Solid Carrageenan Ion Exchange
Embodiments of the present invention function to modify the cation concentration of carrageenans using an ion-exchange process. Processes for modifying the cation concentrations of solid carrageenans are provided. The processes include treating solid carrageenan with an aqueous treatment solution comprising an alcohol and a salt and washing the corresponding treated solid carrageenan with an aqueous solution comprising an alcohol.
1 . A process for producing an ion-exchanged carrageenan composition, comprising the steps of:
treating a carrageenan solid with an aqueous treatment solution comprising a first alcohol in an amount from about 40 vol % to about 60 vol % of the aqueous treatment solution and a salt, wherein the carrageenan solid remains substantially undissolved during the treating step; and
washing the treated carrageenan solid using an aqueous washing solution comprising a second alcohol in an amount from about 40 vol % to about 60 vol % of the aqueous washing solution to obtain the ion-exchanged carrageenan composition.
2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the first alcohol is present in the aqueous treatment solution in an amount from about 48 vol % to about 52 vol %.
3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the second alcohol is present in the aqueous washing solution in an amount from about 48 vol % to about 52 vol %.
4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the first alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and combinations thereof.
5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the second alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and combinations thereof.
6 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the carrageenan solid is selected from the group consisting of iota carrageenan, kappa carrageenan, and combinations thereof.
7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the treating step and the washing step are both performed at a temperature in the range of about 0° C. to about 80° C.
8 . A process for producing an ion-exchanged carrageenan composition, comprising the steps of:
treating a carrageenan solid with an aqueous treatment solution comprising a first alcohol in an amount from about 40 vol % to about 60 vol % of the aqueous treatment solution and a salt, wherein the carrageenan solid remains substantially undissolved during the treating step and the treatment solution has a pH in the range of about 8 to about 10; and
washing the treated carrageenan solid using an aqueous washing solution comprising a second alcohol in an amount from about 40 vol % to about 60 vol % of the aqueous washing solution, wherein the aqueous washing solution has a pH in the range of about 8 to about 10, to obtain the ion-exchanged carrageenan composition.
9 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the first alcohol is present in the aqueous treatment solution in an amount from about 48 vol % to about 52 vol %.
10 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the second alcohol is present in the aqueous washing solution in an amount from about 48 vol % to about 52 vol %.
11 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the first alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and combinations thereof.
12 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the second alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and combinations thereof.
13 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the carrageenan solid is selected from the group consisting of iota carrageenan, kappa carrageenan, and combinations thereof.
14 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the treating step and the washing step are both performed at a temperature in the range of about 0° C. to about 80° C.
15 . A process for producing an ion-exchanged carrageenan composition, comprising:
flowing an aqueous treatment solution, comprising a first alcohol in an amount from about 40 vol % to about 60 vol % of the aqueous treatment solution and a salt, through a layer of a carrageenan solid, wherein the carrageenan solid remains substantially undissolved; and
flowing an aqueous washing solution, comprising a second alcohol in an amount from about 40 vol % to about 60 vol % of the aqueous washing solution, through the layer of the carrageenan solid to obtain the ion-exchanged carrageenan composition.
16 . The process of claim 15 , wherein the first alcohol is present in the aqueous treatment solution in an amount from about 48 vol % to about 52 vol %.
17 . The process of claim 15 , wherein the second alcohol is present in the aqueous washing solution in an amount from about 48 vol % to about 52 vol %.
18 . The process of claim 15 , wherein the first alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and combinations thereof.
19 . The process of claim 15 , wherein the second alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and combinations thereof.
20 . The process of claim 15 , wherein the carrageenan solid is selected from the group consisting of iota carrageenan, kappa carrageenan, and combinations thereof.