Title:  Starch granulation

United States Patent:  6,322,818

Assignee:  Cerestar Holding B.V. (Sas van Gent, NL)

Filed:  July 24, 2000

Foreign Application Priority Data:  Jul 24, 1999[GB] (9917339)

The present invention relates to starch granules made completely on the basis of starch and to a process for producing these granules. The process comprises the use of a slurry of pregelatinised starch and starch granules to coat in multiple layers starch seeds. The granules so obtained are useful for immobilisation of desired products, which include such divers products as enzymes, pharmaceuticals, colorants, flavours.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses agglomerated, substantially spherical particles characterised in that the particle is comprising 100% starch (w/w) and said particle consists of successive layers comprising starch granules and pregelatinised starch and said particle has a diameter of from 50 .mu.m to 3 mm, preferably of from 100 .mu.m to 2 mm, more preferably of from 300 .mu.m to 800 .mu.m.

The starch used for making the particles can be any type of starch for example the starch is selected from the group consisting of rice, wheat, corn, potato, sago, bean and tapioca starch and mixtures thereof. It is possible to use mixtures of different types of starch. It is also possible to use chemically or physically modified starches or hydrolysed starch materials.

The present invention also discloses agglomerated particles containing in addition to starch, enzymes, pharmaceuticals, colorants, flavours, carotenoids, and/or vitamins.

A process for producing the agglomerated, substantially spherical starch particles of the present invention is also disclosed and comprises the following steps: Starch seeds are sprayed with a slurry of starch granules and pregelatinesed starch, and the seeds are layered with the slurry, the spraying and subsequent layering is repeated until the particles have reached a final diameter of from 50 .mu.m to 3 mm.

The present invention further relates to a process wherein enzymes, pharmaceuticals, colorants, flavours, carotenoids, vitamins and/or antifoams are added to the slurry of starch granules and pregelatinised starch, or to the last layer when the particles are reaching the final diameter.

The present invention further relates to a process comprising the following steps:

a) Preparing agglomerated substantially spherical starch particles according to the process aforementioned, and

b) Covering the agglomerated substantially spherical starch particles with enzymes, pharmaceuticals, colorants, flavours, carotenoids, vitamins and/or antifoams.

The process is performed in a fluid bed reactor, fluid drum granulator or a blender.

Claim 1 of 16 Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An agglomerated, substantially spherical particle characterised in that the particle is comprising 100% starch (w/w) and said particle consists of successive layers comprising starch granules and pregelatinised starch and said particle has a diameter of from 50 .mu.m to 3 mm.

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