Baking powder of improved stability and method of producing same

Claim 2

A BAKING POWDER OF IMPROVED STABILITY WHICH COMPRISES, A SODIUM BICARBONATE LEAVENING AGENT AND AN ACIDIC LEAVENING AGENT, BOTH TYPES OF LEAVENING AGENT BEING IN THE FORM OF FINELY DIVIDED PARTICLES, SAID FINELY DIVIDED PARTICLES OF BOTH TYPES OF LEAVENING AGENT BEING COATED WITH A COMPOSITION COMPRISING A MIXTURE OF (1) A CELLULOSE ETHER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF HYDROXYPROPYLMETHYLCELLULOSE CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 4 TO ABOUT 12 PERCENT OF 2-HYDROXYPROPYL GROUPS AND FROM ABOUT 19 TO ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF METHOXYL GROUPS AND METHYLCELLULOSE CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 27.5 TO ABOUT 31.5 PERCENT METHOXYL GROUPS, (2) ETHYL CELLULOSE CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 45.0 TO ABOUT 49.5 PERCENT OF ETHOXYL GROUPS, AND (3) A SOLVENT WHICH IS COMPATIBLE WITH COMPONENTS (1) AND (2), AND THEREAFTER FREED OF SAID SOLVENT WHEREIN THE MOISTURE CONTENT OF THE BAKING POWDER IS BELOW ABOUT 5%.

Claim 3

A baking powder of improved stability in accordance with claim 1, wherein redried starch in finely divided form having a moisture content of less than 5 percent is substantially uniformly mixed with the coated finely divided particles of the sodium bicarbonate leavening agent and the coated finely divided particles of the acidic leavening agent.

Claim 4

A baking powder of improved stability in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ratio of component (1) to component (2) in said mixture is between about 4:1 and about 1:4 parts.

Claim 5

A baking powder of improved stability in accordance with claim 1, wherein said solvent is a mixture of ethanol and water.

Claim 6

A baking powder of improved stability in accordance with claim 1, wherein saiD hydroxypropylmethylcellulose has a viscosity of from about 40 to about 60 centipoises, said methylcellulose has a viscosity of from about 15 to about 100 centipoises, and said cellulose has a viscosity of from about 7 to about 100 centipoises.

Claim 7

Method of producing a baking powder of improved stability which comprises, (a) coating finely divided particles of a sodium bicarbonate leavening agent with a coating composition comprising a mixture of (1) a cellulose ether selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose containing from about 4 to about 12 percent of 2-hydroxypropyl groups and from about 19 to about 30 percent of methoxyl groups and methylcellulose containing from about 27.5 to about 31.5 percent methoxyl groups, (2) ethyl cellulose containing from about 45.0 to about 49.5 percent of ethoxyl groups, and (3) a solvent which is compatible with components (1) and (2); (b) removing said solvent from the coated sodium bicarbonate leavening agent; (c) coating finely divided particles of an acidic leavening agent with said coating composition; (d) removing said solvent from the coated acidic leavening agent; and (e) mixing the coated sodium bicarbonate leavening agent and the coated acidic leavening agent together in substantially stoichiometric proportions for reacting to release substantially sustantially all of the available carbon dioxide from said sodium bicarbonate leavening agent wherein the moisture content of the baking powder is below about 5%.

Claim 8

Method of producing a baking powder of improved stability which comprises, (a) coating finely divided particles of a sodium bicarbonate leavening agent with a coating composition comprising a mixture of (1) a cellulose ether selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose containing from about 4 to about 12 percent of 2-hydroxypropyl groups and from about 19 to about 30 percent of methoxyl groups and methylcellulose containing from about 27.5 to about 31.5 percent methoxyl groups, (2) ethyl cellulose containing from about 45.0 to about 49.5 percent of ethoxyl groups, and (3) a solvent which is compatible with components (1) and (2); (b) removing said solvent from the coated sodium bicarbonate leavening agent; (c) coating finely divided particles of an acidic leavening agent with said coating composition; (d) removing said solvent from the coated acidic leavening agent; and (e) mixing the coated sodium bicarbonate leavening agent and the coated acidic leavening agent together in substantially stoichiometric proportions for reacting to release substantially sustantially all of the available carbon dioxide from said sodium bicarbonate leavening agent wherein the moisture content of the baking powder is below about 5%.

Claim 9

Method of producing a baking powder of improved stability according to claim 6, wherein redried starch in finely divided form is substantially uniformly mixed with said coated sodium bicarbonate leavening agent and said coated acidic leavening agent.

Claim 10

Method of producing a baking powder of improved stability according to claim 6, wherein the ratio of component (1) to component (2) in said mixture is between about 4:1 and about 1:4 parts.

Claim 11

Method of producing a baking powder of improved stability according to claim 6, wherein said solvent is a mixture of ethanol and water.

Claim 12

Method of producing a baking powder of improved stability according to claim 6, wherein said hydroxypropylmethylcellulose has a viscosity of from about 40 to about 60 centipoises, said methylcellulose has a viscosity of from about 15 to about 100 centipoises, and said ethyl cellulose has a viscosity of from about 7 to about 100 centipoises.