Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
39 words
A process for preparing 4-hydroxy-5-methyl-2,3-dihydrofuranone-3, which comprises heating a solution of a 5-keto-aldohexonic acid or a derivative thereof in a polar solvent at a pH value between 1 and 7 to a temperature of 70° C. to 150° C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process for preparing 4-hydroxy-5-methyl-2,3-dihydrofuranone-3, which comprises heating a solution of a 5-keto-aldohexonic acid or a derivative thereof in a polar solvent at a pH value between 1 and 7 to a temperature of 70° C. to 150° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the pH value lies between about 2 and about 7.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the solution is heated to a temperature between 95° C. and 110° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 3, wherein the solution is heated to a temperature between 100° C. and 105° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the polar solvent is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, water and mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the 5-keto-aldohexonic acid or a derivative thereof is selected from the group consisting of 5-ketogluconic acid, D-arabino-5-hexulosonic acid and derivatives thereof which comprise organic salts, inorganic salts and lower alkyl esters of said acids.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
A process for changing the organoleptic properties of a foodstuff or an ingredient for a foodstuff which before consumption has a pH value between 5 and 7 and which has to be heated for at least 15 minutes at a temperature of at least 70° C., characterized in that from 30 ppm to 2000 ppm, calculated on the weight of the foodstuff or the ingredient for the foodstuff, of a 5-keto-aldohexonic acid or its derivative, calculated as the acid, are incorporated into the foodstuff or the ingredient therefor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
A process for changing the organoleptic properties of a foodstuff or an ingredient for a foodstuff which before consumption has a pH value between 5 and 7 and which has to be heated for at least 15 minutes at a temperature of at least 70° C., characterized in that from 30 ppm to 2000 ppm, calculated on the weight of the foodstuff or the ingredient for the foodstuff, of a 5-keto-aldohexonic acid or its derivative, calculated as the acid, are incorporated into the foodstuff or the ingredient therefor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A process according to claim 7, characterized in that from 100 ppm to 300 ppm, calculated on the weight of the foodstuff or the ingredient therefor, of the 5-keto-aldohexonic acid or its derivative, calculated as the acid, are incorporated into the foodstuff or the ingredient therefor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claims 7 or 8, characterized in that a hydrogen sulphide donor is also incorporated into the foodstuff or the ingredient therefor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process according to claim 9, characterized in that the hydrogen sulphide donor is selected from the group consisting of cysteine and the sulphides or hydrosulphides of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal or ammonia.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A process according to claims 7, 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that the 5-keto-aldohexonic acid or its derivative is selected from the group consisting of 5-ketogluconic acid, D-arabino-5-hexulosonic acid, the edible organic salts thereof, the edible inorganic salts thereof, and the lower alkyl esters thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said process is conducted in the presence of a hydrogen sulfide donor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A process according to claim 12, wherein the hydrogen sulfide donor is selected from the group consisting of cysteine, sulphides of an alkali metal, hydrosulphides of an alkali metal, sulphides of an alkaline earth metal, hydrosulphides of an alkaline earth metal, ammonium sulphide and ammonium hydrosulphide.