Hydrophobic protein microparticles and preparation thereof

Claim 1

A method of producing water-dispersible microparticles consisting essentially of hydrophobic water-insoluble protein, said microparticles having a generally spherical shape having a median particle size of less than about 200 microns, comprising the steps of: a. dissolving the water-insoluble hydrophobic protein in a solvent therefore, to form a solution of said protein; b. contacting an aqueous medium with said protein solution under agitating conditions, at a temperature of from about 40° C. to about 70° C., sufficient to rapidly disperse the protein solution into the aqueous medium to thereby cause the dispersed hydrophobic protein to solidify and form a substantially homogeneous non-aggregated suspension of water-dispersible microparticles of said protein in the aqueous medium, wherein the microparticles are generally spherical in shape and have a median particle size of less than about 200 microns.

Claim 2

A method of producing water-dispersible microparticles consisting essentially of hydrophobic water-insoluble protein, said microparticles having a generally spherical shape having a median particle size of less than about 200 microns, comprising the steps of: a. dissolving the water-insoluble hydrophobic protein in a solvent therefore, to form a solution of said protein; b. contacting an aqueous medium with said protein solution under agitating conditions, at a temperature of from about 40° C. to about 70° C., sufficient to rapidly disperse the protein solution into the aqueous medium to thereby cause the dispersed hydrophobic protein to solidify and form a substantially homogeneous non-aggregated suspension of water-dispersible microparticles of said protein in the aqueous medium, wherein the microparticles are generally spherical in shape and have a median particle size of less than about 200 microns.

Claim 16

A method of producing water-dispersible microparticles consisting essentially of hydrophobic water-insoluble protein, said microparticles having a generally spherical shape having a median particle size of less than about 200 microns, comprising the steps of: a. dissolving the water-insoluble hydrophobic protein in a solvent therefor, to form a solution of sad protein having a protein concentration of from about 5 to 15% by weight; b. contacting an aqueous medium containing a antiaggregating agent with said protein solution under agitating conditions, at a tempertaure of from about 40° C. to about 70° C. sufficient to rapidly disperse the protein solution into the aqueous medium to thereby cause the dispersed hydrophobic protein to solidify and form a substantially homogeneous non-aggregated suspension of water-dispersible microparticles of said protein in the aqueous medium, wherein the microparticles are generally spherical shape and having a median particle size of less than about 200 microns.

Claim 17

A method of producing water-dispersible microparticles consisting essentially of hydrophobic water-insoluble protein, said microparticles having a generally spherical shape having a median particle size of less than about 200 microns, comprising the steps of: a. dissolving the water-insoluble hydrophobic protein in a solvent therefor, to form a solution of sad protein having a protein concentration of from about 5 to 15% by weight; b. contacting an aqueous medium containing a antiaggregating agent with said protein solution under agitating conditions, at a tempertaure of from about 40° C. to about 70° C. sufficient to rapidly disperse the protein solution into the aqueous medium to thereby cause the dispersed hydrophobic protein to solidify and form a substantially homogeneous non-aggregated suspension of water-dispersible microparticles of said protein in the aqueous medium, wherein the microparticles are generally spherical shape and having a median particle size of less than about 200 microns.

Claim 28

A method of producing water-dispersible zein microparticles having a generally spherical shape and having a median particle size of less than about 200 microns, comprising the steps of: a. dissolving zein in a solvent therefor, to form a solution of zein having a protein concentration of from about 5 to 15% by weight; b. contacting an aqueous medium with said zein solution under agitating conditions, at a temperature of from about 40° C. to about 70° C., sufficient to rapidly disperse the zein solution into the aqueous medium to thereby cause the dispersed zein to solidify and form a substantially homogeneous non-aggregated suspension of water-dispersible microparticles of zein in the aqueous medium, wherein the microparticles are generally spherical shape and having a medium particle size of less than about 200 microns.

Claim 29

A method of producing water-dispersible zein microparticles having a generally spherical shape and having a median particle size of less than about 200 microns, comprising the steps of: a. dissolving zein in a solvent therefor, to form a solution of zein having a protein concentration of from about 5 to 15% by weight; b. contacting an aqueous medium with said zein solution under agitating conditions, at a temperature of from about 40° C. to about 70° C., sufficient to rapidly disperse the zein solution into the aqueous medium to thereby cause the dispersed zein to solidify and form a substantially homogeneous non-aggregated suspension of water-dispersible microparticles of zein in the aqueous medium, wherein the microparticles are generally spherical shape and having a medium particle size of less than about 200 microns.