Process for the production of oil-containing microcapsules

Claim 1

A process for producing oil-containing microcapsules by coacervation, which comprises: 1. dispersing a hydrophobic fine powder or emulsifying a hydrophobic liquid into an aqueous solution of at least one type of high molecular weight electrolytic colloid for use in forming the capsule wall; 2. subjecting dispersion or emulsion obtained in Step (1) to water dilution, and/or pH adjustment to achieve coacervation and optionally, adding an aqueous solution of a high molecular weight colloid, if desired; 3. cooling the formed coacervate to gel the same; 4. adding a phenolic compound thereto at a temperature above 5°C., during Steps (2) and (3); 5. adding a hardening agent to the system; 6. adding a shock-preventing agent to the system at a temperature lower than the gelling point of gelatin, said shock-preventing agent being capable of preventing a rapid increase in the viscosity of the system during pre-hardening of the coacervate when the pH of the system approaches a value of no less than about 6; 7. adjusting the pH of the system to the alkali side, said Steps (5) through (7) constituting the pre-hardening treatment; and 8. optionally elevating the temperature of the system to more effectively harden the coacervate, the order of Steps (5) through (7) being capable of being freely modified with respect to each other, and Step (5) further being capable of being conducted prior to Step (4), said shock-preventing agent being present in an amount sufficient to prevent a rapid increase in viscosity during pre-hardening, when the pH of the system approaches a value of no less than about 6 and being a member selected from the group consisting of a modified cellulose comprising polysaccharides having β-1,4-glucoside bonds of glucoses and having anionic functional groups, an anionic starch derivative composed of a linear polysaccharide amylose formed by only α-1,4-bonds of D-glucose, and a branched polysaccharide amylopectin formed by mainly α-1,4 bonds of D-glucose and a partially side chain branched by α-1,6 bonds, an anionic acid polysaccharide, obtained by polycondensing linearly D-galacturonic acid between the α-1,4 bonds thereof, said acid polysaccharide containing pectin, pectic acid, and pectinic acid, a condensate of naphthalene sulfonic acid and Formalin, which condensate is represented by the formula: ##SPC3## wherein X is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, or an ammonium group, and n is a positive integer, a hydroxyethyl cellulose derivative selected from the group consisting of the carboxymethyl ether of hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose sulfate, and hydroxyethyl cellulose phosphate, a vinylbenzene sulfonate copolymer selected from the group consisting of a vinylbenzene sulfonate-acryloylmorpholine copolymer, a vinylbenzene sulfonate-morpholinoethylacrylamide copolymer, a vinylbenzene sulfonate acrylamide copolymer, a vinylbenzene sulfonate-vinylpyrrolidone copolymer, and a vinylbenzene sulfonatemethyloxy-methylacrylamide, said copolymer having the following group within its molecular structure: ##SPC4## wherein M is an alkali metal and n is a positive integer and, an acrylic acid copolymer selected from the group consisting of an acrylic acid-acryloylmorpholine copolymer, an acrylic acid-morpholinomethylacrylamide copolymer, an acrylic acid-acrylamide copolymer, an acrylic acid-vinylpyrrolidone copolymer, an acrylic acid-methoxymethylacrylamide copolymer, said copolymer having the following group within its molecular structure: ##EQU2## wherein X is a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal, and n is a positive integer, a maleic acid copolymer of maleic acid anhydride and at least one monomer having at least one unsaturated bond which is subjected to addition polymerization with said anhydride or a salt thereof, and a nucleic acid compound, said phenolic compound being present in an amount ranging from 1/500 to 3/4 part by weight based on one part by weight of gelatin used to form the capsule wall, at least one of the hydrophilic colloids employed being gelatin.