Cooperatie Cosun U.a.

Cooperatie Suikerunie U.a.

Hendrika Cornelia Kuzee

Hendricus Wilhelmus Carolina Raaijmakers

Theodorus L Hoeks

Robert Berends

Henricus Wilhelmus Carolina Raaijmakers

Mari&euml;tte Ellen Boukje Bolkenbaas

Paulus J Visschedijk

Carboxyl-containing fructans such as carboxymethylinulin can be successfully used to prevent deposition of scale composed of, for example, calcium, barium and strontium salts of sulphuric acid and carbonic acid in oil extraction. In the oil extraction method, 0.5-200 ppm of a carboxyl-containing fructan that contains 0.3-3 carboxyl groups per mono-saccharide unit is incorporated in the process water, in the process equipment or in the oil-containing formation.

Method for preventing deposits in oil extraction

Dispersions of pigment, such as calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide and types of clay, can be effectively stabilized by the use of carboxyl-containing fructan in an amount of 0.05-10% by weight, based on the dispersion, which fructan contains 0.5-3 carboxyl groups per mono-saccharide unit. The carboxyalkyl groups are in particular carboxymethyl groups, but the carboxyl groups can also be carboxyl groups obtained entirely or partially by oxidation. The carboxymethylfructan gives results which are comparable to or better than those obtained with the polyacrylates which are less desirable from the standpoint of health and environment.

Dispersing agent

The deposition of calcium salts, including calcium carbonate and calcium oxalate and the formation of foam, during the evaporation of sugar streams can be prevented or restricted by ding 0.1-200 ppm of a carboxyalkylfructan that contains 0.5-3 carboxyl groups per monosaccharide unit, 0.4-2.5 of which carboxyl groups are in the form of carboxyalkyl groups, to the sugar streams. The carboxyalkyl groups are, in particular, carboxymethyl groups. The other carboxyl groups can be carboxyl groups obtained by oxidation.

Process for controlling scale in the sugar process

Heavy metals including lead, copper, zinc, and cadmium, are effectively extracted from sludge mixtures by treatment of the mixture with carboxyl derivatives of fructans, having a degree of substitution of 0.2-3.0.

Biodegradable complexing agents for heavy metals

A method for the preparation of polysaccharide derivatives comprises reacting at least a saccharide, such as glucose, maltose or glucose syrup, a 'food grade' polycarboxylic acid, such as citric acid, or inorganic acid, such as phosphoric acid, which also acts as catalyst, and optionally a polyol, such as serbitol, under the influence of electromagnetic waves to give a reaction product at a temperature of 140.degree.-300 .degree. C. Preferably, the envisaged reaction is carried out in a commercially available microwave oven having a wave frequency in the range of 900-2500 MHz. The products obtained can be incorporated as low-calorie 'bulking agents' in diet foods, such as dessert, cake and the like.

Growing community of inventors

Oost Souburg, Netherlands

Hendrika Cornelia Kuzee