Process for preparing a product comprising guar-gum

Claim 2

A process for preparing a particulate product which is swellable in an aqueous suspension comprising: (a) mixing powdered guar-gum flour with a solution composed of water, a compound from the group consisting of ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate phthalate, copolymer of dimethyl amino ethylmethacrylate-neutral methacrylic acid esters and copolymer of acrylic acid-methacrylic acid esters, and a solvent for the compound wherein the ratio of water to solvent is in the range of from 60:40 to 0.100 and the compound is present in an amount of 2-30% by weight of the solution so as to form agglomerated particles of the guar-gum flour; (b) drying the agglomerated particles; and (c) recovering a guar-gum particulate product having a particle size in the range of from 0.5 to 3 millimeters.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of alcohols having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, lower ketones, chlorinated lower hydrocarbons, aromatic compounds having 6 to 8 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof.

Claim 4

The process of claim 2 wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, tert-butanol and mixtures thereof.

Claim 5

The process of claim 2 wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of methyl ethyl ketone, acetone and mixtures thereof.

Claim 6

The process of claim 2 wherein the solvent is methylene chloride.

Claim 7

The process of claim 2 wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, xylene and mixtures thereof.

Claim 8

The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent is a combination of ethanol and acetone or isopropanol and acetone.

Claim 9

The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent is a combination of isopropanol and methylene chloride.

Claim 10

The process of claim 1 wherein the guar gum flour has a particle size of less than 150 microns.

Claim 11

The process of claim 1 wherein the guar gum flour has a particle size of less than 110 microns.

Claim 12

A process for preparing a particulate product having an increased gelling time in an aqueous suspension, comprising the steps of: (a) mixing powdered guar-gum flour with a solution composed of water, an organic compound comprising ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate phthalate, copolymer of dimethyl amino ethylmethacrylate-neutral methacrylic acid esters or copolymer of acrylic acid-methacrylic acid esters, and solvent for the organic compound wherein the ratio of water to solvent is in the range of from about 60:40 to about 0:100 and the compound is present in an amount of 2-30% by weight of the solution; (b) granulating said guar-gum flour with said solution, forming thereby a plurality of agglomerated particles of said guar-gum flour, each said particle having a coating of said solution on an outer surface thereof; (c) drying said coated particles to substantially remove water and solvent, thereby forming a coating of said organic compound on said outer surfaces; and (d) recovering a particulate product comprising said particles, wherein said product has a particle size in the range of greater than about 0.5 and less than about 3 millimeters.

Claim 13

A process for preparing a particulate product having an increased gelling time in an aqueous suspension, comprising the steps of: (a) mixing powdered guar-gum flour with a solution composed of water, an organic compound comprising ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate phthalate, copolymer of dimethyl amino ethylmethacrylate-neutral methacrylic acid esters or copolymer of acrylic acid-methacrylic acid esters, and solvent for the organic compound wherein the ratio of water to solvent is in the range of from about 60:40 to about 0:100 and the compound is present in an amount of 2-30% by weight of the solution; (b) granulating said guar-gum flour with said solution, forming thereby a plurality of agglomerated particles of said guar-gum flour, each said particle having a coating of said solution on an outer surface thereof; (c) drying said coated particles to substantially remove water and solvent, thereby forming a coating of said organic compound on said outer surfaces; and (d) recovering a particulate product comprising said particles, wherein said product has a particle size in the range of greater than about 0.5 and less than about 3 millimeters.

Claim 14

The process of claim 11, wherein said granulating and drying steps result in a coating of said organic compound over said particles sufficient to produce a gelling time greater than about 5 and less than about 30 minutes in a standardized test of 10 g of said particles in 150 ml water at 20° C.

Claim 15

The process of claim 12, wherein said gelling time is from about 10 to about 15 minutes.