Process for the treatment of aspartame

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for the treatment of dried aspartame characterised in that, in a first separation step, particles smaller than 50 μm are removed, with the aid of a stream of air, from aspartame having a particle size distribution with which more than 5 wt. % of the aspartame has a particle size of less than 20 μm and more than 10 wt. % of the aspartame has a particle size of more than 400 μm, and that in a second separation step the product resulting from the first step is subjected to a screening step using a screen that separates at a value between 150 and 250 μm, after which the fraction of the smaller particles thus obtained is recovered as a first product and the fraction of the larger particles is recovered as a second product or is optionally subjected to a further separation step using a screen that separates at a value between 400 and 1000 μm, the fraction of smaller particles thus obtained being recovered as the second product. Aspartame having a particle size distribution with which 97% of the particles is larger than 20 μm and 97% of the particles is smaller than 250 μm appears to present exceptionally good properties as regards processability and dissolution rate.

I claim: 
     
       1. .[.Process.]. .Iadd.A process .Iaddend.for the treatment of dried aspartame characterised in that, in a first separation step, particles smaller than 50 μm are removed, with the aid of a stream of air, from aspartame having a particle size distribution with which more than 5 wt. % of the aspartame has a particle size of less than 20 μm and more than 10 wt. % of the aspartame has a particle size of more than 400 μm and that, in a second separation step, the product resulting from the first step is subjected to a screening step using a screen that separates at a value between 150 and 250 μm, after which the fraction of the smaller particles thus obtained is recovered as a first product and the fraction of the larger particles is recovered as second product or is optionally subjected to a further separation step using a screen that separates at a value between 400 and 1000 μm, the fraction of smaller particles thus obtained being recovered as second product. .[. 
     
     
       2.  Process according to claim 1, characterised in that particles smaller than 30 μm are removed in the first step..]. 
     
     
       3. .[.Process.]. .Iadd.A process .Iaddend.according to claim 1, .[.characterised that.]. .Iadd.wherein .Iaddend.in the second step use is made of a screen that separates at a value between 180 and 205 μm. 
     
     
       4. .[.Process.]. .Iadd.A process .Iaddend.according to claim 1, .[.characterised in that a second screening.]. .Iadd.wherein the further separation .Iaddend.step is carried out using a screen that separates at a value between 900 and 1000 μm. .Iadd.5. A process according to claim 1, wherein in the second step use is made of a screen that separates at a value between 170 and 220 μm. .Iaddend..Iadd.6. A process for the treatment of dried aspartame comprising: a first separation step in which particles smaller than 30 μm are removed, with the aid of a stream of air, from aspartame having a particle size distribution with which more than 5 wt. % of the aspartame has a particle size of less than 20 μm and more than 10 wt. % of the aspartame has a particle size of more than 400 μm, and   a second separation step in which the product resulting from the first step is subjected to a screening step using a screen that separates at a value between 150 and 250 μm, after which the fraction of the smaller particles thus obtained is recovered as a first product and the fraction of the larger particles is recovered as second product or is optionally subiected to a further separation step using a screen that separates at a value between 400 and 1000 μm, the fraction of smaller particles thus   
     
     
        obtained being recovered as second product. .Iaddend..Iadd.7.  A process according to claim 6, wherein in the second step use is made of a screen that separates at a value between 180 and 205 μm. .Iaddend..Iadd.8. A process according to claim 6, wherein in the second step use is made of a screen that separates at a value between 170 and 220 μm. .Iaddend..Iadd.9. A process according to claim 6, wherein the further separation step is carried out using a screen that separates at a value between 900 and 1000 μm. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. A process for the treatment of dried aspartame comprising: a first separation step in which particles smaller than 20 μm are removed, with the aid of a stream of air, from aspartame having a particle size distribution with which more than 5 wt. % of the aspartame has a particle size of less than 20 μm and more than 10 wt. % of the aspartame has a particle size of more than 400 μm, and   a second separation step in which the product resulting from the first step is subjected to a screening step using a screen that separates at a value between 150 and 250 μm, after which the fraction of the smaller particles thus obtained is recovered as a first product and the fraction of the larger particles is recovered as second product or is optionally subjected to a further separation step using a screen that separates at a value between 400 and 1000 μm, the fraction of smaller particles thus obtained being recovered as second product. .Iaddend..Iadd.11. A process according to claim 10, wherein in the second step use is made of a screen that separate at a value between 180 and 205 μm. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. A process according to claim 10, wherein in the second step use is made of a screen that separate at a value between 170 and 220 μm. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. A process according to claim 10, wherein the further separation step is carried out using a screen that separates at a value between 900 and 1000 μm. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. A process for the treatment of dried aspartame comprising:   a first separation step in which particles smaller than 40 μm are removed, with the aid of a stream of air, from aspartame having a particle size distribution with which more than 5 wt. % of the aspartame has a particle size of less than 20 μm and more than 10 wt. % of the aspartame has a particle size of more than 400 μm, and   a second separation step in which the product resulting from the first step is subjected to a screening step using a screen that separates at a value between 150 and 250 μm, after which the fraction of the smaller particles thus obtained is recovered as a first product and the fraction of the larger particles is recovered as second product or is optionally subjected to a further separation step using a screen that separates at a value between 400 and 1000 μm, the fraction of smaller particles thus obtained being recovered as second product. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. A process according to claim 14, wherein in the second step use is made of a screen that separate at a value between 180 and 205 μm. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. A process according to claim 14, wherein in the second step use is made of a screen that separates at a value between 170 and 220 μm. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. A process according to claim 14, wherein the further separation step is carried out using a screen that separates at a value between 900 and 1000 μm. .Iaddend.