Cp Kelco U.s., Inc.

Ross Clark

Neil Argo Morrison

Todd A Talashek

You-Lung Chen

C Ronnie Yuan

Graham Sworn

Dan Burgum

Ronnie C Yuan

A low calcium sensitive (calcium stable) high acyl gellan gum is prepared for enhanced colloidal stability in beverages. The low calcium sensitive high acyl gellan gum has superior suspension performance for colloidal stability compared to other high acyl gellan gums. The low calcium sensitive high acyl gellan gum is prepared by adjusting the pH of a gellan fermentation broth (polymer solution) prior to pasteurization and reducing the pasteurization hold time compared to conventional pH levels and hold times.

Calcium stable high acyl gellan gum for enhanced colloidal stability in beverages

The invention relates to a modified gellan gum in which the total acyl content as well as the ratio of acyl substituent groups to glycerate substituent groups per linear saccharide repeat unit is altered to be higher than 1. The invention further relates to a process for the modification of a gellan gum to alter its acyl content in which the gum is treated with a weak base such as sodium or potassium carbonate or a suitable phosphate. The process enables &ldquo;tailor made&rdquo; gums having appropriate setting temperatures and theological properties to be made. Novel compositions containing them are also claimed.

Modified gellan gum composition process for preparation of same and use thereof

This invention provides reduced molecular weight gellan gums. The reduced molecular weight gellan gums of this invention generally have a weight average molecular weight less than about 1.7&times;10,, and typically in a range of about 1.2&times;10,to about 9.3&times;10,. This invention also provides compositions, e.g., solutions and gels, comprising reduced molecular weight gellan gums. The reduced molecular weight gellan gums of this invention may be prepared by any method which reduces the molecular weight of polymers. Such methods include homogenization, sonication, radiation, oxidation and hydrolysis.

Reduced molecular weight native gellan gum

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Ross Clark