Novel enzyme particles and their preparation

Claim 1

A process for the preparation of enzyme-containing particles which do not, or substantially do not, dust when subjected to external mechanical pressure comprising homogeneously mixing an amount of an enzyme in dry or substantially dry form sufficient to give the desired enzyme activity in the particles when formed, about 20% to about 60% of a hydrophilic organic cohesive compatible with the enzyme selected from the group consisting of starch derivatives, cellulose derivatives, arabic gum, karaya gum and tragacanth, about 10% to about 60% of a building agent suitable for use in enzyme compositions selected from the group consisting of water-soluble carbohydrates of 5 to 12 carbon atoms, up to 70% of which may be replaced by a starch hydrolysate of about 20 to about 70 DE, and an amount of a moisture regulating agent selected from the group consisting of polyols having 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 4 hydroxy groups attached to different carbon atoms sufficient to maintain a moisture content in the particles formed of from 5% to 15% at ordinary temperatures and ordinary relative humidities and sufficient water to give a moisture content in the particles formed of from 5% to 15%, mechanically dividing the mixture obtained into particles of the desired size, and coating the particles to prevent loss of moisture with about 0.5 to about 5% of a water repellent agent selected from the group consisting of paraffin oil, linseed oil, earth wax, cocoa fat, candelilla wax, carnauba wax, paraffin wax and beeswax, ceresine wax and lanolin and mixtures thereof.