U.S. patent application number 12/359806 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-27 for method for the preparation of a stable alkali metal lactate in powder form.
This patent application is currently assigned to Purac Biochem B.V.. Invention is credited to Eloy E. Urbano CRUZ, Bert Theo DE VEGT, Peter Paul JANSEN.
Application Number | 20090214740 12/359806 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19774149 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090214740 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CRUZ; Eloy E. Urbano ; et
al. |
August 27, 2009 |
METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF A STABLE ALKALI METAL LACTATE IN
POWDER FORM
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for the preparation of a
stable alkali metal lactate in powder form, the product of said
preparation, functional pre-mixes for foodstuff comprising said
stable alkali metal lactate powder, and foodstuffs comprising said
stable alkali metal lactate powder. In the method According to the
invention, a concentrate that contains alkali metal lactate is
processed, with cooling, in a mixer/extruder to form a powder of
the alkali metal lactate. According to the invention the alkali
metal lactates in powder form are stable for at least 48 hours.
Inventors: |
CRUZ; Eloy E. Urbano;
(Dordrecht, NL) ; JANSEN; Peter Paul; (Oss,
NL) ; DE VEGT; Bert Theo; (Rotterdam, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY AND LARDNER LLP;SUITE 500
3000 K STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Assignee: |
Purac Biochem B.V.
|
Family ID: |
19774149 |
Appl. No.: |
12/359806 |
Filed: |
January 26, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10265633 |
Oct 8, 2002 |
7494684 |
|
|
12359806 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/555 ;
426/322; 562/512 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C07C 51/412 20130101;
C07C 59/08 20130101; C07C 51/412 20130101; C07C 59/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/555 ;
562/512; 426/322 |
International
Class: |
C07C 53/00 20060101
C07C053/00; A21D 6/00 20060101 A21D006/00; A21D 2/02 20060101
A21D002/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 8, 2001 |
NL |
1019140 |
Claims
1. A method for the preparation of a stable alkali metal lactate in
powder form, comprising processing at a starting temperature of
130.degree. C. to 170.degree. C. an aqueous concentrate of 60-100%
(m/m) alkali metal lactate cooling the alkali metal lactate to form
a powder of the alkali metal lactate, wherein (i) the processing
and cooling is performed in a mixer/extruder (ii) and the alkali
metal lactate is combine with a carrier before or after
processing.
2. A stable alkali metal lactate powder obtainable by the method of
claim 1 wherein the alkali metal lactate powder has a stability of
at least 48 hours.
3. A functional pre-mix comprising a stable alkali metal lactate
powder according to claim 1.
4. A functional pre-mix comprising a stable alkali metal lactate
powder according to claim 2.
5. A method for the preparation or preservation of foodstuff
comprising adding a stable alkali metal lactate according to claim
1 to a foodstuff.
6. A method for the preparation or preservation of foodstuff
comprising adding a stable alkali metal lactate according to claim
2 to a foodstuff.
7. A method for the preparation or preservation of foodstuff
comprising adding a functional pre-mix according to claim 3 to a
foodstuff.
8. A method for the preparation or preservation of foodstuff
comprising adding a functional premix according to claim 4 to a
foodstuff.
9. A foodstuff comprising a stable alkali metal lactate powder
according to claim 1.
10. A foodstuff comprising a stable alkali metal lactate powder
according to claim 2.
11. A foodstuff comprising a functional pre-mix according to claim
4.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Divisional Application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/265,633, filed Oct. 8, 2002, the entire
contents of which is incorporated herein by reference for any and
all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to the preparation of a stable alkali
metal lactate in powder form, in particular, a stable sodium
lactate in powder form, the product of said preparation, functional
pre-mixes for foodstuff comprising said stable alkali metal lactate
powder, and foodstuffs comprising said stable alkali metal lactate
powder.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Sodium lactate is, inter alia, an important constituent in
various flavouring mixtures. For the preparation of a flavouring
mixture in powder form, it is important to be able to use sodium
lactate in powder form. The stability of, in particular, open packs
is an important criterion here. For good processing of sodium
lactate in powder form in such flavouring mixtures, the stability
of the sodium lactate in powder form is preferably at least 48
hours.
[0004] Sodium lactate in powder form is currently produced by
crystallisation of a concentrated sodium lactate solution in
absolute ethanol. Because of its highly hygroscopic properties,
this powder has limited stability; it absorbs moisture very rapidly
and in doing so forms a viscous fluid (as a rule within one hour
and often after only 15 minutes).
[0005] Netherlands Patent Application 7106959 discloses a method
for the preparation of sodium lactate in powder form with which an
aqueous sodium lactate solution is spray-dried in a spray tower.
With this method a glassy product may be formed on the wall of the
spray tower.
[0006] This can largely be prevented by spray-drying a cooking salt
solution first and then spray-drying the sodium lactate solution.
This product, however, lacks the desired stability. The starting
point for the present invention is a different method for removing
water wherein sodium lactate is made in powder form in a
less-energy costly way. The powder obtained with said method
appears to have the desired stability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention provides a solution to the stability problem
described above and relates to a method for the preparation of a
stable alkali metal lactate in powder form, wherein a concentrate
that contains alkali metal lactate is processed, with cooling, in a
mixer/extruder to form a powder of the alkali metal lactate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0008] According to the invention, the alkali metal lactate is
preferably lithium lactate, sodium lactate or potassium lactate
and, in particular, sodium lactate. According to the invention the
alkali metal lactates in powder form are stable for at least 48
hours.
[0009] The starting material used for the preparation of the
concentrate is an aqueous solution of the alkali metal lactate.
This 50-70% (m/m), preferably 55-65% (m/m), aqueous solution is
preferably first treated with active charcoal before the solution
is concentrated to 60-100% (m/m), preferably 80-100% (m/m), most
preferably 90-100% (m/m).
[0010] According to the invention, the processing in an
extruder/mixer is preferably carried out at a starting temperature
of 110.degree. C. to 170.degree. C., preferably 130.degree. C. to
165.degree. C. The cooling ranges from 10.degree. C. to 100.degree.
C., preferably 20.degree. C. to 90.degree. C. Suitable
extrude/mixers are Haake Rheomix 600 Models.RTM., Hobart mixers,
Werner & Pfliederer Models.RTM., APV-Baker mixer/extruders,
Simon Freres MXT models or any other comparable extruder/mixers
known in the art.
[0011] If it is desirable or necessary to shorten the length of the
mixer/extruder, the concentrate can first be cooled in a heat
extractor column as a pretreatment. In this case, the concentrate
is cooled, under the influence of gravity, in counter-current with
air/nitrogen in the boat extractor column, the concentrate being
cooled by 20.degree.-50.degree. C. with respect to the starting
temperature.
[0012] In order to improve the stability of the alkali metal
lactate powder even more, the alkali metal lactate may be combined
with a carrier. Said combining with a carrier may be conducted
prior to being processed with cooling in the mixer/extruder to
directly form a powder comprising the alkali metal lactate. With
this method the concentrate used, as a starting material, may be
relatively low concentrated: down to 60% (m/m). The alkali metal
lactate may also be combined with a carrier after processing the
concentrate with an extruder/mixer, with cooling.
[0013] The carrier that is used herein is preferably a flour, a
starch, a silicate or an alkaline earth metal lactate. The flour is
preferably rice flour. The starch is preferably cornstarch, wheat
starch or pea starch. The silicates are preferably food-grade
silicas such as Sipernat.RTM. 22S and 50S, ex Degussa and Zeothix
265. The alkaline earth metal lactate is preferably calcium
lactate. With this method the ratio of alkali metal lactate carrier
varies from 50:50 to 10:90, and preferably 50:50 to 40:60, based on
the weight of the alkali metal lactate comprising powder.
[0014] As mentioned above, the carrier can also be combined with
the alkali metal lactate after extrusion. Thus, this embodiment
encompasses a method for the preparation of a stable alkali metal
lactate in powder form, comprising the steps of:
[0015] (a) processing a concentrate that contains an alkali metal
lactate, with cooling, in a mixer/extruder to give a powder of the
alkali metal lactate; and
[0016] (b) mixing the powder from step (a) with a carrier to form a
powder containing alkali metal lactate.
[0017] It was found that with this method a higher concentration of
alkali metal lactate in the powder may be obtained compared with
the powder obtained with combined extrusion. With this method the
ratio of alkali metal lactate powder:carrier is at least 99:1 to
50:50 and preferably 80:20 based on the weight of the alkali metal
lactate comprising powder.
[0018] The alkali metal lactate powder is preferably ground,
preferably in a conical flourmill or a hammer mill, to the desired
particle size before step (b). This particle size is preferably
less than 800 .mu.m and in particular is 200 to 800 .mu.m.
[0019] Step (b) of the method according to the above-described
embodiment is preferably carried out in a mixer, for example, a
Hobart mixer, a Turbula Nauta or Forberg mixer, at ambient
temperature.
[0020] The stability of the stable alkali metal lactate in powder
form can be even further increased by adding a suitable emulsifier,
for example, sodium stearyl lactate or lecithin, either during the
processing in the extruder/mixture or in step (b) when conducted.
The stability and the product characteristics of the stable alkali
metal lactate in powder form can be adjusted with the aid of these
additives, the requisite stability duration of at least 48 hours
always being met.
[0021] The alkali metal lactate powder obtained with the methods
according to the invention have a stability of at least 48 hours
which renders it novel and are therefore, also subject of this
invention. Owing to its stability the alkali metal lactate powder
according to the invention appears highly suitable for use in
foodstuffs arid even for functional pre-mixes for foodstuffs.
Additional ingredients for functional pre-mixes comprise spices,
preservatives, colourings and flavourings, etc. Said pre-mixes may
be prepared by either combining the stable alkali metal lactate
containing powder with the other ingredients or the other
ingredients may be added to the alkali metal lactate at any stage
during preparation of the stable alkali metal lactate containing
powder. Irrespective of the preparation method used, the alkali
metal lactate powder according to the invention, before being used
in various applications, is preferably ground to a particle size of
less than 800 .mu.m, more preferably to a particle size between
200-800 .mu.m. The invention is also directed to foodstuffs and
functional pre-mixes comprising the stable alkali metal lactate
powder according to the invention.
[0022] The invention is further elucidated by the examples, which
are to be construed as illustrative only and not as being
limitative.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
[0023] An aqueous solution of sodium lactate that contained 60-65%
(m/m) sodium lactate was evaporated, either under atmospheric
pressure or under reduced pressure, to give a concentrate that
contained 90% (m/m) sodium lactate. In additional experiments the
aqueous solutions that contained 60-65% (m/m) sodium lactate were
combined with a carrier. The carriers used were potato starch,
wheat starch, corn starch, tapioca and additives such as Capsul E,
sunflower oil, Esterlac EFF, salt, lecithin, glycerol, Tween 80,
Span 80, and glycerol. The concentrate and the carrier were
processed in a Haake Rheomix 600 model mixer/extruder to give a
powder comprising about 42% (m/m) sodium lactate. The mixing times
and processing temperatures were, respectively, 5 to 30 minutes and
90.degree. C. to 130.degree. C. The powder consisted of individual
rubbery grains. These grains were stable for at least 48 hours (of
the order of 2 to 5 days).
[0024] The stability of the powder was tested as follows: 5-gram
sample and a 100-grain sample, respectively, of each powder were
placed in an aluminum cup and in a plastic bag (26.times.34 cm).
The stability tests were carried out in a climate-controlled
chamber at 30, 60 and 70% relative humidity and at a temperature of
20.degree. C. The values for the water absorption by the powder
samples (that is to say the stability) were determined when the
powder samples had visibly clearly absorbed water.
Example 2
[0025] An aqueous solution of sodium lactate that contained 60-65 %
(m/m) sodium lactate was evaporated, either under atmospheric
pressure or under reduced pressure, to give a concentrate that
contained 93-100% (m/m) sodium lactate. The concentrate was fed at
a temperature of 150.degree.-160.degree. C. to an APV-Baker
mixer/extruder. In order to reduce the length of the extruder, in a
number of experiments a heat extractor column was used as
pretreatment for the stream that was fed to the mixer/extruder. In
the heat extractor column the concentrate introduced was cooled
under the influence of gravity in counter-current with
air/nitrogen; during this operation the concentrate was cooled by
20.degree.-50.degree. C. Irrespective of whether or not a heat
extractor column was used, the product was cooled in a
mixer/extruder to a final temperature of 20.degree.-60.degree. C.;
the residence time in the mixer/extruder was 2 to 9 minutes. The
product was then ground in a conical flourmill, the particle size
of the ground product being less than 600 .mu.m. The ground product
was mixed with a carrier in a Hobart mixer for 10 to 120 minutes in
an air or a nitrogen atmosphere. The carriers used were rice flour,
cornstarch, pea starch, wheat starch, the silicate Sipemat 22S or
the silicate Zeothix 265. The sodium lactate:carrier ratio was
60:40, based on the pulverulent sodium lactate.
[0026] For the stability tests a 5-gram sample and a 100-gram
sample, respectively, of each powder was placed in a plastic dish
(4.times.3 cm) and in a plastic bag (26.times.34 cm), respectively.
The stability tests were carried out in a climate-controlled
chamber at a relative humidity of 60% and a temperature of
20.degree. C. For the 100 g sample the values for the moisture
absorption by the samples were determined when the sample had
visibly clearly absorbed water. The end products were found to be
stable to moisture absorption for a period of 48 to 72 hours.
* * * * *