JP2017176097A - Method for preventing hygroscopic solidification of sweetener - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique that effectively prevents hygroscopic solidification of a sweetener such as granulated sugar.SOLUTION: A base particle comprising a sweetness component A is subjected to dry coating with a sub-particle comprising a sweetness component B, thereby preventing hygroscopic solidification of the base particle.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for preventing hygroscopic consolidation of sweeteners such as granulated sugar.

  Some powdered foods and drinks absorb and condense moisture in the storage container and the atmosphere. Therefore, a method for preventing moisture absorption and consolidation of powdered foods and drinks has been studied. For example, it is known that by adhering particles (child particles) containing sodium glutamate to the surface of particles (mother particles) containing extracts, it is possible to prevent moisture absorption and consolidation of particles containing extracts (patent document). 1). In addition, for example, in a seasoning containing glutamate and potassium salt, it is known that moisture absorption and consolidation of the seasoning can be prevented by coating one or both of glutamate and potassium salt with a coating agent ( Patent Document 2).

  On the other hand, a method for producing a flavor sweetener composition excellent in flavor retention by coating the surface of a low-sweetness sweetener particle such as sugar with a flavor and a high-sweetness sweetener is known (Patent Literature). 3-4). In Patent Documents 3 to 4, wet coating and dry coating are exemplified as the coating technique.

  However, it is not known that the sweetener particles can be prevented from moisture absorption and consolidation by dry coating the sweetener particles on the surface of the sweetener particles.

WO2011 / 105460 JP-A-1-309656 JP2003-1444086 Utility model registration No. 3086084

  This invention makes it a subject to provide the technique which prevents the moisture absorption solidification of sweeteners, such as granulated sugar, effectively.

  As a result of diligent research to solve the above problems, the present inventors dry-coated child particles such as granulated sugar fine powder and fine sweetener fine powder on the surface of mother particles such as granulated sugar. Thus, it was found that moisture absorption and consolidation of sweeteners such as granulated sugar can be effectively prevented, and the present invention has been completed.

That is, the present invention can be exemplified as follows.
[1]
A method for producing a sweetener composition, comprising a step of dry-coating mother particles containing a sweetening component A with child particles containing a sweetening component B.
[2]
The method, wherein the content of the sweetening component A in the mother particles is 50% (w / w) or more.
[3]
The method, wherein the sweetening component A is sucrose and / or erythritol.
[4]
The method, wherein the content of the sweetening component B in the child particles is 50% (w / w) or more.
[5]
The method, wherein the sweetening component B is one or more components selected from sucrose and a high intensity sweetener.
[6]
The method, wherein the high-intensity sweetener is one or more ingredients selected from aspartame, acesulfame K, advantame, sucralose, neotame, saccharin.
[7]
The method, wherein the ratio of the average particle diameter D50 of the mother particles to the average particle diameter D50 of the child particles (average particle diameter D50 of the mother particles / average particle diameter D50 of the child particles) is 3 to 100,000.
[8]
The said method whose addition amount of the binder liquid in the said process is 0% (w / w)-0.5% (w / w).
[9]
In the above step, 0.15 to 20 parts by weight of the child particles are used with respect to 100 parts by weight of the base particles.
[10]
The said process is performed using the stirring apparatus provided with the stirring element, The said stirring speed in the said process is 2.5 m / s-30 m / s as a peripheral speed of a main axis | shaft.
[11]
The said process is performed using the stirring apparatus provided with the chopper, The rotation speed of the chopper in the said process is 1 m / s-10 m / s as a peripheral speed of a chopper.
[12]
The method, wherein the stirring time in the step is from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.
[13]
A method for improving the moisture absorption consolidation resistance of mother particles containing a sweetening component A, comprising a step of dry-coating the mother particles containing a sweetening component A with a child particle containing a sweetening component B.
[A]
The method, wherein the sweetening component A is granulated sugar.
[B]
The method, wherein the sweetening component B is aspartame and acesulfame K.
[C]
The method, wherein the sweetening component B is ground granulated sugar.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively prevent moisture absorption and consolidation of sweeteners such as granulated sugar.

The figure which shows the result of evaluation of moisture absorption consolidation tolerance at the time of dry-coating G sugar fine powder on granulated sugar (G sugar). The figure (photograph) which shows the result of the surface observation by an electron microscope at the time of dry-coating G sugar fine powder on G sugar. (A) G sugar. (B) G sugar + G sugar fine powder 0.5%. (C) G sugar + G sugar fine powder 1.0% The figure which shows the result of evaluation of moisture absorption consolidation tolerance at the time of dry-coating G sugar fine powder on G sugar. (A) Moisture absorption and rating. (B) Use amount of G sugar fine powder and consolidated moisture. The figure which shows the result of evaluation of moisture absorption solidification tolerance when G sugar fine powder or APM and Ace-K are dry-coated or bag-mixed with G sugar. (A) Moisture absorption and rating. (B) Change in moisture content with time. The figure which shows the result of the evaluation of moisture absorption consolidation resistance when dry-coating or wet-coating APM and Ace-K to G sugar. The figure which shows the result of evaluation of moisture absorption consolidation tolerance at the time of dry-coating various sweeteners to G sugar. The figure which shows the result of the evaluation of moisture absorption consolidation resistance when dry-coating APM and Ace-K on G sugar. The figure (photograph) which shows the result of the surface observation by an electron microscope at the time of dry-coating APM and Ace-K on G sugar. The figure which shows the result of the evaluation of moisture absorption consolidation resistance when dry-coating APM and Ace-K on G sugar. The figure which shows the result of the evaluation of moisture absorption consolidation resistance when dry-coating APM and Ace-K on G sugar. The figure (photograph) which shows the result of the surface observation by an electron microscope at the time of dry-coating APM and Ace-K on G sugar. The figure which shows the result of the evaluation of moisture absorption consolidation resistance when dry-coating APM and Ace-K on G sugar. The figure (photograph) which shows the result of the surface observation by an electron microscope at the time of dry-coating APM and Ace-K on G sugar.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

  The method of the present invention is a method for preventing hygroscopic consolidation of the mother particles, which comprises the step of dry coating the mother particles containing the sweetening component A with the child particles containing the sweetening component B. Moreover, one aspect of the method of the present invention is a method for producing a sweetener composition, comprising a step of dry-coating the mother particles containing the sweetening component A with the child particles containing the sweetening component B. The mother particles and the child particles are also collectively referred to as “raw material particles”.

  The sweetener composition obtained by the method of the present invention is also referred to as “the sweetener composition of the present invention”. Specifically, the sweetener composition of the present invention may be the mother particles that are dry-coated with the child particles. In addition, the sweetener composition of the present invention may specifically be the above mother particles having improved moisture absorption and consolidation resistance.

  In the present invention, an effect of preventing moisture absorption and consolidation of the mother particles (an effect of improving the moisture absorption and consolidation resistance of the mother particles) can be obtained by dry coating the mother particles with the child particles. This effect is also called “caking prevention effect”. The caking prevention effect can be confirmed by measuring the moisture absorption caking resistance of the sweetener composition of the present invention. Specifically, the anti-caking effect can be confirmed by measuring and comparing the hygroscopic caking resistance of the sweetener composition of the present invention and the control product. Hygroscopic consolidation resistance can be measured by placing an object (a sweetener composition of the present invention or a control product) in the presence of moisture and measuring the amount of moisture absorption and the degree of consolidation. Specific measurement procedures and evaluation criteria for moisture absorption and consolidation resistance include those described in the examples. In the sweetener composition of the present invention, it can be determined that the anti-caking effect has been obtained if the degree of caking at the time of showing the same amount of moisture absorption is low compared to the control product. Examples of the control product include an uncoated product of the mother particles (the mother particles themselves) and a wet coated product of the mother particles (the mother particles wet-coated with the child particles). Examples of the wet coating include a coating technique that is performed under the same conditions as the dry coating except that the amount of water added is 0.8% (w / w) or more.

<Mother particles>
The mother particle is a particle containing the sweetening component A. The mother particles may or may not consist of the sweetening component A. That is, the mother particle may be composed of a combination of the sweetening component A and other components. The content of the sweetening component A in the mother particles is, for example, 50% (w / w) or more, 70% (w / w) or more, 80% (w / w) or more, 90% (w / w) or more, 95 % (W / w) or more, or 97% (w / w) or more, and 100% (w / w) or less.

  “Sweet component” refers to a component that exhibits sweetness. The kind of sweetening component A is not particularly limited as long as an anti-caking effect is obtained. That is, as the sweetening component A, any sweetening component that is desired to prevent moisture absorption and consolidation can be selected. Specific examples of the sweetening component A include sugars such as sucrose, glucose, fructose, lactose, isomerized sugar, oligosaccharide, sugar alcohols such as erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, and lactitol, aspartame ( APM), acesulfame K (Ace-K), advantame, sucralose, neotame, saccharin and other high-intensity sweeteners. More specifically, examples of the sweetening component A include sucrose and erythritol. As sucrose, what is generally called "sugar" is mentioned. Examples of the sugar include honey sugar such as brown sugar and honey sugar such as refined sugar. Examples of the purified sugar include hard sugars such as white disaccharides, medium disaccharides, and granulated sugars, soft sugars such as upper white sugars and tri-warm sugars, and processed sugars such as icing sugar, powdered sugar, and granular sugar. As sucrose used as the sweetening ingredient A, hard sugar is preferable, and granulated sugar is more preferable. As the sweetening component A, one type of component may be used, or two or more types of components may be used. For example, sucrose and / or erythritol may be used as the sweetening component A. When two or more components are used as the sweetening component A, the two or more components may or may not coexist in a single particle (one mother particle). .

  The type of other components (components other than sweetening component A) contained in the mother particles is not particularly limited as long as an anti-caking effect is obtained. Examples of the other components contained in the mother particles include components mixed in foods and drinks, seasonings, or pharmaceuticals. Specific examples of such components include, for example, inorganic salts, organic acids and salts thereof, amino acids and salts thereof, nucleic acids and salts thereof, dietary fiber, pH buffering agents, excipients, bulking agents, perfumes ( Flavor ingredients) and edible oils. Specific examples of other components contained in the mother particles include a component derived from the raw material plant of sweetening component A and a component generated in the production process of sweetening component A. The mother particle may contain one component as another component (component other than the sweetening component A), or may contain two or more components.

The shape of the mother particles is not particularly limited as long as a caking prevention effect is obtained. The mother particle may be in an arbitrary shape such as a spherical shape or a polyhedron. The mother particle may have a crystal shape that can be taken according to the type of sweetening component A, for example. The size of the mother particles is not particularly limited as long as an anti-caking effect is obtained. The size of the mother particles can be appropriately set according to various conditions such as the type of sweetening component A. The average particle diameter D50 of the mother particles may be, for example, 100 μm or more, 150 μm or more, 200 μm or more, 300 μm or more, 500 μm or more, 700 μm or more, or 1000 μm or more, 5000 μm or less, 3000 μm or less, 2000 μm or less, 1000 μm or less, It may be 700 μm or less, or 500 μm or less, or may be a consistent combination thereof. Specifically, the average particle diameter D50 of the mother particles may be, for example, 150 μm to 2000 μm, or 200 μm to 1000 μm. The “average particle diameter D50” means a particle diameter at an integrated value of 50% on a frequency basis in the particle size distribution obtained by the laser diffraction / scattering method. The average particle size D50 is, for example, MICROTRAC HRA (Nikkiso Co., Ltd.)
And Partica LA-960 Wet (manufactured by Horiba Seisakusho) and other laser diffraction particle size distribution measuring devices (particle size distribution measuring device based on laser diffraction / scattering method).

The sweetening component A can be manufactured by a conventional method. The sweetening component A can be produced by, for example, an extraction method, an enzymatic method, a chemical synthesis method, or a combination thereof. For example, sucrose crystals (for example, sugar) can be produced from a raw plant such as sugar cane by a general sugar production process. The sweetening component A may be purified to a desired degree. The sweetening component A can be used as mother particles, for example, as it is or after being appropriately processed. In addition, the fraction containing the sweetening component A can be used as mother particles as it is or after being appropriately processed. Examples of the fraction containing the sweetening component A include a sugar solution in the sugar-making process, a reaction solution after the formation reaction of the sweetening component A, and a processed product thereof. The sweetening component A or a fraction containing the sweetening component A may be processed to obtain a desired average particle diameter D50 and used as mother particles, for example. In addition, the sweetening component A or a fraction containing the sweetening component A may be used as mother particles, for example, alone or in combination with other components. The mother particle containing the sweetening component A can be produced, for example, from the sweetening component A or a fraction containing the sweetening component A by extraction, concentration, drying, crystallization, pulverization, granulation, or a combination thereof.

<Child particles>
The child particles are particles containing the sweetening component B. The child particles may or may not consist of the sweetening component B. That is, the child particles may be composed of a combination of the sweetening component B and other components. The content of the sweetening component B in the child particles is, for example, 50% (w / w) or more, 70% (w / w) or more, 80% (w / w) or more, 90% (w / w) or more, 95 % (W / w) or more, or 97% (w / w) or more, and 100% (w / w) or less.

  The type of sweetening component B is not particularly limited as long as an anti-caking effect is obtained. The sweetening component B may or may not be the same as the sweetening component A. Specific examples of the sweetening component B include sugars, sugar alcohols, and high-intensity sweeteners as described above. More specifically, examples of the sweetening component B include sucrose and high-intensity sweeteners. As sucrose, what is generally called "sugar" as mentioned above is mentioned. As sucrose used as the sweetening component B, hard sugar is preferable, granulated sugar is more preferable, and ground granulated sugar is still more preferable. As the sweetening component B, one type of component may be used, or two or more types of components may be used. For example, aspartame (APM) and acesulfame K (Ace-K) may be used as sweetening component B. When two or more components are used as the sweetening component B, the two or more components may or may not coexist in a single particle (one child particle). . For example, as child particles, particles containing aspartame (APM) and particles containing acesulfame K (Ace-K) may be used in combination.

  The kind of other components (components other than sweetening component B) contained in the child particles is not particularly limited as long as an anti-caking effect is obtained. The other components contained in the child particles may or may not be the same as the other components contained in the mother particles. Examples of the other components contained in the child particles include the components blended in the food and drink, the seasoning, and the medicine as described above. In addition, specific examples of other components contained in the child particles include a component derived from the raw material plant of the sweetening component B and a component generated in the manufacturing process of the sweetening component B. The child particles may contain one component as another component (component other than the sweet component B), or may contain two or more components.

The shape of the child particles is not particularly limited as long as the caking prevention effect is obtained. The child particles may have an arbitrary shape such as a spherical shape or a polyhedron. The child particles may have, for example, a crystal shape that can be taken according to the type of the sweetening component B. The size of the child particles is not particularly limited as long as an anti-caking effect is obtained. The size of the child particles can be appropriately set according to various conditions such as the type of the sweetening component B. The average particle diameter D50 of the child particles may be, for example, 0.1 μm or more, 0.5 μm or more, 1 μm or more, 5 μm or more, 10 μm or more, 20 μm or more, 30 μm or more, or 40 μm or more, 200 μm or less, 150 μm or less. , 100 μm or less, 70 μm or less, 50 μm or less, 40 μm or less, 30 μm or less, 20 μm or less, 10 μm or less, or 5 μm or less, or a consistent combination thereof. Specifically, the average particle diameter D50 of the child particles may be, for example, 0.1 μm to 100 μm, 1 μm to 70 μm, 10 μm to 70 μm, or 20 μm to 70 μm. For example, depending on the form of the child particles, the child particles are pulverized or the like in the process of the dry coating, whereby the average particle diameter D50 of the child particles after the dry coating (actual particles actually attached to the surface of the mother particles). May be smaller than the range described above.

  The sweetening component B can be manufactured by a conventional method. The sweetening component B can be produced, for example, by an extraction method, an enzymatic method, a chemical synthesis method, or a combination thereof. For example, sucrose crystals (for example, sugar) can be produced from a raw plant such as sugar cane by a general sugar production process. The sweetening component B may be purified to a desired degree. The sweetening component B can be used as a child particle, for example, as it is or after being appropriately processed. Further, the fraction containing the sweetening component B can be used as child particles as it is or after being appropriately processed. Examples of the fraction containing the sweetening component B include a sugar solution in the sugar-making process, a reaction solution after the formation reaction of the sweetening component B, and a processed product thereof. The sweetening component B or a fraction containing the sweetening component B may be processed and used as child particles so as to obtain a desired average particle diameter D50, for example. In addition, the sweetening component B or a fraction containing the sweetening component B may be used as child particles, for example, alone or in combination with other components. The child particles containing the sweetening component B can be produced, for example, from the sweetening component B or a fraction containing the sweetening component B by extraction, concentration, drying, crystallization, grinding, granulation, or a combination thereof. For example, sucrose crystals (for example, sugar) can be pulverized to obtain a desired average particle diameter D50 and used as child particles. The pulverization can be performed using, for example, a pulverizer. The pulverizing apparatus is not particularly limited as long as the object can be pulverized to a desired degree. Examples of pulverizers include pin mills, jet mills, feather mills, rod mills, ball mills, vibration rod mills, vibration ball mills, and disk type mills, jaw crushers, gyratory crushers, cone crushers, smooth roll crushers, and teeth. Various crushers such as roll crusher, impact crusher, hammer crusher, food cutter and dicer. Specific examples of the hammer crusher include a pulverizer (AP-4TH, etc .; manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation).

  The ratio of the average particle diameter D50 between the mother particles and the child particles may be a value calculated from the average particle diameter D50 between the mother particles and the child particles as described above, for example. The ratio of the average particle diameter D50 of the mother particles to the average particle diameter D50 of the child particles (the average particle diameter D50 of the mother particles / the average particle diameter D50 of the child particles) is, for example, 3 or more, 5 or more, 10 or more, 20 or more, It may be 50 or more, 100 or more, 200 or more, 500 or more, or 1000 or more, and is 100000 or less, 50000 or less, 20000 or less, 10000 or less, 5000 or less, 2000 or less, 1000 or less, 500 or less, or 200 or less. Or a combination that does not contradict them. Specifically, the ratio of the average particle diameter D50 of the mother particles to the average particle diameter D50 of the child particles (average particle diameter D50 of the mother particles / average particle diameter D50 of the child particles) is, for example, 3 to 100,000, 5 to 20,000. Or 10 to 5000.

<Dry coating>
The method of the present invention comprises the step of dry coating the mother particles containing the sweetening component A with the child particles containing the sweetening component B. This process is also referred to as “dry coating process”. In the present invention, “dry coating” refers to a coating technique that is carried out without adding a binder liquid or by adding only a small amount of a binder liquid. The addition of the binder liquid is also referred to as “humidification” for convenience of explanation. That is, in the dry coating process, humidification may or may not be performed. In the dry coating process, it may be preferable to perform humidification, for example, from the viewpoint of achieving uniform coating. Specifically, the dry coating step can be performed by stirring the raw material particles (the mother particles and the child particles). More specifically, the dry coating step can be performed by stirring the raw material particles (the mother particles and the child particles) without humidifying, or by humidifying and stirring the raw material particles (the mother particles and the child particles). . The dry coating process may be performed batchwise or continuously.

  The amount of the raw material particles to be supplied to the dry coating process is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately set according to various conditions such as the processing capacity of the stirring device to be used. The amount ratio of the raw material particles supplied to the dry coating process is not particularly limited as long as an anti-caking effect is obtained. The amount ratio of the raw material particles supplied to the dry coating process can be appropriately set according to various conditions such as the composition and shape of the raw material particles. For example, 0.15 parts by weight, 0.2 parts by weight or more, 0.3 parts by weight or more, 0.5 parts by weight or more, 0.7 parts by weight or more, May be used by weight part or more, 1.5 parts by weight or more, or 2 parts by weight or more, 20 parts by weight or less, 10 parts by weight or less, 7 parts by weight or less, 5 parts by weight or less, 3 parts by weight or less, 2 parts by weight or less. , Or 1.5 parts by weight or less, and may be used in the range of a consistent combination thereof. Specifically, for example, 0.15 parts by weight to 20 parts by weight, 0.2 parts by weight to 10 parts by weight, or 0.3 parts by weight to 3 parts by weight of the child particles are used with respect to 100 parts by weight of the base particles. May be.

  The raw material particles (the mother particles and the child particles) may be mixed with each other and then supplied to the dry coating process, and may be supplied to the dry coating process separately or in any combination separately, It may be mixed. That is, the method of the present invention may include, for example, a step of preliminarily mixing raw material particles (preliminary mixing step) before the dry coating step. The premixing step can be performed, for example, by stirring the raw materials. That is, the preliminary mixing step may be a step of stirring the raw materials, for example. The conditions of the premixing step are not particularly limited as long as the raw material particles are mixed to a desired degree. In the premixing step, the coating of the mother particles with the child particles may or may not proceed. The premixing step may be performed, for example, for 10 seconds to 1 minute. The number of stirring (stirring speed) in the preliminary mixing step may or may not be the same as the number of stirring in the stirring and mixing step. The number of stirring (stirring speed) in the preliminary mixing step may be lower than the number of stirring in the stirring and mixing step, for example. The premixing step and the dry coating step may or may not be performed in the same container.

  In the dry coating process, humidification and stirring may be performed partly or entirely at the same time, or may be performed separately. The humidification and stirring are preferably performed at least partially at the same time. Humidification and stirring may or may not be performed in the same container. Humidification and stirring are preferably performed in the same container.

Humidification is performed by adding a binder liquid to the raw material particles. The type of the binder liquid is not particularly limited as long as the caking prevention effect is obtained. The binder liquid can be appropriately selected according to various conditions such as the composition of the raw material particles. Specifically, the binder liquid is a liquid medium.
medium). Examples of the liquid medium include so-called liquid solvents such as water and organic solvents. Specific examples of the organic solvent include methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, acetone, dichloromethane, dichloroethane, chloroform, and diethyl ether. More specifically, examples of the organic solvent include ethanol. As the liquid medium, one type of medium may be used, or two or more types of media may be used in combination. Specifically, the liquid medium may be, for example, water or ethanol, or a mixture thereof. The binder liquid may be made of a liquid medium and may contain components other than the liquid medium. That is, the binder liquid may be the liquid medium itself (that is, a liquid composed of a liquid medium), and is composed of a combination of a liquid medium and a liquid containing components other than the liquid medium (that is, a combination of the liquid medium and components other than the liquid medium). Liquid). Examples of the liquid containing the liquid medium and components other than the liquid medium include solutions, colloidal liquids, and suspensions. Specifically, the binder liquid may be, for example, water or a liquid containing water and components other than water (a liquid composed of a combination of water and components other than water). Examples of the liquid containing water and components other than water include aqueous solutions, aqueous colloidal solutions, and aqueous suspensions. Components other than the liquid medium are not particularly limited as long as an anti-caking effect is obtained. As the components other than the liquid medium, for example, as described above, components that can be contained in the raw material particles (that is, the sweetening component A, the sweetening component B, and other foods and drinks, seasonings, or components blended in medicines, Etc.). That is, for example, the components that can be contained in the raw material particles as described above may be diluted, dissolved, or dispersed in a liquid medium and used as a binder liquid. For example, among the components that can be contained in the raw material particles as described above, a component that exists in the form of a liquid may be used as it is as the binder liquid. In this way, a part of the components constituting the composition of the present invention can be added to the raw material particles by being contained in the binder liquid. The concentration of components other than the liquid medium in the binder liquid is not particularly limited as long as an anti-caking effect is obtained. The concentration of components other than the liquid medium in the binder liquid can be appropriately set according to various conditions such as the type of components other than the liquid medium. The binder liquid may contain only 1 type of components other than a liquid medium, and may contain 2 or more types. Further, as the binder liquid, only one kind of binder liquid may be used, or two or more kinds of binder liquids may be used in combination. When using 2 or more types of binder liquids, they may be added simultaneously, and may be added separately separately or in arbitrary combinations.

  The method for adding the binder liquid is not particularly limited as long as the caking prevention effect is obtained. As a method for adding the binder liquid, for example, a known method can be used. A binder liquid can be added by injection | pouring, dripping, spraying, or those combinations, for example. The binder liquid is preferably added by spraying. A binder liquid can be added from the supply port according to the system of addition, for example. For example, the binder liquid can be sprayed onto the raw material particles using a spray nozzle. Humidification can be performed in a suitable container. For example, humidification can be performed in a stirring tank described later. Humidification can also be performed outside the container. For example, when transferring raw material particles using a feeder, a binder liquid may be added during the transfer. Further, for example, the binder liquid may be added when the raw material particles are put into a suitable container, for example, a stirring tank described later. The supply port of the binder liquid can be provided according to the humidification mode. For example, when humidification and stirring are performed in the same container (stirring tank described later), the stirring device includes a binder liquid supply port. For example, only one binder liquid supply port may be provided, or two or more binder liquid supply ports may be provided.

The amount of the binder liquid added in the dry coating process is 0 (zero) or a trace amount. Here, “0 (zero) or a trace amount” means 0% (w / w) to 0.5% (w / w) as a liquid addition amount. That is, the addition amount of the binder liquid is 0% (w / w) to 0.5% (w / w) as the addition amount. The addition amount of the binder liquid is, for example, 0% (w / w) to 0.3% (w / w), 0% (w / w) to 0.2% (w / w), Alternatively, it may be 0% (w / w) to 0.15% (w / w). The “liquid addition amount” here refers to the ratio of the weight of the liquid medium added by the addition of the binder liquid to the weight of the raw material particles (addition weight / raw material particle weight). In particular, the amount of liquid added when the liquid medium is water is also referred to as “amount of water”. When the binder liquid contains a component other than the liquid medium, the weight of the component other than the liquid medium is included in the weight of the raw material particles, not the weight of the liquid medium, when calculating the addition amount. And The content (concentration) of the liquid medium in the object is also referred to as “liquid content”. In particular, the liquid content when the liquid medium is water is also referred to as “water content”. The content (concentration) of components other than the liquid medium in the object is also referred to as “solid content”. Liquid content + solid content = 100 (%). The liquid content is the ratio of loss on drying when the object is dried (
Calculated as the ratio of the weight reduced by drying to the weight before drying). As the drying conditions, conditions under which the liquid medium sufficiently evaporates can be employed according to various conditions such as the type of the liquid medium. For example, after drying at 105 ° C. for 5 hours using sea sand, loss on drying can be measured.

  Humidification may be performed continuously or intermittently. That is, humidification may be performed only once and may be performed twice or more. Here, the period from the start of humidification to the stop of humidification is defined as “once”. Throughout the continuous humidification process, conditions such as the binder liquid addition method, the amount of binder liquid added, the binder liquid addition speed, the type of components contained in the binder liquid, and the concentration of the components contained in the binder liquid are constant. It may or may not be. In addition, when humidification is performed twice or more, the addition method of the binder liquid, the addition amount of the binder liquid, the addition speed of the binder liquid, the type of the component contained in the binder liquid, the concentration of the component contained in the binder liquid The conditions such as the duration of humidification may or may not be the same each time.

  Humidification can be performed on some or all of the raw material particles. For example, after humidifying a part of the raw material particles, the remainder of the raw material particles may be additionally added.

  The stirring method is not particularly limited as long as the caking prevention effect is obtained. As a stirring method, for example, a known method can be used. Stirring can be performed in a suitable container. A container in which stirring is performed is also referred to as a “stirring tank”. The shape and size of the stirring tank are not particularly limited as long as the caking prevention effect is obtained. The shape of the stirring tank may be, for example, a cylinder, a cone, or a combination thereof. The stirring tank may be, for example, a vertical type or a horizontal type. The cross-sectional shape of the stirring tank may be, for example, a circle, an ellipse, or a polygon. Here, the “cross section” means a horizontal section in a vertical stirring tank and a vertical section in a horizontal stirring tank. The cross-sectional shape is preferably circular. Stirring may be performed, for example, by rotating a stirrer, vibrating the stirring tank itself, or a combination thereof. Stirring is preferably performed by rotating a stirring bar (also referred to as a stirring blade). The shape of the stirrer, the size, the number of installations, the installation position, the installation direction, and the like are not particularly limited as long as the caking prevention effect is obtained. The shape of the stirring bar may be, for example, a rod shape, a plate shape, a propeller shape, a spiral shape, or a combination thereof. The size of the stirrer is, for example, 0.1 m or more, 0.2 m or more, 0.3 m or more, or 0.5 m as the length from the rotating shaft to the tip of the stirrer (that is, the rotation radius of the tip of the stirrer). It may be 2m or less, 1.5m or less, 1m or less, 0.7m or less, 0.5m or less, or 0.3m or less, or a non-conflicting combination thereof. Specifically, the size of the stirring bar may be, for example, 0.2 m to 1 m as the length from the rotation shaft to the tip of the stirring bar. The stirrer can be installed to be rotatable about a predetermined rotation axis. For example, the stirrer may be provided only at one location on the rotating shaft, or may be provided at two or more locations on the rotating shaft. Further, only one rotating shaft may be provided, or two or more rotating shafts may be provided. The rotating shaft may be provided at any position in the stirring tank. A rotating shaft may be provided in the center part of a stirring tank, for example. For example, when using a vertical stirring tank, a rotating shaft is provided in the vertical direction at the center of the stirring tank, and by supplying the raw material particles from the upper part of the stirring tank, the raw material particles move downward while being stirred, The coated product (composition of the present invention) formed from the lower part of the stirring tank can be recovered. For example, a chopper may be used for the stirring. The chopper can be used in combination with a stirring bar, for example. The shape of the chopper, the size, the number of installations, the installation position, the installation direction, etc. are not particularly limited as long as the caking prevention effect is obtained.

Stirring can be performed using a stirrer. The stirring device includes appropriate means (for example, a stirring bar or a chopper) that enables stirring as described above. The stirrer is configured to supply the raw material particles to the stirrer and discharge the formed coating product from the stirrer. The stirring device may have, for example, a raw material particle supply port and a formed coating product discharge port separately, and both the raw material particle supply port and the formed composition discharge port of the present invention are provided. You may have the opening part which doubles. The stirrer preferably has a supply port for raw material particles and a discharge port for the formed coating product separately. Specifically, the stirrer is formed, for example, from the supply port provided at the upper part of the stirrer, and the raw material particles are stirred in the stirring tank and formed from the discharge port provided at the lower part of the stirrer. The coated product may be configured to be discharged. Moreover, it is preferable that the stirring apparatus has the supply port of a binder liquid. When the stirring device has a supply port for the binder liquid, the binder liquid can be added to the raw material particles in the stirring tank, so that humidification and stirring can be performed in the same container (stirring tank). Examples of the stirrer include various batch stirrers and various continuous stirrers. Specific examples of the stirring device include, for example, a high-speed stirring type mixing granulator (NMG-5L, etc .; manufactured by Nara Machinery Co., Ltd.), a hybridization system (NHS series, etc .; manufactured by Nara Machinery Co., Ltd.), New Speed Examples include a kneader (NSK series, etc .; manufactured by Okada Seiko Co., Ltd.), a flexo mix (FXD-250, etc .; manufactured by Hosokawa Micron), and a vertical granulator (manufactured by Paulek).

  The number of stirring (stirring speed) in the dry coating process is not particularly limited as long as an anti-caking effect is obtained. The number of stirring in the dry coating process can be appropriately set according to various conditions such as the composition and shape of the raw material particles, the mode of the stirring bar, and whether the dry coating process is performed continuously or batchwise. The number of stirring in the dry coating process may be, for example, 10 rpm or more, 50 rpm or more, 100 rpm or more, 200 rpm or more, or 300 rpm or more, 1500 rpm or less, 1250 rpm or less, 1000 rpm or less, or 750 rpm or less. A combination of these may be used. Specifically, the stirring number in the dry coating process may be, for example, 50 rpm to 1500 rpm, or 300 rpm to 750 rpm. The number of stirring in the dry coating step is, for example, 2.5 m / s or more, 5 m / s or more, 7.5 m / s as the peripheral speed of the main shaft (peripheral speed of the stirring bar; that is, the rotational speed of the tip of the stirring bar). s or more, 30 m / s or less, 20 m / s or less, 15 m / s or less, 11 m / s or less, or 8 m / s or less, or a combination thereof. Specifically, the number of stirring in the dry coating process is, for example, 2.5 m / s to 30 m / s, 5 m / s to 20 m / s, or 7.5 m / s to 15 m / s as the peripheral speed of the main shaft. There may be.

  The number of rotations (rotation speed) of the chopper in the dry coating process is not particularly limited as long as an anti-caking effect is obtained. The number of rotations of the chopper in the dry coating process can be appropriately set according to various conditions such as the composition and shape of the raw material particles, the mode of the chopper, whether the dry coating process is performed continuously or batchwise. The rotation speed of the chopper in the dry coating process may be, for example, 200 rpm or more, 500 rpm or more, 750 rpm or more, 1000 rpm or more, or 1250 rpm or more, 3000 rpm or less, 2000 rpm or less, 1500 rpm or less, or 1000 rpm or less. , They may be a consistent combination. Specifically, the number of rotations of the chopper in the dry coating process may be, for example, 500 rpm to 3000 rpm, or 1000 rpm to 2000 rpm. Further, the number of rotations of the chopper in the dry coating process is, for example, 0 m / s or more, 0.5 m / s or more, 1 m / s or more, for example, as the peripheral speed of the chopper (that is, the rotation speed of the tip of the chopper). It may be 5 m / s or more, 2.5 m / s or more, or 3.5 m / s or more, or 10 m / s or less, 7 m / s or less, 4 m / s or less, or 2 m / s or less. , They may be a consistent combination. Specifically, the number of rotations of the chopper in the dry coating process may be, for example, 1 m / s to 10 m / s, or 1.5 m / s to 7 m / s as the peripheral speed of the chopper.

  In the present invention, the phrase “the number of stirring (stirring speed) in the dry coating process is within a certain range” is not limited to the case where the number of stirring is within the range over the entire period of the dry coating process. The case where the number of agitation is out of the range in a part of the period is also included. The same applies to the number of rotations (rotational speed) of the chopper. “Partial period” refers to a period of 20% or less, 15% or less, 10% or less, 5% or less, 3% or less, or 1% or less of the entire period of the stirring and mixing step. For example, stirring may be temporarily stopped. That is, stirring may be performed continuously or intermittently. That is, the stirring may be performed only once, or may be performed twice or more. Here, the period from the start of stirring to the stop of stirring is defined as “once”. Throughout the continuous stirring process, conditions such as the number of stirrings may or may not be constant. When stirring is performed twice or more, conditions such as the number of stirring and the duration of stirring may or may not be the same each time. Agitation can be performed, for example, until the coating has progressed to the desired degree. The stirring time (dry coating process time) may be, for example, 30 seconds or more, 1 minute or more, 1.5 minutes or more, 2 minutes or more, or 3 minutes or more, or 10 minutes or less, 7.5 minutes or less. It may be 5 minutes or less, 3 minutes or less, or 2 minutes or less, or a non-conflicting combination thereof. Specifically, the stirring time (time of the dry coating process) may be, for example, 30 seconds to 10 minutes, or 1 minute to 7.5 minutes.

  By carrying out the dry coating process in this manner, a coated product (the composition of the present invention) is obtained.

  The fact that the coating has been carried out can be confirmed, for example, by observing the surface of the coated product (the composition of the present invention) using a measuring device such as an electron microscope. Moreover, it can confirm that coating was implemented, for example by confirming that the hygroscopic consolidation tolerance of the mother particle improved.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples.

Example 1: Evaluation of anti-caking effect by dry-coating granulated sugar fine powder on granulated sugar (1)
In this example, dry coating was performed using granulated sugar (hereinafter also referred to as “G sugar”) as mother particles and granulated sugar (hereinafter also referred to as “G sugar fine powder”) as child particles. The caking prevention effect was evaluated.

<Experimental procedure>
G sugar was used as a control sample. G sugar fine powder 8.16g (about 0.5%) or 16.32g (about 1.0%) was dry-coated with respect to G sugar 1586.4g, and it was set as the evaluation sample. As the G sugar fine powder, G sugar pulverized with a free mill (manufactured by Nara Machinery Co., Ltd.) was used. When the G sugar fine powder was observed with an electron microscope, the particle diameter was generally within the range of 10 μm to 100 μm, and D50 was estimated to be about 50 μm. Dry coating uses a high-speed agitation type mixing granulator NMG-5L (manufactured by Nara Machinery Co., Ltd.). 0.1%) water was added, and this mixing (main shaft rotation speed 600 rpm, chopper rotation speed 1500 rpm) was further performed for 1.5 min. The sample was subjected to surface observation with an electron microscope and evaluation of moisture absorption and consolidation resistance.

Evaluation of moisture absorption consolidation resistance was carried out by the following procedure.
(1) The sample was placed in a constant temperature and humidity chamber set to a chamber temperature of 25 ° C. and a humidity of 50% and allowed to stand for 2 hours or more (drying process), and then the weight of the sample was measured.
(2) After setting the humidity of the constant temperature and humidity chamber to 87% and allowing the sample to stand for a predetermined time (moisture absorption process), measure the weight of the sample and absorb the moisture absorption (increase in the sample weight before and after the moisture absorption process) ) Was calculated.
(3) The humidity of the constant temperature and humidity chamber was set to 50%, and the sample was allowed to stand for 2 hours or longer (consolidation step), and then the degree of consolidation of the sample was confirmed and given a rating. Table 1 shows the criteria for rating.

<Result>
The result of evaluation of moisture absorption consolidation resistance is shown in FIG. It has been clarified that the moisture absorption and consolidation resistance of G sugar is improved by dry coating G sugar fine powder on G sugar. The results of surface observation with an electron microscope are shown in FIG. It was confirmed that the G sugar fine powder was coated on the surface of the G sugar by dry coating. In addition, although the particle diameter (FIG. 2) of G sugar fine powder adhering to the surface of G sugar was smaller than the particle diameter (above) of G sugar fine powder used as raw material particles, It is presumed that the sugar fine powder was further pulverized.

Example 2: Evaluation of caking prevention effect by dry-coating granulated sugar fine powder on granulated sugar (2)
In this example, dry coating was performed using G sugar as the mother particle and G sugar fine powder as the child particle, and the relationship between the quantity ratio of the mother particle and the child particle and the anti-caking effect was evaluated.

<Experimental procedure>
G sugar was used as a control sample. The G sugar fine powder was 0.1%, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.25, or 2.5% dry coated on the G sugar in the same procedure as in Example 1 to obtain an evaluation sample.
The sample was subjected to evaluation of moisture absorption and consolidation resistance in the same procedure as in Example 1.

<Result>
The results of evaluation of moisture absorption and consolidation resistance are shown in FIG. In addition, when G sugar fine powder was used at 1.25%, no caking was observed under any of the conditions. Therefore, the maximum value of moisture absorption was tentatively 0.85% (moisture absorption time 50
Min) was shown as consolidated moisture. It was revealed that the G-sugar moisture absorption resistance is improved by dry-coating G sugar fine powder on G sugar at 0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.25%, or 2.5%. In particular, a high effect was obtained when 0.5% or more of G sugar fine powder was used.

Example 3: Comparison between dry-coated product and bag-mixed product In this example, dry-coating was performed using G sugar as the mother particle and aspartame (APM) and acesulfame K (Ace-K) as the child particles. The caking prevention effect was evaluated. In this example, the anti-caking effect was compared between a dry-coated product and a bag-mixed product.

<Experimental procedure>
G sugar was used as a control sample. The G sugar was dry coated with about 0.5% APM and about 0.2% Ace-K in the same procedure as in Example 1 to obtain an evaluation sample (dry coated product).
G sugar and about 0.5% of G sugar fine powder were put in a bag with a chuck (Unipack; Nippon Production Co., Ltd.) to obtain an evaluation sample (bag mixed product). In addition, G sugar and about 0.5% APM and about 0.2% Ace-K were put in a bag with a chuck (Unipack; Nippon Production Co., Ltd.) to obtain an evaluation sample (bag mixed product). The sample was subjected to evaluation of moisture absorption and consolidation resistance in the same procedure as in Example 1.

For APM and Ace-K dry-coated products and bag-mixed products, particles with a particle size of 500 to 710 μm were collected using a low-tap sieving machine, and the concentrations of APM and Ace-K were measured (concentration measurement 1).
. 100 g of the collected particles are put in a container so that about 50% of the inner volume is filled with the same particles, and shaken at 300 rpm for 1 hour using a reciprocating shaker, and a particle size of 500 to 710 μm with a low-tap sieving machine. The particles of the classification were collected, and the concentrations of APM and Ace-K were measured (concentration measurement 2). The concentration was measured by dissolving the particles in 1000 times the weight of water and measuring the absorbance of the solution with UV-vis. The measurement wavelengths were two points of 210 nm and 240 nm. For APM and Ace-K, the residual ratio was calculated as concentration by concentration measurement 2 / concentration by concentration measurement 1.

For APM and Ace-K dry coating and bag mixes, randomly 5
Point extraction was performed to measure the concentration of APM and Ace-K, and the variation in the concentration of APM and Ace-K was calculated.

<Result>
The result of evaluation of moisture absorption consolidation resistance is shown in FIG. When the G sugar fine powder was mixed with the G sugar in a bag, the moisture absorption and consolidation resistance did not change. By dry coating APM and Ace-K on G sugar, the hygroscopic consolidation resistance of G sugar was improved. Even when APM and Ace-K were mixed with G sugar in a bag, the moisture absorption / consolidation resistance of G sugar was slightly improved, but the degree of improvement in moisture absorption / consolidation resistance was significantly higher in dry coating products. From this, it became clear that the anti-caking effect by dry coating is higher than the anti-caking effect by bag mixing.

  Table 2 shows the results of the remaining ratio of APM and Ace-K. Compared to the bag-mixed product, the residual rate of APM and Ace-K was higher in the dry-coated product. That is, it was revealed that APM and Ace-K were strongly coated with G sugar in the dry coating product as compared with the bag mixed product.

Table 3 shows the results of variations in the concentrations of APM and Ace-K. Regarding APM, both the bag-mixed product and the dry-coated product had low CV values, suggesting that both were in a good coating state. On the other hand, Ace-K has a large CV value in the bag-mixed product, whereas the CV value in the dry-coated product is low, suggesting that Ace-K is uniformly coated especially in the dry-coated product. It was.

Example 4: Comparison between dry-coated product and wet-coated product In this example, the anti-caking effect was compared between a dry-coated product and a wet-coated product.

<Experimental procedure>
G sugar was used as a control sample. The G sugar was dry coated with about 0.5% APM and about 0.2% Ace-K in the same procedure as in Example 1 to obtain an evaluation sample (dry coated product). A G-sugar was wet-coated with about 0.5% APM and about 0.2% Ace-K to obtain an evaluation sample (wet-coated product). The wet coating was carried out under the same conditions except that the water content was 0.8% and Ace-K was included in the binder liquid. The sample was subjected to evaluation of moisture absorption and consolidation resistance in the same procedure as in Example 1.

<Result>
The results of evaluation of moisture absorption and consolidation resistance are shown in FIG. The anti-caking effect was not obtained with the wet coating, whereas the anti-caking effect was obtained with the dry coating.

Example 5: Examination of types of child particles In this example, dry coating was performed using G sugar as the mother particles and various sweeteners as the child particles, and the anti-caking effect was evaluated.

G sugar was used as a control sample. In the same manner as in Example 1, G-sugar was dry-coated with about 0.5% neotame or about 0.5% sucralose to obtain an evaluation sample. The sample was subjected to evaluation of moisture absorption and consolidation resistance in the same procedure as in Example 1.

<Result>
The results of evaluation of moisture absorption and consolidation resistance are shown in FIG. In the figure, the bag mixing data is the data of Example 3 again. It has been clarified that the dry absorption coating of neotame or sucralose on G sugar improves the hygroscopic consolidation resistance of G sugar.

Example 6: Examination of dry coating conditions In this example, dry coating was carried out under various conditions using G sugar as the mother particles and aspartame (APM) and acesulfame K (Ace-K) as the child particles, respectively. The anti-caking effect was evaluated. The amount ratio of mother particles to child particles was 99.23% G sugar, 0.57% APM, 0.19% Ace-K, and 1.6 kg / batch.

(1) Influence of peripheral speed of main shaft APM and Ace-K were dry-coated on G sugar under the conditions shown in Table 4 to obtain an evaluation sample (dry-coated product). The sample was subjected to surface observation with an electron microscope and evaluation of moisture absorption and consolidation resistance in the same procedure as in Example 1.

The results of the evaluation of moisture absorption and consolidation resistance are shown in FIG. In any case of the peripheral speed of the main shaft, the moisture absorption and consolidation resistance was improved as compared with the wet coating. In particular, a high effect was obtained when the spindle speed was Run 2, 3, 4, and 5. The result of the surface observation with an electron microscope is shown in FIG. Adhesion of APM and Ace-K was observed under any condition. In particular, the amount of APM and Ace-K adhered was large under the conditions of Run 2, 3, 4, and 5.

(2) Effect of water A sugar and Ace-K were dry-coated on G sugar under the conditions shown in Table 5 to obtain an evaluation sample (dry-coated product). The sample was subjected to evaluation of moisture absorption and consolidation resistance in the same procedure as in Example 1.

  The results of evaluation of moisture absorption and consolidation resistance are shown in FIG. In the dry coating, no difference in anti-caking effect due to the difference in water content was observed.

(3) Effect of mixing time A sugar and Ace-K were dry-coated on G sugar under the conditions shown in Table 6 to obtain an evaluation sample (dry-coated product). The sample was subjected to surface observation with an electron microscope and evaluation of moisture absorption and consolidation resistance in the same procedure as in Example 1.

  The result of evaluation of moisture absorption consolidation resistance is shown in FIG. It was revealed that the moisture absorption and consolidation resistance was high at any mixing time. In particular, a high effect was obtained under conditions where the mixing time was 1.5 min, 4.0 min, and 7.0 min. The result of the surface observation with an electron microscope is shown in FIG. Adhesion of APM and Ace-K was observed under any condition. In particular, the amount of APM and Ace-K adhered was large under the conditions of mixing times of 1.5 min, 4.0 min, and 7.0 min.

(4) Influence of peripheral speed of chopper APM and Ace-K were dry-coated on G sugar under the conditions shown in Table 7 to obtain an evaluation sample (dry-coated product). The sample was subjected to surface observation with an electron microscope and evaluation of moisture absorption and consolidation resistance in the same procedure as in Example 1.

  The results of evaluation of moisture absorption and consolidation resistance are shown in FIG. The result of the surface observation with an electron microscope is shown in FIG. High moisture absorption and consolidation resistance was obtained under all conditions. In particular, high moisture absorption and consolidation resistance was obtained at a chopper peripheral speed of 3.92 m / s.

Claims (13)

  A method for producing a sweetener composition, comprising a step of dry-coating mother particles containing a sweetening component A with child particles containing a sweetening component B.   The method according to claim 1, wherein the content of the sweetening component A in the mother particles is 50% (w / w) or more.   The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sweetening component A is sucrose and / or erythritol.   The method according to claim 1, wherein a content of the sweetening component B in the child particles is 50% (w / w) or more.   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sweetening component B is one or more components selected from sucrose and a high intensity sweetener.   6. The method of claim 5, wherein the high intensity sweetener is one or more ingredients selected from aspartame, acesulfame K, advantame, sucralose, neotame, saccharin.   The ratio of the average particle diameter D50 of the mother particles to the average particle diameter D50 of the child particles (average particle diameter D50 of the mother particles / average particle diameter D50 of the child particles) is 3 to 100,000. The method according to any one of the above.   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an addition amount of the binder liquid in the step is 0% (w / w) to 0.5% (w / w).   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein in the step, 0.15 to 20 parts by weight of child particles are used with respect to 100 parts by weight of the base particles.   The said process is performed using the stirring apparatus provided with the stirring element, The stirring speed in the said process is 2.5 m / s-30 m / s as a peripheral speed of a main axis | shaft, The any one of Claims 1-9 The method according to item.   The said process is performed using the stirring apparatus provided with the chopper, The rotation speed of the chopper in the said process is 1 m / s-10 m / s as a peripheral speed of a chopper, The any one of Claims 1-10. The method described in 1.   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the stirring time in the step is from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.   A method for improving the moisture absorption consolidation resistance of mother particles containing a sweetening component A, comprising a step of dry-coating the mother particles containing a sweetening component A with a child particle containing a sweetening component B.