Elemental Selenium Nanoparticles and Production Method

Abstract

The invention relates to elemental selenium nanoparticles, especially a product containing selenium nanoparticles, that can be produced from at least one organic compound and at least one selenium source, with a step of drying by atomisation. The invention also relates to a method for producing such a product and to a method for enriching, with elemental selenium nanoparticles, a product which already comprises elemental selenium nanoparticles.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A powder containing selenium nanoparticles which can be obtained from:
 an amine compound;   at least one source of selenium; and   optionally, at least one pH modifier;   
       by implementing a spray drying step, wherein said selenium nanoparticles have a particle size greater than 300 nm and of at most 1000 nm and said spray drying step is carried out at a temperature of at least 100° C. 
     
     
         25 . The powder according to  claim 24 , wherein the amine compound is an amino acid. 
     
     
         26 . The powder according to  claim 25 , wherein the amino acid is glycine. 
     
     
         27 . A powder containing selenium nanoparticles which can be obtained from:
 at least one macromolecule which has undergone digestion by at least one enzyme;   at least one source of selenium; and   optionally, at least one pH modifier;   
       by implementing a spray drying step, wherein said selenium nanoparticles have a particle size ranging from 1 nm to 1000 nm and said spray drying step is carried out at a temperature of at least 100° C. 
     
     
         28 . The powder according to  claim 27 , wherein the macromolecule is a protein and the enzyme is a protease. 
     
     
         29 . The powder according to  claim 28 , wherein the nanoparticles have a size ranging from 100 to 600 nm. 
     
     
         30 . The powder according to  claim 24 , wherein the pH modifier(s) is/are a base or bases. 
     
     
         31 . The powder according to  claim 24 , wherein the pH modifier(s) is/are an acid or acids. 
     
     
         32 . The powder according to  claim 24 , wherein the source of selenium comprises sodium selenite. 
     
     
         33 . The powder according to  claim 24 , comprising at least 1% selenium. 
     
     
         34 . The powder according to  claim 33 , comprising at least 3% selenium. 
     
     
         35 . The powder according to  claim 24 , wherein the nano-elemental selenium particle content as a percentage of the total selenium content is at least 40%. 
     
     
         36 . The powder according to  claim 35 , wherein the nano-elemental selenium particle content as a percentage of the total selenium content is at least 60%. 
     
     
         37 . The powder according to  claim 27 , wherein the pH modifier(s) is/are a base or bases. 
     
     
         38 . The powder according to  claim 27 , wherein the pH modifier(s) is/are an acid or acids. 
     
     
         39 . The powder according to  claim 27 , wherein the source of selenium comprises sodium selenite. 
     
     
         40 . The powder according to  claim 27 , comprising at least 1% selenium. 
     
     
         41 . The powder according to  claim 40 , comprising at least 3% selenium. 
     
     
         42 . The powder according to  claim 27 , wherein the nano-elemental selenium particle content as a percentage of the total selenium content is at least 40%. 
     
     
         43 . The powder according to  claim 42 , wherein the nano-elemental selenium particle content as a percentage of the total selenium content is at least 60%.