JPS5844085B2 - Method for producing coagulated alginate - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for producing coagulated alginate, in particular:
When converting sodium alginate into water-containing coagulated alginate, a water-insoluble alginate is added as a coagulant to sodium alginate powder or aqueous solution, the mixture is thoroughly mixed, and the insufficient water is replenished to coagulate the mixed system to produce coagulated alginate. The present invention relates to a method for producing a coagulated alginate by adding an aqueous sodium alginate solution to the water-insoluble alginate and thoroughly mixing the water-insoluble alginate to form a water-containing coagulated alginate.

Conventionally, when producing a hydrous coagulated alginate, it has been common knowledge to add a coagulant, such as calcium chloride, calcium sulfate, or calcium citrate, to an aqueous sodium alginate solution to produce the hydrous coagulated calcium alginate.

In particular, many attempts have been made to use sodium alginate as a coagulant, but the objective has not been achieved.

In other words, if we follow the traces of that trial, in many cases sparsely soluble salts such as calcium citrate were used, and sodium citrate was used as a coagulation retarder due to the retarding effect due to the formation of chelate compounds, while fast-acting coagulants such as calcium sulfate were used. It was used together.

The present invention has led to the development of a safe coagulant that does not use any coagulants or coagulation retarders.

That is, the invention can be stated as follows.

(1) It utilizes the excellent property of water-insoluble alginate to coagulate selectively with respect to sodium alginate.

(2) Among water-insoluble alginates as coagulants, calcium salts can be used safely and in large quantities in foods because of their safety and ease of handling.

(3) Generally, the concentration of sodium alginate aqueous solution is 5% or less, which is the limit for easy handling as a liquid, but water-insoluble alginate can be used by conventional methods.
As a result, it can be easily used up to several times the concentration.

(4) Since water-insoluble alginates are economically inexpensive, water-insoluble alginates, such as calcium salts, can be effectively used as coagulation substrates and sodium alginate as the resulting coagulant.

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail.

In the present invention, when sodium alginate is made into a water-containing coagulated alginate, water-insoluble alginate is added as a coagulant to sodium alginate powder or aqueous solution, thoroughly mixed, and insufficient water is replenished to coagulate the mixed system. The conditions for producing coagulated alginate are as follows: The sodium alginate used may be either crude or purified.

Further, the presence of a substance that inhibits coagulation in the sodium alginate aqueous solution does not pose a problem in the practice of the present invention, since the coagulation property can be adjusted by changing the concentration of the aqueous solution to some extent.

Representative substances that interfere with coagulation include alkali citrate, alkali phosphate, magnesium salt, and carboxymethyl cellulose, which form chelate compounds.

Therefore, when the purpose is coagulation, if these contaminations are avoided, consumption of sodium alginate and coagulant can be avoided.

The concentration of sodium alginate aqueous solution generally used is 1.0 to 3.0%, or at most 5%, depending on the molecular weight, which is convenient for handling.

Preferably, the concentration used is determined depending on the purpose and viscosity of the material.

The water-insoluble calcium salt of alginate is produced as an intermediate in the initial step of the calcium method for producing sodium alginate and is therefore economically inexpensive.

Preparation of calcium alginate powder is extremely simple.

◎ As an example of a method for producing calcium alginate having sand-like hardness, sodium alginate powder is added to a 2% or more calcium chloride aqueous solution while stirring.

It is effective when the amount of calcium chloride relative to sodium alginate is in excess of 2 to 3 times the theoretical amount.

◎ As an example of a method for producing soft powder calcium alginate, sodium alginate powder is added to a 0.5% or less calcium chloride aqueous solution while stirring.

The purpose is achieved when the amount of calcium chloride relative to sodium alginate is 1.5 to 2 times the theoretical amount.

The finer the calcium alginate powder, the more stable the coagulation will be.

Since the harder the resulting powder is, the easier the pulverization is, a more preferable condition is to add IJium alginate to a concentrated calcium chloride solution, and moreover, to an aqueous solution containing a large excess of calcium.

Regarding the reaction time between sodium alginate and, for example, calcium alginate, there is a considerable time difference between the reaction time until the desired coagulation is reached and the time until the reaction is completed.

The ratio between the amount of coagulating base material and the amount of coagulant (assuming the particle size of the coagulant is constant) has a large effect on the length of coagulation time. The speed will increase.

Also, as the internal resistance of the liquid increases (stirring), the solidification rate increases.

Therefore, when determining a practical coagulation rate, it is necessary to conduct preliminary experiments using the concentration of the sodium alginate aqueous solution, the calcium alginate particle size, and the appropriate number of grams to set more preferable conditions.

The usage ratio of sodium alginate and calcium alginate can be explained as follows.

For example, when 3 g of sodium alginate is dissolved in 100 cc of water, an aqueous solution of about 3% strength is formed.

When 3 g of fine powder of calcium alginate (alginic acid is a complete calcium salt) is added and coagulated,
A jelly is formed in which the alginic acid concentration approximately doubles and one mole is converted to calcium salt.

Based on the above effects, there is no fixed ratio of sodium alginate to calcium alginate in the coagulated alginate, and it is preferable to appropriately determine the ratio depending on the purpose and situation.

The contact conditions between sodium alginate and water-insoluble alginate in the present invention include the following method.

(1) A water-insoluble alginate powder is added to an aqueous sodium alginate solution to produce a coagulated alginate.

(2) Produce coagulated alginate by mixing sodium alginate powder and water-insoluble alginate powder while replenishing water.

(3) Water-insoluble alginate is used as a container or outer packaging, and sodium alginate is contained in the form of powder, granules, or lumps.

When water is added thereto, the sodium alginate dissolves and at the same time coagulates under the action of the water-insoluble alginate in the container or outer package.

(4) When lines, pieces, grains, lumps, etc. of water-insoluble alginate are added to an aqueous sodium alginate solution, the water-insoluble alginate gradually swells and forms a large coagulated alginate.

In the present invention, when converting a water-insoluble alginate into a water-containing coagulated alginate, the conditions for producing a coagulated alginate by adding an aqueous sodium alginate solution to the water-insoluble alginate and mixing thoroughly are as follows.

The water-insoluble alginate was produced in powder form as described above.

In the form of a film or various shapes, the sodium alginate is formed into a film or briefly solidified into a shape, and then immersed in a coagulant to form a fully water-insoluble alginate.

The method of the present invention applies when the amount of water-insoluble alginate is greater than sodium alginate, or when water-insoluble alginate is used mainly, and the specifications of the water-insoluble alginate and sodium alginate are as described above. All conditions are the same.

However, only the form is partially different.

The conditions for contacting the water-insoluble alginate and sodium alginate in the present invention are as follows.

(1) When using a water-insoluble alginate in the form of a film: a) Apply an aqueous sodium alginate solution to one side, or form a coagulable alginate on that side in the situation where it is applied as a result.

b) Immersion in an aqueous sodium alginate solution to form a coagulable alginate on both sides.

(2) When water-insoluble alginate is used in the form of powder or granules, it is mixed with an aqueous sodium alginate solution to form a water-containing coagulable alginate.

(3) When water-insoluble alginate is used as a lump or shaped object, it is immersed in an aqueous sodium alginate solution to form a swollen lump or shaped object.

The above can be summarized.

Since the usage ratio of water-insoluble alginate and sodium alginate varies depending on various conditions as mentioned above, it is preferable to use them in an appropriate blend.

The water-insoluble alginate of the present invention can be easily produced if it is a salt that makes sodium alginate coagulable.

Also, their behavior is almost the same. That is, alginic acid forms insoluble salts with divalent metals other than magnesium and mercury, and water-soluble salts with other metals.

Therefore, in the description of the present invention, water-insoluble calcium alginate will be mainly taken up as a representative.

However, aluminum salt, iron salt, and copper salt are listed in Examples for reference.

Although the present invention has been described in detail above, the characteristics of the present invention can be summarized as follows.

■ Use water-insoluble alginate as a coagulant for sodium alginate.

Its main features are as follows.

(a) Since water-insoluble alginate is water-insoluble, partial coagulation does not occur even when mixed with an aqueous sodium alginate solution.

(b) Since water-insoluble alginate remains water-insoluble even if it is made into a fine powder, there is no need to worry about partial coagulation, although the coagulation of sodium alginate will be accelerated.

(c) When the water-insoluble alginate is a calcium salt, it is itself a food, so there are no concerns about hygiene or safety even if it is mixed in large amounts.

(d) Water-insoluble alginate acts selectively on sodium alginate.

■ Water-insoluble alginate is economically inexpensive as an intermediate in the production of sodium alginate using the calcium method.

■ Adding sodium alginate to water-insoluble alginate to produce water-containing coagulated alginate.

Its main features are as follows. (a) If we look at the relationship between the base material and the coagulant depending on the amount of material used, adding sodium alginate to calcium alginate to produce a coagulable alginate can be seen as the sodium alginate being the coagulant.

Therefore, sodium alginate can be said to be a coagulant that produces alginic acid with superior coagulability compared to calcium alginate.

(b) By using calcium alginate and sodium alginate together, calcium alginate
Powders, particles, lumps, films, pieces, etc. have a remarkable wide range of uses.

(C) When the fine powder of calcium alginate reacts with the aqueous sodium alginate solution, it reacts and coagulates almost instantaneously.

Moreover, it does not damage food or other surface compositions at all, and is tasteless and odorless, so it has a wide range of uses.

Next, in order to describe the present invention in more detail, the present invention will be explained using examples.

1) Examples of sodium alginate as a coagulation base material have the same operations, so detailed explanation will be given in Example 1 and Examples 2 to 2 will be explained in detail.
The numbers up to 12 are tables.

Examples of water-insoluble alginates as coagulation base materials are:
Since the contents are different, they will be described in the example column.

(2) The explanation of coagulation in the examples means that the jelly formation has been completed, so coagulation continues to progress for 2 to 3 days.

Therefore, coagulation in the Examples does not mean completion of coagulation.

Example 1 While stirring 500 cc of a 3% aqueous solution of sodium alginate, 50 meshes or more of calcium alginate powder 2
Add Fl.

It will turn into jelly and solidify in about 15 minutes.

Example 13 Calcium alginate, 100 mesh powder 5 (Bi'
When 50 cc of 3% sodium alginate aqueous solution is added and mixed, it solidifies in 1 to 2 minutes.

Example 14 When a 3% aqueous solution of sodium alginate is applied to a calcium alginate film, a layer of hydrated coagulable calcium alginate is formed on the coated surface in 5 to 10 minutes.

Example 15 A 3% aqueous solution of sodium alginate is applied to the surface of sliced meat, and once it has penetrated sufficiently, a calcium alginate film is adhered to form a layer of hydrous coagulable calcium alginate on the adhesive surface.

Example 16 A mixture of 3% t-IJium alginate and a small amount of surfactant is applied to a wooden surface, and once it has penetrated sufficiently, a calcium alginate film is adhered, and a layer of hydrated coagulable calcium alginate is formed on the adhesive surface. I can do it.

Example 17 When letters or strokes are drawn on a calcium alginate film with a 3% sodium alginate aqueous solution, only those areas become hydrated coagulable calcium alginate.

Example 18 When letters or strokes are drawn on an aluminum alginate film with a 3% sodium alginate aqueous solution, only those areas become hydrated coagulable aluminum alginate.

Example 19 When aluminum alginate fibers are made and made into cloth, when a sodium alginate aqueous solution is applied, they instantly coagulate and become a waterproof cloth.

Example 20 Fibers are made from calcium alginate, made into a cotton-like shape, and filled into gaps between 2 mm and 10 mm in diameter (the gaps are free). When an aqueous solution of sodium alginate is poured, the fibers solidify instantaneously, filling the gaps finely.

Example 21 Calcium alginate is pulverized in a ball mill (water bath) and made into a paste (approximately 130 meshes or more) and applied to the surface of food or various substances, and then an aqueous solution of sodium alginate is sprinkled or applied on top. A coagulated film is then formed instantaneously, fixing each surface.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) To make IJum into a water-containing coagulated alginate salt, water-insoluble alginate is added as a coagulant to powder or aqueous solution of sodium alginate, thoroughly mixed, and insufficient water is replenished. A method for producing coagulated alginate, comprising coagulating the mixed system. 2. A method for producing a coagulated alginate, which comprises adding a sodium alginate aqueous solution to the water-insoluble alginate, thoroughly mixing the water-insoluble alginate to coagulate the water-containing coagulated alginate, and coagulating the mixed system.