Grain Processing Corporation

T L Gallaher

Thomas L Small

A process for continuously converting starch to paste by heating an aqueous starch slurry with an enzyme to an elevated temperature and holding the mixture at an elevated temperature for a time to gelatinize the starch granules and produce a starch paste of desired viscosity. Then, the starch-enzyme stream is further heated and held at an elevated temperature and for a time sufficient to inactivate the enzyme and after which a starch paste having a desired and substantially stable viscosity is recovered. Preferred apparatus of the invention includes a single, compact, continuous processing unit which minimizes the required equipment and includes a starch conversion conduit adapted for conveying an admixed stream of an aqueous starch slurry and a liquid stream containing an enzyme. Inlet lines for introducing an aqueous starch slurry and a liquid stream containing an enzyme capable of depolymerizing starch into said starch conversion conduit are provided. An enzyme inactivating conduit communicates with the said starch conversion conduit for inactivation of the enzyme. Means for heating the liquid streams within the starch conversion conduit and the enzyme inactivating conduit are provided and pump means serve to pump the stream through said starch conversion conduit and said liquid inactivating conduit at a controlled rate. Receptacle means for receiving the discharge from the enzyme inactivating conduit are provided. Pressure regulating means cna be utilized to maintain a desired pressure within the enzyme inactivating conduit. Inlet means for passing flush water through the system can also be provided.

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Muscatine, IA, United States of America

T L Gallaher