Gasified ice product and process having improved storage stability

Claim 1

A process for preparing a gasified ice characterized by a high gas content, prolonged storage stability suitable for commercial distribution in its frozen state, and a vigorous, uniform effervescence when placed in water, which comprises: (a) contacting an aqueous liquid with a conditionally-stable, hydrate-forming gas under conditions of temperature and pressure capable of forming a chemical hydrate complex of the gas, said contacting temperature and pressure being on or below the hydrate formation line at a temperature above the freezing temperature of the aqueous liquid; (b) maintaining said contact for a period of time effective to form a gas hydrate complex suspended in the aqueous liquid; (c) controlling the reduction of the temperature of the aqueous liquid containing said gas hydrate complex and controlling the reduction of the pressure to maintain the pressure below that at which the gas would liquefy at the existing temperature and above that which is represented by the hydrate formation line, said control resulting in a stepwise reduction of temperature and pressure during the hydrate formation reaction; (d) reducing the temperature of the aqueous liquid containing the gas hydrate complex of step (c) to produce final freezing of all the aqueous liquid; and thereby (e) entrapping the suspended gas hydrate complex in the frozen aqueous liquid.