Coating foods and pharmaceuticals with an edible polymer using carbon dioxide
US6723363B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 30, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 9, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB05D1/025
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A sprayable liquid coating composition, particularly for application to foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals, utilizes gaseous carbon dioxide to reduce the viscosity of a concentrated solution comprising an edible polymer and a solvent, such as ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. The addition of the gaseous carbon dioxide in the concentrated solution permits a sprayable composition to be produced using a significantly reduced level of solvent in the edible polymer/solvent solution. By reducing the amount of solvent used in the solution, the level of VOCs emission during the coating process also is reduced. Either supercritical carbon dioxide or subcritical carbon dioxide can be used as the gaseous carbon dioxide in the present invention.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.