Gasified ice process and product

Claim 1

An improved 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, by contacting an aqueous liquid with a conditionally-stable-hydrate-forming gas under conditions of temperature, applied gas pressure and time effective to form a gas hydrate, followed by reducing the temperature of the aqueous liquid below its freezing point to entrap the gas hydrate in a matrix of frozen aqueous liquid, wherein the improvement is characterized in that: (a) the aqueous liquid is initially contacted with said gas under conditions of temperature and applied gas pressure capable of forming the gas hydrate; (b) the initial contact is maintained under applied pressure of said gas for a time effective to substantially equilibrate the total pressure in the system; (c) the applied pressure of said gas is rapidly reduced to a degree effective to reduce the temperature of the aqueous liquid sufficiently to initiate formation of nuclei of water ice throughout said aqueous liquid; (d) the applied pressure of said gas is increased to a level effective to initiate the formation of gas hydrate; (e) the applied pressure of said gas and the temperature of said aqueous liquid are then maintained at levels and for a time effective to form gas hydrate about said nuclei of water ice; and (f) the temperature of said aqueous liquid is reduced below its freezing point to entrap the gas hydrate in a matrix of frozen aqueous liquid.