Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
Dry, water-soluble particles of an edible material characterized in that the particles thereof possess a surface area in excess of 5 square meters per gram and a microporous structure wherein the pore volume of micropores having a radius of less than 150A is in excess of 5 microliters per gram.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
50 words
Dry, water-soluble particles of an edible material characterized in that the particles thereof possess a surface area in excess of 5 square meters per gram and a microporous structure wherein the pore volume of micropores having a radius of less than 150A is in excess of 5 microliters per gram.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
Particles according to claim 1 wherein the surface area exceeds 20 square meters per gram.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Particles according to either of claims 1 or 2 wherein the pore volume under 150A exceeds 20 microliters per gram.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Particles according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the pore volume under 50A exceeds 20 microliters per gram.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Particles according to any one of claims 1 to 4 which contain volatile compounds at a level in excess of 0.1% by weight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
Particles according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the edible material comprises soluble solids obtained from roasted coffee, from roasted chicory, from roasted wheat, a roasted blend of wheat and molasses or is a carbohydrate material selected from sugars, dextrins or corn syrup solids.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A soluble food powder havi ng added thereto volatile-containing particles of any one of claims 1 to 6 in from 0.01 to 2% by weight of the powder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A soluble food powder according to claim 7 comprising either soluble coffee containing particles of soluble solids derived from roasted coffee containing coffee grinder gas aromatics or coffee essential oils or a foodstuff containing particles of a carbohydrate which is sucrose or dextrin loaded with carbon dioxide in excess of 5% by weight of particles.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of preparing edible, water-soluble or water-dispersible particles as claimed in any one of the preceding claims by (1) dehydrating an aqueous solution and/or an aqueous dispersion of the edible material by contact with an anydrous, water-miscible, organic solvent and thereafter removing solvent from the dehydrated material, or (2) by rapidly freezing an aqueous solution and/or aqueous dispersion of the edible material and thereafter freeze drying the frozen solution and/or dispersion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 9 herein the preparation is by spraying the aqueous solution and/or dispersion into the organic solvent or in which the aqueous solution and/or dispersion is rapidly frozen by direct contact with liquid nitrogen.