Sugar – starch – and carbohydrates – Products – Sugars only
Patent
1998-07-21
2000-01-18
Brunsman, David
Sugar, starch, and carbohydrates
Products
Sugars only
127 61, C13F 102, C13F 300, C13F 110
Patent
active
060154667
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns sugar compositions in a free-flowing, non-caking, crystalline form. The present invention relates to the field of the crystallisation of sugar, and more particularly it describes a method for obtaining compositions of crystalline sugar with a fine particle size. The invention describes a composition of crystalline sugar with a regular shape, and a fine and well-defined particle size.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During crystallisation, the particle size distribution of the crystals depends mainly on the following processes:
In order to obtain a large quantity of regular crystals with a fine particle size, it is necessary to apply a process which promotes nucleation more than crystal growth. To do this it is necessary to use appropriate means permitting good control of the crystallisation parameters.
A large quantity of sugar crystals with a regular shape and a very fine particle size cannot be obtained directly by the existing crystallisation processes. In the production of various types of sugar, a process has been developed which is better known as a conversion process. This process is used for the production of sugar in the form of a non-caking, free-flowing, granulated powder which is readily dispersed in aqueous solution. This process has been described at length in several patents.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,682 (Tippens et al.) describes a process using a syrup concentrated to 95-97 brix (% by weight of dry matter) at 121-129.degree. C. which undergoes rapid cooling with vigorous agitation. This method allows the production of agglomerates of which the sugar crystals are of melting size (3-50 microns).
U.S. Pat. No. 3,365,331 (Miller et al.) describes a similar process which leads to the production of agglomerates. In this case, the crystals are obtained by beating a super-saturated syrup.
In patent EP 0 052 413, the beating process at a well controlled temperature allows heat-sensitive compounds to be incorporated in the final product.
All the processes described lead to a powder of fine-grained sugar. The granules have an irregular shape giving low density powders. As the particle size is selected by sieving, the yield of one class of powder is thus low. There is, therefore, a need to develop a process that allows the production, with good yields, of regular crystals with a fine particle size, this need being met by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
More specifically, the invention relates particularly to a composition containing sugar microcrystals, characterised in that the sugar crystals obtained have a regular shape, do not agglomerate, and their particle size follows a Gaussian distribution around a mean aperture between 20 and 220 .mu.m, particularly 20 and 200 .mu.m, with a coefficient of variation (CV) between 20% and 50%, or their particle size distribution is characterised by a uniformity index between 1 and 5, particularly between 2.5 and 3.5.
The particle size is determined by sieving over a series of standardised sieves (NF11-501) with a diameter of 200 mm.
The coefficient of variation (CV) is calculated by the formula:
The uniformity index is obtained by sieving the crystalline composition and calculated according to the formula: ##EQU1##
The invention also relates to a method for obtaining a composition of microcrystalline sugar, characterised in that the crystals have a mean particle size between 20 and 220 .mu.m, particularly 20 and 200 .mu.m, obtained after the following steps: crystallisation zone until crystals appear, and particularly 70.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. throughout steps a) to e) described above.
This process will be referred to hereinafter as "process I".
According to an advantageous embodiment, the invention relates to a composition containing sugar microcrystals, characterised in that the crystals are essentially monocrystals that are unbroken, homogeneous with respect to one another, with a regular geometric shape, and in that about 20 to about 220 .mu.m and particularly about 20 .mu.m to about 200 .mu.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3194682 (1965-07-01), Tippens et al.
patent: 3365331 (1968-01-01), Miller et al.
Maitre Jean-Paul
Mentech Julio
Reynaud Sylvie
Wong Emile
Brunsman David
Eridania Beghin-Say
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