USH1032H
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for manufacturing starch-based compositions
Assignee: Primary Products Ingredients Americas LLC
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Filing: 1990-06-27
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Granted: 1992-03-03
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Expires: 2010-06-27
Abstract
Abstract Processes for manufacturing starch copolymer compositions are provided. In one process, a modified starch is reacted with a hydrophilic vinyl monomer to produce a starch copolymer gel which is, in turn, divided in a plurality of gel fragments. The gel fragments are then dried with a stream of gel to produce a flowable, particulate starch copolymer composition. In another process, water is evaporated from the copolymer gel and further polymerization of vinyl monomers is inhibited during the evaporating by any of a variety of means such as reducing the level of residual vinyl monomer or avoiding conditions which initiate polymerization.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Arnold
- 👤 Robert A. Mooth
- 👤 Norman A. Portnoy
- 👤 Keith D. Stanley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:34
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J3/00; C08J3/12; C08F; C08F290/00; C08F290/08; C08F290/10; C08J2351/00; C08J2351/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A process of manufacturing a starch-based composition comprising: reacting, in an aqueous medium at low dry solids and under vinyl polymerization conditions, an allyl glycidyl ether starch, said starch being substantially fully hydrated, and a hydrophilic vinyl monomer to produce a starch copolymer gel; and dividing said gel into a plurality of gel fragments and then drying said gel fragments with a stream of a gas to produce a flowable, particulate starch copolymer composition capable of rehydration to a viscous solution or dispersion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A process of manufacturing a starch-based composition comprising: reacting, in an aqueous medium at low dry solids and under vinyl polymerization conditions, an allyl glycidyl ether starch, said starch being substantially fully hydrated, and a hydrophilic vinyl monomer to produce a starch copolymer gel; and dividing said gel into a plurality of gel fragments and then drying said gel fragments with a stream of a gas to produce a flowable, particulate starch copolymer composition capable of rehydration to a viscous solution or dispersion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
A process of claim 1 wherein said starch is lightly cross-linked.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process of claim 1 wherein said hydrophilic vinyl monomer is selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, maleic anhydride, acrylamide, methacrylamide and N-vinyl pyrrolidone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of claim 1 wherein said dividing is by extruding said gel through a die and cutting said extrudate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of claim 1 wherein said gel, after said dividing, is coated with an inorganic salt prior to said drying.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method of claim 5 wherein said salt is potassium chloride.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of claim 1 wherein said drying is by flash drying or fluidized bed drying.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
A process of manufacturing a starch-based composition comprising: reacting, in an aqueous medium at low dry solids and under vinyl polymerization conditions, an allyl glycidyl ether starch, said starch being substantially fully hydrated, and a hydrophilic vinyl monomer to produce a starch copolymer gel having low dry solids; evaporating water from said starch copolymer gel to produce a flowable, particulate starch copolymer composition; and inhibiting further polymerization of vinyl monomers in said starch copolymer gel during said evaporating to a degree sufficient to enable said flowable, particulate starch copolymer composition to rehydrate, after said evaporating, to a viscous solution or dispersion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
A process of manufacturing a starch-based composition comprising: reacting, in an aqueous medium at low dry solids and under vinyl polymerization conditions, an allyl glycidyl ether starch, said starch being substantially fully hydrated, and a hydrophilic vinyl monomer to produce a starch copolymer gel having low dry solids; evaporating water from said starch copolymer gel to produce a flowable, particulate starch copolymer composition; and inhibiting further polymerization of vinyl monomers in said starch copolymer gel during said evaporating to a degree sufficient to enable said flowable, particulate starch copolymer composition to rehydrate, after said evaporating, to a viscous solution or dispersion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process of claim 8 wherein said inhibiting comprises minimizing the amount of residual vinyl monomer in said copolymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process of claim 9 wherein said minimizing reduces said amount to less than about 0.3% by weight of the dry solids of said copolymer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process of claim 9 wherein said minimizing comprises reacting residual monomer with a reactive agent selected from the group of alkali or alkaline earth metal sulfites, bisulfites, and metasulfites.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process of claim 9 wherein said minimizing comprises post-addition of initiator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process of claim 8 wherein said inhibiting comprises avoiding initiation of adverse polymerization.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of claim 13 wherein said avoiding comprises adding a free-radical scavenger to said gel after said reacting.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method of claim 8 wherein said starch is lightly cross-linked.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of claim 8 wherein said hydrophilic vinyl monomer is selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, maleic anhydride, acrylamide, methacrylamide and N-vinyl pyrrolidone.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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