Process for fractionating film-grade amylose from amylomaize starch

Claim 1

A CONTINUOUS PROCESS FOR OBTAINING FILM-GRADE AMYLOSE HAVING A PURITY OF AT LEAST 80 PERCENT AND AN INTRINSIC VISCOSITY IN 1 N POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE AT 25*C. OF AT LEAST 1.0 COMPRISING HEATING A SLURRY OF AMYLOMAIZE STARCH HAVING AN APPARENT AMYLOSE CONTENT OF ABOUT 40 TO 75 PERCENT WITH DIRECT STEAM TO 275-325*F. FOR 5-15 MINUTES, THE SLURRY BEING OF A CONCENTRATION SUCH THAT THE CONCENTRATION OF STARCH IN THE RESULTING SOLUTION IS FROM 4 TO 8 PERCENT BY WEIGHT, FLASHING THE SOLUTION TO THE ATMOSPHERE, COOLING THE SOLUTION TO 180-200*F., ADMIXING 5-10 PERCENT BASED ON THE ORIGINAL WEIGHT OF STARCH OF A COMPLEXING AGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THE C8-C10 STRAIGHT CHAIN ALIPHATIC ACIDS AND THE CORRESPONDING C8-C10 NORMAL PRIMARY ALCOHOLS, HOLDING THE MIXED SOLUTION AT 180*-200*F. FOR 10-15 MINUTES TO COMPLEX THE AMYLOSE, COOLING THE SOLUTION TO 150*-120*F. TO CRYSTALLIZE THE COMPLEX, CENTRIFUGING TO ISOLATE THE CRYSTALLIZED COMPLEX, WASHING THE ISOLATED COMPLEX IN HOT WATER CONTAINING ENOUGHT OF THE COMPLEXING AGENT TO PREVENT REDISSOLVING RECOVERING THE WASHED MATERIAL, DRYING, AND WASHING IN 85 PERCENT METHANOL TO DEFAT AND TO REMOVE RESIDUAL COMPLEXING AGENT.