Method for the production of effervescent granules in a vacuum
Inventors
Gergely, Irmgard • Gergely, Thomas • Gergely, Stefan
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-7972623-B2
Publication Date
2011-07-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for producing effervescent granules, in which the reaction partners edible, organic acid components and alkaline effervescent components separating carbon dioxide are reacted with each other in a vacuum under the effect of gas in a container that can be evacuated. The container is evacuated to a first vacuum value within a vacuum range of 200-900 mbar, whereupon the pressure inside the container is increased to a second vacuum value as a result of the gases produced during the reaction. The steps are cyclically repeated while the reaction continues. A maximum number of cycles, a maximum reaction time, and optionally, a maximum load for the stirring apparatus are defined before the reaction begins, and the reaction is terminated after reaching the first of the maximums. In an alternative embodiment, the invention also relates to a method for improving the shelf life of effervescent granules by a treatment with carbon dioxide during and/or following the production of the effervescent granules, and effervescent particles treated in this manner.
Core Innovation
The method produces effervescent granules by loading at least one acidic effervescent component and at least one CO2-eliminating alkaline effervescent component as reactive constituents into an evacuatable container and reacting them with stirring in a vacuum. The reaction is carried out in a vacuum range of from 200 to 900 mbar, and evacuation to a first vacuum value and reaction-related gas evolution with a pressure increase to a second vacuum value are repeated cyclically.
The cycling is carried out by repeated, controlled opening and closing of a valve to a vacuum pump while the reaction proceeds with stirring. The reaction takes place without intermediate drying, so the cyclic vacuum/pressure progression is maintained during granulation.
After a number of cycles, the reaction is stopped by drying the resulting effervescent granules in a vacuum. The disclosure also describes stopping the cyclic reaction by reaching a maximum number of cycles and/or a maximum duration for reaction granulation, and stabilizing the effervescent granules by increasing CO2 partial pressure during and/or after production, including during cycles and/or final drying with repeated CO2 implosion/aspiration.
Claims Coverage
The partial set provides one independent claim (clm-00001). It covers a cyclic vacuum granulation method for effervescent granules with stirring, a specified vacuum range of 200 to 900 mbar, valve-controlled cyclic evacuation and pressure increase, absence of intermediate drying, and termination by vacuum drying after a number of cycles; additional dependent refinements further constrain and extend the process.
Cyclic vacuum granulation with valve-controlled first and second vacuum values
An evacuatable container is evacuated to a first vacuum value after loading with reactive constituents, and reaction-related gas evolution and pressure increase to a second vacuum value is formed, with evacuation to the first vacuum value and pressure rise to the second vacuum value repeated cyclically by repeated, controlled opening and closing of a valve to a vacuum pump.
Vacuum range for reaction granulation in the pendulum vacuum process
The reaction is carried out in a vacuum range of from 200 to 900 mbar, where the first and second vacuum values are within said vacuum range.
Reaction without intermediate drying followed by vacuum drying termination
The reaction takes place without intermediate drying, and after a number of cycles the reaction is stopped by drying the resulting effervescent granules in a vacuum.
Stirring during vacuum reaction of acidic and CO2-eliminating alkaline effervescent components
At least one acidic effervescent component and at least one CO2-eliminating alkaline effervescent component are loaded as reactive constituents into an evacuatable container and react with one another in a vacuum with stirring, producing effervescent granules when gas evolves and pressure increases from the first to the second vacuum value.
Stopping criterion by maximum number of cycles and/or maximum reaction duration
The cyclic reaction is stopped after reaching a maximum number of cycles and/or a maximum duration for the reaction.
Stabilization by increasing CO2 partial pressure with repeated CO2 implosion/aspiration
Effervescent granules are stabilized by increasing CO2 partial pressure during and/or after production, including during cycles and/or final drying, with repeated CO2 implosion/aspiration.
Across the independent claim and the explicitly described dependent refinements, the inventive coverage centers on a cyclic evacuation and pressure-rise vacuum granulation performed with stirring in a specified vacuum range, without intermediate drying, terminated by vacuum drying after cycles. Further coverage includes stopping based on maximum cycles and/or maximum reaction time, and stabilization via increased CO2 partial pressure during and/or after production including repeated CO2 implosion/aspiration.
Stated Advantages
Reproducible, automated control of vacuum granulation.
Reduced influence of batch-to-batch raw material differences.
Prevention of uncontrolled chain reaction by slowed CO2/steam evolution.
Improved storage stability.
Documented Applications
Production of effervescent granules, including stabilization of effervescent granules by increasing CO2 partial pressure during and/or after production.
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