Process for the produciton of cross-linked gelatin beadlets

Abstract

The invention provides a process for the production of cross-linked beadlets containing one or more active ingredients selected from the group of a fat-soluble vitamin active material, a carotenoid and a polyunsaturated fatty acid, the process comprising treating a dry particulate form at a temperature in the range of from 90° C. to 140° C. for a time period of from 30 seconds to 30 minutes or from 1 minute to 10 minutes or from 3 minutes to 7 minutes.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
     
     
         12 . A process for the production of cross-linked beadlets containing one or more active ingredients selected from the group of a fat-soluble vitamin active material, a carotenoid and a polyunsaturated fatty acid, which comprises the steps of 
 forming an emulsion containing the active ingredients, an emulsifier and a reducing sugar, converting the emulsion to droplets,    coating the droplets with finely dispersed powder,    separating a dry particulate form from the remaining finely dispersed powder, and heat treating said particulate form,    characterized in that the dry particulate form is heat treated at a temperature in the range of from 90° C. to 140° C. for a time period of from 30 seconds to 30 minutes or from 1 minute to 10 minutes or from 3 minutes to 7 minutes in such a way that the final beadlet forms have a core and a surface region, wherein the core region contains, in a high concentration, the active˜ingredients and the surface region contains less than 10% of the total active ingredient content.    
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 12  wherein the fat-soluble vitamin active material is selected from vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin E, the carotenoid is selected from β-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, lutein, capsanthin and cryptoxanthin and the polyunsaturated fatty acid is selected from arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and γ-linolenic acid and triglycerides and ethylesters thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 13  wherein the concentration of the fat-soluble vitamin active material, the carotenoid and the polyunsaturated fatty acid is selected from a total concentration in the range of from 500,000 IU vitamin Mg beadlet to 1,500,000 IU vitamin A/g beadlet, in the range of from 100,000 IU vitamin D/g beadlet to 500,000 IU vitamin D/g beadlet, in the range of from 50% to 75% vitamin E, in the range of from 5% to 20% of carotenoid and in the range of from 20% to 50% polyunsaturated fatty acid as triglyceride.  
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 12  wherein as finely dispersed powder calcium silicate is used.  
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 12  wherein the dry particulate forms have a moisture content of less than 10%.  
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 12  wherein the heat treatment is achieved in a batch or in a continuous process where the beadlet residence time and temperature are controlled.  
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 12  wherein the beadlet is added in a hot air or nitrogen stream having a temperature between 100 and 200° C.  
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 12  wherein after addition of the dry particulate form the temperature is raised in a time in the range of from a few seconds to 1 minute above 100° C.  
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 12  wherein heating takes place at a maximum beadlet temperature in the range of from 110° C. to 140° C.  
     
     
         21 . A cross-linked beadlet form having a core and a surface region, wherein the core region contains, in a high concentration, one or more active ingredients selected from the group of a fat-soluble vitamin active material, a carotenoid and a polyunsaturated fatty acid, and the surface region contains less than 10% or less than 5% of the total active ingredient content.  
     
     
         22 . A cross-linked beadlet form containing one or more active ingredients selected from the group of Vitamin A in a total concentration in the range of from 800,000 IU vitamin A/g beadlet to 1,500,000 IU vitamin Mg beadlet, in a total concentration in the range of from 100,000 IU vitamin D/g beadlet to 500,000 IU vitamin D/g beadlet, vitamin E in a total concentration in the range of from 50% to 75%, a carotenoid in a total concentration in the range of from 5 to 20% and a polyunsaturated fatty acid in a total concentration in the range from 5 to 50%, wherein the surface region contains less than 10% or less than 5% of the total active ingredient content.  
     
     
         23 . The cross-linked beadlet form according to  claim 22  having the following components: 
 30% to 45% of vitamin A, 0% to 2% of vitamin D 3 , 5% to 15% of 6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline, as emulsifier 25% to 35% of gelatine, as reducing sugar 5% to 10% of fructose, 2% to 10% of glycerine, 5% to 10% of calcium silicate, 0% to 25% of corn starch, 0% to 1% of edible fat, and water.