Ajinomoto Co., Ltd.

Hirotoshi Ishida

Takeshi Nagai

Kazutaka Nagashima

Akihiro Kishishita

Tadashi Takemoto

Yuichi Suzuki

Atsuhiko Hirano

For example, N-&lsqb;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl&rsqb;-L-phenylalanine methyl ester (A-type crystal) showing characteristic peaks in diffractive X-ray at diffraction angles (2&thgr;, CuK&agr; ray) of at least 6.0&deg;, 24.8&deg;, 8.2&deg; and 16.5&deg; is dried to its water content below 3% by weight. The crystal thus dried is a novel crystal (C-type crystal) of N-&lsqb;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl&rsqb;-L-phenylalanine methyl ester excellent in dissolution rate, and when measured by powder X-ray diffractometry, this crystal shows characteristic peaks in diffractive X-ray at diffraction angles (2&thgr;, CuK&agr; ray) of at least 7.1&deg;, 19.8&deg;, 17.3&deg; and 17.7&deg;. The dissolution rate (solubility) of the C-type crystals is further improved by converting the crystals into granules.

Aspartame derivative crystal and process for producing the same

Herein is disclosed a granulated sweetener comprising Aspartame and Acesulfame-K as active ingredients, wherein the amount of the Acesulfame-K is 5 to 90% by weight based on the total amount of both the components and wherein the maximum particle size of the granules is about 1,400 &mgr;m or less, in which granulated sweetener the poorly dissoluble, high intense synthetic sweetener Aspartame (APM) is improved in solubility.

Granular sweetener

Herein is disclosed a sweetener composition containing Aspartame and Acesulfame-K as active ingredients, wherein the amount of Acesulfame-K is 5 to 90% by weight based on the total amount of both the components and wherein the particle sizes of the both the components are respectively selected from within the range of the particle size which allows the dissolution rate of the mixture to be higher than that of Aspartame alone, in which sweetener composition the poorly dissoluble, high intense synthetic sweetener Aspartame (APM) is improved in solubility.

Sweetener composition

One embodiment of the present invention provides a sweetener composition, which includes a mixture of N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl&rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester, and Acesulfame K, wherein a ratio of the Acesulfame K to a total amount of the N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl&rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester and the Acesulfame K is in the range of 10 to 97% by weight, methods of making and of using. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for preparing a sweetener composition, which includes drying an A-type crystal of N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl&rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester to obtain a C-type crystal of N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl&rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for producing a sweetener, which includes admixing N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl&rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester with Acesulfame K, wherein a ratio of the Acesulfame K to a total amount of the N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl&rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester and the Acesulfame K is in the range of 10 to 97% by weight. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for improving the dissolution rate of N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl&rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester, which includes, prior to dissolving the N-&lcub;N-(3,3 -dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl&rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester, admixing the N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl&rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester with Acesulfame K, wherein a ratio of the Acesulfame K to a total amount of the N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl&rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester and the Acesulfame K is in the range of 10 to 97% by weight.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a sweetener composition, which includes N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl&rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester, and Aspartame, wherein a ratio of the Aspartame to a total amount of the Aspartame and the N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl&rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester is in the range of 10 to 99.5% by weight, methods of making and of using. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for preparing a sweetener composition, which includes drying an A-type crystal of N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl &rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester to obtain a C-type crystal of N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl &rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for producing a sweetener, which includes admixing N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl &rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester with Aspartame, wherein a ratio of the Aspartame to a total amount of the N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl &rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester and the Aspartame is in the range of 10 to 99.5% by weight. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for improving the dissolution rate of N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl &rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester, which includes, prior to dissolving the N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl &rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester, admixing the N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-&agr;-aspartyl &rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester with Aspartame, wherein a ratio of the Aspartame to a total amount of the N-&lcub;N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L&agr;-aspartyl&rcub;-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester and the Aspartame is in the range of 10 to 99.5% by weight.

Growing community of inventors

Kawasaki, Japan

Hirotoshi Ishida