50/75: for poultry - A23K 50/80: for aquatic animals, e.g. fish, crustaceans or molluscs - C12N 9/16: acting on ester bonds (3.1) - C12N 9/98: Preparation of granular or free-flowing enzyme compositions (C12N9/96 takes precedence) - C12Y 301/03008: 3-Phytase (3.1.3.8) - C12Y 302/01004: Cellulase (3.2.1.4), i.e. endo-1,4-beta-glucanase - C12Y 302/01008: Endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (3.2.1.8) - Y02A 40/818: Alternative feeds for fish, e.g. in aquacultures - Y10S 426/805: Pet food for dog, cat, bird, or fish - Y10S 426/807: Poultry or ruminant feed - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) - A23K: FODDER - C12Y: ENZYMES - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A process for the preparation of an enzyme-containing granulate is disclosed where an aqueous enzyme-containing liquid is mixed with an edible carbohydrate-based solid carrier, such as starch, mechanically processed into granules, and subsequently dried. This enzyme granulate is suitable for the manufacture of animal feed compositions by mixing feed ingredients with the granulate, treating with steam and pelleting. The compositions optimally show improved enzyme stability during the pelleting process. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for the preparation of a phytase-containing granulate suitable for use in an animal feed comprising: (a) mixing a phytase, a solid carrier comprising at least 50% (w/w) of starch, and water; (b) mechanically processing the mixture resulting from (a) to obtain phytase-containing granules having a water content of 30% to 40%; and (c) drying the phytase-containing granules obtained in (b); wherein the granulate is free from starch-degrading enzymes: wherein the granulate has a phytase activity of from 5870 to 8470 FTU per gram; and wherein the granulate is free from soap and detergent. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the water and phytase are provided as a phytase-containing aqueous liquid and wherein the liquid is a filtrate derived from a fermentation process resulting in production of the phytase. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the granules are formed using mechanical processing comprising a method selected from the group consisting of extruding, pelleting, high-shear granulating, expanding, and fluid bed agglomerating. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises mixing a phytase-containing aqueous liquid and the solid carrier, and kneading the resulting mixture. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein granules are formed by extrusion performed: (a) at low pressure; (b) in a basket- or dome- extruder; or (c) by both (a) and (b). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the granules obtained are spheronised prior to drying. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the granulate obtained in step (c) is subsequently coated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The process according to claim 7, wherein the granulate is coated with one or more of a fat, wax, polymer, salt, inguent, ointment, or a coating containing a second enzyme. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A phytase-containing granulate produced by the process of claim 1. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The granulate of claim 9, wherein the granules comprise at least one divalent cation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The granulate of claim 9, wherein the granules comprise one or more hydrophobie, gel-forming or water insoluble compound(s). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The granulate of claim 11, wherein the hydrophobic, gel-forming or water insoluble compound comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a cellulose, a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and an edible oil. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The granulate of claim 12, wherein: (a) the cellulose is a derivatized cellulose selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl-propyl-methyl-cellulose, carboxy-methyl-cellulose, and hydroxyl-ethyl-cellulose; (b) the edible oil is soy oil or canola oil; or (c) the derivatized cellulose is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl-propyl-methyl-cellulose, carboxy-methyl cellulose, and hydroxyl-ethyl-cellulose, and the edible oil is soy oil or canola oil. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The granulate of claim 9, wherein the granulate is coated. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The granulate of claim 14, wherein the granulate is coated with one or more of a fat, wax, polymer, salt, inguent, ointment, or a coating containing a second enzyme. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) A composition containing the phytase-containing granulate of claim 9. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The composition of claim 16, which is an edible feed composition. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The composition of claim 16, which is an animal feed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A process for promoting the growth of an animal comprising feeding an animal with a diet that comprises the composition of claim 16. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) A composition which comprises pellets of one or more feed substance(s) or ingredient(s) mixed with the granulate of claim 9. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The composition of claim 20, wherein the ratio of granulate: feed substance(s) or ingredients is at most about 1g: 1 kilogram. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The composition of claim 20, wherein at least about 100 ppm of said granulate is contained by said feed substance or ingredients. ### Claim 23 (depends on 9) A process for the preparation of an animal feed or a premix comprising mixing the granulate of claim 9 with one or more animal feed substance(s) or ingredient(s). ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The process of claim 23, wherein the mixture of feed substance(s) and granulate is sterilized or treated with steam, and is pelletised. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The process of claim 24, wherein after pelletisation the mixture is dried. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) A composition which is an animal feed or a premix prepared by the process of claim 23. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A process for promoting the growth of an animal, wherein said process comprises feeding said animal with the composition of claim 26. ### Claim 28 (depends on 9) A process for promoting the growth of an animal, wherein said process comprises feeding said animal with the granulate of claim 9. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the granulate has a phytase activity of 8470 FTU per gram. ### Claim 30 A method for improving the pelleting stability of a phytase comprising formulating said phytase in a granulate composition comprising a solid carrier comprising at least about 50% (w/w) of starch as a carrier for said phytase, wherein the water content of the composition is 30% to 40% before drying; and subsequently drying the granulate composition, wherein the granulate composition is free from starch-degrading enzymes; wherein the granulate has a phytase activity of from about 5870 to 8470 FTU per gram, and wherein the granulate composition is free from soap and detergent. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the granulate has a phytase activity of 8470 FTU per gram. ### Claim 32 A process for the preparation of a phytase-containing granulate suitable for use in an animal feed, the process comprising: (a) making a mixture of a phytase, a solid carrier comprising at least about 50% (w/w) of starch, and water; wherein the starch is rice, corn and/or potato starch; (b) mechanically processing the mixture resulting from (a) to obtain phytase-containing granules having a water content of 30% to 40%; and (c) drying the phytase-containing granules obtained in (b), wherein the granulate is free from starch-degrading enzymes; wherein the granulate has a phytase activity of from 5870 to 8470 FTU per grain; and wherein the granulate is free from soap and detergent. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The process of claim 32, wherein the granulate obtained in step (c) is subsequently coated. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The process of claim 33, wherein the granulate is coated with one or more of a fat, wax, polymer, salt, inguent, ointment or a coating containing a second enzyme. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) A phytase-containing granulate produced by the process of claim 32. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The granulate of claim 35, wherein the granulate is coated. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The granulate of claim 36, wherein the granulate is coated with one or more of a fat, wax, polymer, salt, inguent, ointment, or a coating containing a second enzyme.