Process for drying a suspension at room temperature

Abstract

The present invention relates to a new process for the preparation of powdered microcapsules encapsulating active volatile active ingredients, in particular a perfume or a flavour, said process being performed at room temperature. Powdered microcapsules obtainable by said process are also an object of the invention. Perfuming and flavouring compositions as well as consumer products comprising said capsules are also part of the invention.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule, comprising:
 (i) an oil phase comprising a volatile active ingredient;   (ii) a water phase including a water-soluble carbohydrate carrier;   (iii) optionally an emulsifier; and   (iv) a desiccant;   wherein the weight ratio between the oil phase and the water is above 1; and   wherein the non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule has a coefficient of circularity less than 0.7.   
     
     
         18 . The non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule according to  claim 17 , wherein the non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule has a coefficient of circularity less than 0.6. 
     
     
         19 . The non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule according to  claim 17 , wherein the non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule comprises a perfume or a flavor oil freely dispersed in the water phase. 
     
     
         20 . The non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule according to  claim 17 , wherein the non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule comprises a perfume or flavor oil, wherein part of said oil is freely dispersed in the water phase and another part of the oil is dispersed in an encapsulated form in the water phase. 
     
     
         21 . The non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule according to  claim 20 , wherein the encapsulated perfume or flavor oil consists of water-insoluble microcapsules obtainable by a process selected from the group consisting of interfacial polymerisation, polycondensation, simple coacervation, and complex coacervation. 
     
     
         22 . The non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule according to  claim 17 , wherein the non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule comprises a perfume or flavor oil, wherein the oil is dispersed in an encapsulated form in the water phase. 
     
     
         23 . The non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule according to  claim 17 , wherein the volatile active ingredient is a perfume or a flavor. 
     
     
         24 . The non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule according to  claim 17 , wherein the water-soluble carbohydrate carrier comprises at least one emulsifying polymer with a molecular weight (Mn) below 3000 Dalton. 
     
     
         25 . The non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule according to  claim 17 , wherein the water-soluble carbohydrate carrier comprises at least one starch hydrolysate with a molecular weight (Mn) lower than 1500 Dalton. 
     
     
         26 . The non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule according to  claim 17 , wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of lecithin, glycerol esters, fatty acid esters, saponins, proteins, gum arabic, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule according to  claim 17 , wherein the desiccant is selected from the group consisting of maltodextrin, starch, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, dextrins, natural or modified starch, vegetable gums, pectins, xanthanes, alginates, carragenans, cellulose derivatives, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule according to  claim 17 , wherein the desiccant is selected from the group consisting of maltodextrin, natural or modified starch, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule according to  claim 17 , wherein the non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule further comprises a flowing agent selected from the group consisting of silicate, rice hull fibers, tricalcium phosphate, and magnesium stearate. 
     
     
         30 . The non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule according to  claim 17 , wherein the non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule is in a form of a free flowing powder. 
     
     
         31 . The non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule according to  claim 17 , wherein the weight ratio between the oil phase and the water is above 1.5. 
     
     
         32 . The non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule according to  claim 17 , wherein the non-spherical perfuming or flavoring powdered microcapsule is prepared according to a process comprising the steps of:
 a) Preparing an oil-in-water suspension containing
 (i) the oil phase comprising the volatile active ingredient, said oil being dispersed in 
 (ii) the water phase including the water-soluble carbohydrate carrier; and 
 (iii) optionally the emulsifier 
 wherein the weight ratio between the oil phase and the water is above 1; 
   b) Blending at room temperature the suspension obtained under step a) with a desiccant powder to form a dry microcapsule powder, said process being characterized in that the weight difference Δ between the water sorption of the desiccant and the water sorption of the carrier, at 50% relative humidity and at 25° C., is positive; and   c) Optionally sifting the obtained powder to remove the excess desiccant;   wherein the process is free of any spray-drying step.   
     
     
         33 . A perfuming composition comprising
 (i) a non-spherical perfuming powdered microcapsule according to  claim 17 ;   (ii) at least one perfuming co-ingredient; and   (iii) optionally a perfumery adjuvant.   
     
     
         34 . A perfumed consumer product comprising:
 a) from 2 to 65% by weight, relative to the total weight of the consumer product, of at least one surfactant; and   b) a non-spherical perfuming powdered microcapsule according to  claim 17 .   
     
     
         35 . The perfumed consumer product according to  claim 34 , wherein the product is a powder detergent. 
     
     
         36 . A food or beverage consumer product comprising a non-spherical flavoring powdered microcapsule according to  claim 17 , the food or beverage consumer product being selected from the group consisting of a stock, a savory cube, a powder mix, a beef or pork based product, a seafood, surimi, instant noodles, rice, pasta, potatoes flakes or fried, noodles, a potato/tortilla chip, a microwave popcorn, nuts, a bretzel, a rice cake, a rice cracker, and a powdered drink.