Cylindrical paste extruded particle compositions

Abstract

Compositions comprising substantially cylindrical paste extruded particles having a mathematical average length to diameter ratio of 1.0 to 4.0 are prepared by a process for breaking and separating dried particles. The process utilizes an apparatus comprising a cylindrical screen and a hub. Upon relative rotation of the screen and the hub, reject particles are flung radially outwardly and expelled through openings in the screen.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for breaking dried particles and separating product particles from reject particles, comprising: 
 (b) feeding dried particles into an apparatus having 
 (i) a substantially elongated hollow cylindrical screen ( 1 ) having a plurality of radial openings ( 4 ), each with a diameter smaller than the diameter of product particles;  
 (iv) an axially extending interior passage ( 3 ) formed radially inwardly of the cylindrical screen ( 1 ), wherein the radial openings ( 4 ) extend from the interior passage ( 3 ) through the screen ( 1 ), the interior passage ( 3 ) having an inlet ( 2 ) at one axial end thereof for receiving product and reject particles and an outlet ( 10 ) at the other axial end thereof for expelling product particles;  
 (v) a hub ( 7 ) disposed in the interior passage ( 3 ), wherein, upon relative rotation of the screen ( 1 ) and the hub ( 7 ), reject particles inside the interior passage ( 3 ) are flung radially outwardly and are expelled through the radial opening( 4 ) to the screen ( 1 ) and product particles moved to the product particle outlet ( 10 ); and a reject particle outlet ( 14 ) disposed radially outwardly of the screen for collecting reject particles expelled through the radial openings and;  
   (c) removing the product particles wherein said particles have a mathematical average length to diameter ratio of 1.0 to 4.0.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the hub ( 7 ) rotates and the screen ( 1 ) is stationary.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the screen ( 1 ) rotates and the hub ( 7 ) is stationary.  
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 2 , further comprising means for varying the speed of rotation of the hub ( 7 ).  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 3 , further comprising means for varying the speed of rotation of the screen ( 1 ).  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the hub ( 7 ) comprises a shaft ( 5 ) and a plurality of vanes ( 8 ) extending radially outwardly from the shaft ( 5 ).  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the radial openings ( 4 ) is smaller than the diameter of product particles having a mathematical average length to diameter ratio of 1.0 to 4.0.  
     
     
         8 . A particle composition obtainable by use of the process according to  claim 1  comprising substantially cylindrical paste extruded particles having a mathematical average length to diameter ratio of 1.0 to 4.0 with a standard deviation of less than 1.0.  
     
     
         9 . A composition according to  claim 8  wherein the length to diameter ratio is from 1.8 to 2.7 and the standard deviation is less than 0.9.  
     
     
         10 . A composition according to  Claim 8  or  9  comprising agriculturally applicable particles forming a substantially stable mixture.  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the feed particles comprise paste extruded particles.  
     
     
         12 . the process of  claim 1  wherein the feed particles comprise substantially cylindrical extruded particles.  
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the average length to diameter ratio is from about 1.0 to about 4.  
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13  wherein the average length to diameter ratio is from about 1.5 to about 2.8.