National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation

Brunob Ii Bv

Manish B Shah

Chung-Wai Chiu

David J Thomas

Roger Jeffcoat

Douglas J Hanchett

Eleanor Schiermeyer

Daniel B Solarek

Michael Timothy Philbin

Joseph Wieczorek, Jr

Thomas English

Russell J Nesiewicz

Timothy C Koubek

Douglas H Hanchett

Athanassios Souvaliotis

The present invention is concerned with an apparatus and method for continuous fluidization which comprises at least two cells connected by an aperture permitting the solid material to be introduced into the next downstream cell by fluidized horizontal flow, an isolated freeboard within each cell, at least two filter sticks contained within the isolated freeboard of each cell, and at least one blow back valve contained within each filter stick. The apparatus allows processing of materials that are typically difficult to fluidize by maintaining a substantially constant pressure difference between each isolated freeboard.

Continuous fluid bed reactor

Thermally-inhibited starches and flours which are functionally equivalent to chemically-crosslinked starches are prepared by a process which comprises the steps of dehydrating a granular starch or flour to anhydrous or substantially anhydrous (<1% moisture) and heat treating the dehydrated starch or flour for a time and at a temperature sufficient to inhibit the starch, (e.g., 120-180&deg; C. for up to 20 hours). Preferably the pH of the starch is adjusted to neutral or greater (e.g., pH 8-9.5) prior to the dehydration. The dehydration may be a thermal dehydration carried out simultaneously with the heat treatment or a non-thermal dehydration carried out by extraction with a solvent (e.g., ethanol) or by freeze drying.

Thermally-inhibited non-pregelatinized granular starches and flours and process for their preparation

Thermally-inhibited, pregelatinized non-granular starches and flours are prepared by pregelatinizing the starch or flour and thermally inhibiting the starch or flour by dehydrating the starch or flour to anhydrous or substantially anhydrous and then heat treating the dehydrated starch. The pregelatinization may be carried out prior to or after the thermal inhibition using known methods which disrupt the granular structure such by drum drying or jet cooking and spray-drying. Preferably the starch or flour is adjusted to a pH above 7.0 prior to the thermal inhibition. The starch may be dehydrated by heating the starch in a suitable heating apparatus, by extracting the water from the starch using a solvent such as ethanol, or by freeze drying the starch. Preferably the starch or flour is treated with a solvent to remove proteins and/or lipids and thus prevent off flavors.

Thermally-Inhibited pregelatinized non-granular starches and flours

A thermally-inhibited granular starch or flour is used as an ingredient in various foods. The thermally-inhibited starches are functionally equivalent to chemically cross-linked starches. The stashes or flours are prepared by dehydrating the starch or flour to anhydrous or substantially anhydrous (<1% moisture), preferably at a neutral or basic pH, and heat treating the dehydrated starch or flour for a time sufficient to inhibit the starch to the desired degree. The dehydration may be carried out by heating the starch, extracting the starch with a solvent, or freeze drying the starch. The starch may be pregelatinized prior to or after thermal inhibition using known methods which do not substantially rupture the starch granules.

Foods containing thermally-inhibited starches and flours

Thermally-inhibited pregelatinized non-granular starches and flours and

Thermally-inhibited starches and flours which are functionally equivalent to chemically-crosslinked starches are prepared by a process which comprises the steps of dehydrating a granular starch or flour to anhydrous or substantially anhydrous (&lt;1% moisture) and heat treating the dehydrated starch or flour for a time and at a temperature sufficient to inhibit the starch, (e.g., 120-180.degree. C. for up to 20 hours). Preferably the pH of the starch is adjusted to neutral or greater (e.g., pH 8-9.5) prior to the dehydration. The dehydration may be a thermal dehydration carried out simultaneously with the heat treatment or a non-thermal dehydration carried out by extraction with a solvent (e.g., ethanol) or by freeze drying.

Thermally-inhibited non-pregelatinized granular starches and flours and

Thermally inhibited starches and flours are prepared by a process comprising dehydrating and heat treating a granular starch or flour.

Thermally inhibited starches and flours and process for their production

Pregelatinized granular starches and flours are thermally inhibited by dehydrating a starch to anhydrous or substantially anhydrous and then heat treating the dehydrated starch at a temperature and for a time sufficient to inhibit the starch. The starch may be pregelatinized prior to or after the thermal inhibition using methods known in the art which retain the granular integrity. Preferably, the pH of the starch or flour is raised to 7.0 or above prior to the thermal inhibition steps. The dehydration step may be carried out by directly heating the starch, by extracting the starch with a solvent, or by freeze drying the starch. Preferably protein and/or lipids are removed prior to or after the thermal inhibition.

Thermally-inhibited pregelatinized granular starches and flours and

Thermally-inhibited starches and flours are used in conventional water-based adhesives such as corrugating, cigarette, remoistenable, kraft adhesives. The starches or flours are thermally-inhibited by dehydrating the starch to anhydrous or substantially anhydrous and then heat-treating the starch or flour for a time and at a temperature sufficient to inhibit the starch and improve its viscosity stability. The starch or flour may be thermally or non-thermally dehydrated (e.g., by alcohol extraction or freeze-drying). Preferably, the pH of the starch is adjusted to at least a neutral pH prior to the dehydration.

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Franklin Park, NJ, United States of America

Manish B Shah