GB1003156A - Free-flowing agglomerated products and method of making same - Google Patents

Abstract

A free-flowing, readily dispersible, agglomerated product such as a fruit-juice or beverage powder, is produced by dispersing substantially non-aggregated solid particles coated with as exposed film of a liquid, treating the dispersed particles with a medium that forms adhesive surfaces on the particles and bringing the treated dispersed particles into random contact with one another to cause them to adhere together in the form of porous agglomerates consisting of clusters of the particles bonded together at their inner faces and defining a network of interstices. In a preferred procedure, particles of a sugar (many specified) are dispersed before any significant caking takes place, the particles are coated as by grinding them in admixture with a liquid to form particles of smaller size (preferably not exceeding 300 microns) coated with an exposed film of the liquid, and the coated particles are passed as a fluidized bed through a vibrating apparatus in which, for the fluidization, humid air is employed in a first section whereby adhesive surfaces are formed by the condensation of water vapour, and drying air is employed in a second section to dry the porous agglomerates thus produced. In a third section the agglomerates are cooled and over-size material is removed. Particles already coated with liquid may be ground to provide a liquid film so thin as to be substantially dry to the touch. During the grinding liquid may be removed in a current of added air, especially in cases where the liquid component includes a crystallizable constituent. The mass obtained by converting a liquid solution containing crystallizable material and an uncrystallizable liquid into a solidified form containing the crystallizable material as the solid phase and the uncrsytallizable liquid as the liquid phase may be thus ground, as exemplified by clarified whole juice of sugar cane, sugar beet and sorghum containing substantial sucrose sugar, a dehydrated high cooked fondant mass, and brown sugar particles. Liquid films may include molasses, sugar syrups (specified), malt syrup, honey, maple syrup, fondant or fudge ingredients, flavouring ingredients of a soft drink composition, orange or raspberry juice, fruit including its fruit juice e.g. banana, oils, fats, liquid starch derivatives and solvents containing vitamins and pharmaceuticals. According to an example, twenty pounds of powdered sugar was blended with a quart of root beer syrup and these were then mixed with 58 pounds of granular sugar. After fine grinding the total mixture was fed to an agglomerating apparatus vibrated with a 1/2 -inch stroke at a frequency of 800 cycles per minute. Humid air having a wet bulb temperature of 185 DEG F. and a dry bulb temperature of 300 DEG F., and drying air at 275 DEG F. were employed respectively in the first and second sections of the apparatus. Mention is made of agglomerated products prepared from a starting mixture containing four parts sugar (sucrose and/or dextrose) and one part 76 DEG Brix orange juice, or raspberry juice. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 920,261.ALSO:A free-flowing, readily dispersible, agglomerated product such as a fabric softener, is produced by dispersing substantially non-aggregated solid particles coated with an exposed film of a liquid, treating the dispersed particles with a medium that forms adhesive surfaces on the particles and bringing the treated dispersed particles into random contact with one another to cause them to adhere together in the form of porous agglomerates consisting of clusters of the particles bonded together at their inner faces and defining a network of interstices. In a preferred procedure, particles of a sugar (many specified) are dispersed before any significant caking takes place, the particles are coated as by grinding them in admixture with a liquid to form particles of smaller size (preferably not exceeding 300 microns) coated with an exposed film of the liquid, and the coated particles are passed as a fluidized bed through a vibrating apparatus in which, for the fluidization, humid air is employed in a first section whereby adhesive surfaces are formed by the condensation of water vapour, and drying air is employed in a second section to dry the porous agglomerates thus produced. In a third section the agglomerates are cooled and over-size material is removed. Particles already coated with liquid may be ground to provide a liquid film so thin as to be substantially dry to the touch. During the grinding liquid may be removed in a current of added air, especially in cases where the liquid component includes a crystallisable constituent. The mass obtained by converting a liquid solution containing crystallisable material and an uncrystallisable liquid into a solidified form containing the crystallisable material as the solid phase and the uncrystallisable liquid as the liquid phase may be thus ground. According to an example, a mixture consisting of 6% softening agent in liquid form (80% metho-sulphate quaternary salt of a fatty amine containing two hydrogenated tallow chains, 6% iso-propanol and 14% water), less than 0.1% dye and perfume (optionally, wetting agents and optical brightening agents also) and approximately 94% sucrose, was ground to a size of about 60 microns or less and was fed at a rate of 500 lbs. per hour to an agglomerating apparatus vibrated with a 1/2 -inch stroke, at a frequency of 800 cycles per minute. Humid air having a wet bulb temperature of 165 DEG F. and a dry bulb temperature of 305 DEG F., and drying air at 280 DEG F. were employed respectively in the first and second sections of the apparatus. Most of the agglomerates were smaller than 6 mesh and larger than 40 mesh in size. The amount of softening agent should be within the range 6-12%. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 920,261.