Method of producing porous spherical particles

Abstract

The invention refers to a method of controlling the porosity of porous spherical particles produced from a polysaccharide dissolved in a solvent, in which it can be gelled. The polysaccharide solution is finely divided by mechanical means into spherical droplets which are allowed to pass through a humid atmosphere and transferred to a capturing medium while controlling the temperature and humidity of humid atmosphere.

1 . In a method of controlling the porosity of porous spherical particles produced from a polysaccharide dissolved in a solvent including water, wherein the polysaccharide solution is finely divided by mechanical means into spherical droplets and transferred to a capturing medium, the improvement comprising conveying said droplets through a humid atmosphere, wherein the temperature and humidity of said atmosphere are controlled:  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said temperature and/or said humidity of said atmosphere is set above ambient temperature and/or humidity, and said porosity is retained or increased.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the temperature of said capturing medium is brought below that of the gelling temperature of the polysaccharide.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said capturing medium comprises water.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of agarose, cellulose, starch, and alginate.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said polysaccharide is agarose, and is dissolved as a 2-14 weight % water solution.