Carrageenan modified by ion-exchange process
View Patent ↗A composition comprises an ion-exchanged carrageenan. The carrageenan may be a traditionally extracted or neutrally extracted iota or kappa carrageenan. The ion-exchanged carrageenan has reduced gelling cation contents, reduced gelling temperature, and reduced melting temperature, as compared to its non-ion-exchanged counterpart. The ion-exchanged carrageenan may be mixed with another carrageenan to form a carrageenan product having a unique gelling temperature and melting temperature. Also disclosed is a process for making an ion-exchanged carrageenan composition.
1. A process for producing an ion-exchanged carrageenan composition, comprising the steps of: extracting a carrageenan starting material with an aqueous treatment solution to form an iota carrageenan extract; contacting the iota carrageenan extract with an acidic cationic ion-exchange material; reducing the cation content of the iota carrageenan extract to produce a first ion-exchanged carrageenan extract; and admixing the first ion-exchanged carrageenan extract with a second ion-exchanged carrageenan extract, wherein the second ion-exchanged carrageenan extract is an iota or a kappa carrageenan extract and has been treated with a n acidic cationic ion-exchange material.
2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the contacting step comprises dissolving the iota carrageenan extract in water to form an extract solution and adding the ion exchange material to the extract solution at a first concentration level, the first concentration level being equal to or less than about 200 g of ion exchange material per liter of extract solution.
3. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the second ion-exchanged carrageenan extract is treated with an acidic cationic ion-exchanged material at a second concentration level that is different from the first concentration level.
4. The process according to claim 3 , wherein the first concentration level is about 1.25 g/g carrageenan to about 10 g/g carrageenan.
5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the iota carrageenan extract comprises a traditional iota carrageenan extract.
6. The process according to claim 5 , wherein the first ion-exchanged carrageenan extract comprises:
a potassium content of about 6 mg/g to about 35 mg/g carrageenan;
a calcium content of less than about 13 mg/g carrageenan; and
a magnesium content of less than about 5 mg/g carrageenan.
7. The process according to claim 5 , wherein the first ion-exchanged carrageenan extract comprises a sodium content of greater than about 45 mg/g carrageenan.
8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the iota carrageenan extract comprises a neutral iota carrageenan extract.
9. The process according to claim 8 , wherein the first ion-exchanged carrageenan extract comprises:
a potassium content of about 6 mg/g to about 33 mg/g carrageenan;
a calcium content of less than about 5 mg/g carrageenan; and
a magnesium content of less than about 5 mg/g carrageenan.
10. The process according to claim 8 , wherein the first ion-exchanged carrageenan extract comprises a sodium content of greater than about 45 mg/g carrageenan.
11. A process for producing an ion-exchanged carrageenan composition, comprising the steps of: extracting a carrageenan starting material with an aqueous treatment solution to form a kappa carrageenan extract; contacting the kappa carrageenan extract with an acidic cationic ion-exchange material; reducing the cation content of the kappa carrageenan extract to produce a first ion-exchanged carrageenan extract; and admixing the first ion-exchanged carrageenan extract with a second ion-exchanged carrageenan extract, wherein the second ion-exchanged carrageenan extract is an iota or a kappa carrageenan extract and has been treated with an acidic cationic ion-exchange material.
12. The process according to claim 11 , wherein the contacting step comprises dissolving the kappa carrageenan extract in water to form an extract solution and adding the ion exchange material to the extract solution at a first concentration level, the first concentration level being equal to or less than about 200 g of ion exchange material per liter of extract solution.
13. The process according to claim 12 , wherein the second ion-exchanged carrageenan extract is treated with an acidic cationic ion-exchanged material at a second concentration level that is different from the first concentration level.
14. The process according to claim 13 , wherein the first concentration level is about 1.25 g/g carrageenan to about 10 g/g carrageenan.
15. The process according to claim 11 , wherein the kappa carrageenan extract comprises a traditional kappa carrageenan extract.
16. The process according to claim 15 , wherein the first ion-exchanged carrageenan extract comprises:
a potassium content of about 5 mg/g to about 30 mg/g carrageenan;
a calcium content of less than about 7 mg/g carrageenan; and
a magnesium content of less than about 0.2 mg/g carrageenan.
17. The process according to claim 15 , wherein the first ion-exchanged carrageenan extract comprises a sodium content of greater than about 30 mg/g carrageenan.
18. The process according to claim 11 , wherein the kappa carrageenan extract comprises a neutral kappa carrageenan extract.
19. The process according to claim 18 , wherein the first ion-exchanged carrageenan extract comprises:
a potassium content of about 4 mg/g to about 30 mg/g carrageenan;
a calcium content of less than about 3 mg/g carrageenan; and
a magnesium content of less than about 3 mg/g carrageenan.
20. The process according to claim 18 , wherein the first ion-exchanged carrageenan extract comprises a sodium content of greater than about 30 mg/g.