GB887901A - - Google Patents

Abstract

887,901. Vitamin compositions. HOFFMANN-LA ROCHE & CO. A.G., F. April 11, 1960 [April 17, 1959], No. 12781/60. Class 81 (1). [Also in Groups III, IV (a) and IV (b)] Dry particulate products are obtained from gellable colloidal aqueous solutions, e.g. solutions of pectin, agar, tragacanth, alginates and gelatine, which may, if desired, contain additional materials such as vitamins, flavouring agents, colouring compositions and growth stimulants, by subdividing the solutions into fine droplets in a gaseous medium having a temperature at least 10‹ C. below the melting-point of the resulting gel, keeping the droplets separated for a time sufficient for gelling to begin and then drying the particles, which have gelled sufficiently and lost enough water to avoid agglomeration, to cause them to set permanently in gel form. Sub-division may be effected by spraying, atomizing, releasing through fine openings or by releasing a thin layer on a rotating plate, and the droplets may be gelled by falling through a still gas or through gas flowing in countercurrent to the falling droplets. Preferred duration of fall is at least 15 seconds over distances not less than 4 metres. The aqueous colloidal solutions may include a minor proportion, e.g. 10-30%, of an organic solvent, such as a lower aliphatic alcohol, e.g. ethanol, and may also include plasticizers, anti-oxidants, emulsifiers and preservatives, a number of each of which are specified. Air, nitrogen and carbon dioxide are specified gaseous media, the gas temperature being held at 10-20 C. below the melting-point of the resulting gel. Relative humidity in the gas should not exceed 30%. The drying of the gelled particles is effected preferably between 10‹ and 50‹ C., and the resistance of particles to water may be improved by treatment with a hardening agent, e.g. formaldehyde. Examples are given of the manufacture of particulate products from aqueous solutions containing: (1) gelatine, Vitamin A acetate, disodium ethylenediamine tetracetate, sugar, and butylated hydroxytoluene, with or without polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate; (2) gelatine, Vitamin A palmitate, invert sugar, butylated hydroxyanisole, propyl gallate, propyl phydroxybenzoate and #-phenoxyethyldimethyldodecyl ammonium bromide; and (3) gelatine, DL-α-tocopherol acetate, invert sugar, and #- phenoxyethyldimethyldodecyl ammonium bromide. Reference is made also to the preparation of carotenoid-containing products, e.g. products containing carotene, #-apo-8<SP>1</SP>-carotenal (C30), canthaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and lycopene, and products containing Vitamin B 1 , Vitamin C or panthenol.