Process for preparing an aqueous solution of a methylcellulose
A process for preparing an aqueous solution of a methylcellulose having anhydroglucose units joined by 1-4 linkages wherein hydroxy groups of anhydroglucose units are substituted with methyl groups such that s23/s26 is 0.36 or less, wherein s23 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2- and 3-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups and wherein s26 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2- and 6-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups, comprises the step of mixing the methylcellulose with an aqueous liquid at a temperature of not higher than 10° C. at a shear rate of at least 1000 s −1 .
1. A protein-free aqueous solution of a methyl cellulose (MC), wherein the MC concentration is from 0.2 to 2.5 percent and the aqueous solution has a gel fracture force F GF (37° C.) of
i) at least 1.4 N when the MC concentration is from 0.2 to 0.4 percent,
ii) at least 2.0 N when the MC concentration is from 0.5 to 0.7 percent,
iii) at least 2.5 N when the MC concentration is from 0.8 to 1.0 percent,
iv) at least 3.5 N when the MC concentration is from 1.1 to 1.3 percent,
v) at least 4.5 N when the MC concentration is from 1.4 to 1.6 percent,
vi) at least 9.0 N when the MC concentration is from 1.7 to 1.9 percent,
vii) at least 11.0 N when the MC concentration is from 2.0 to 2.2 percent, or
viii) at least 13.0 N when the MC concentration is from 2.3 to 2.5 percent,
based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, and
having a gel fracture force F GF (37° C.) of 1.4 N to 20 N when the MC concentration is 0.2 to 1.6 percent and a gel fracture force F GF (37° C.) of 1.4 N to 75 N when the MC concentration is from 0.2 to 2.5 percent and
the methylcellulose has anhydroglucose units joined by 1-4 linkages wherein hydroxy groups of anhydroglucose units are substituted with methyl groups such that s23/s26 is 0.27 or less,
wherein s23 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2- and 3-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups and s26 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2-and 6-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups.
2. The protein-free aqueous solution of claim 1 wherein the concentration of the methylcellulose (MC) is from 0.8 to 2.2 percent and the aqueous solution has a gel fracture force F GF (37° C.) of
at least 2.5 N when the MC concentration is from 0.8 to 1.0 percent,
at least 3.5 N when the MC concentration is from 1.1 to 1.3 percent,
at least 4.5 N when the MC concentration is from 1.4 to 1.6 percent,
at least 9.0 N when the MC concentration is from 1.7 to 1.9 percent, or
at least 11.0 N when the MC concentration is from 2.0 to 2.2 percent,
based on the total weight of the aqueous solution.
3. The protein-free aqueous solution of claim 1 wherein the concentration of the methylcellulose (MC) is from 0.2 to 2.2 percent and the aqueous solution has a gel fracture force F GF (37° C.) of
i) at least 1.8 N when the MC concentration is 0.2 to 0.4 percent,
ii) at least 2.5 N when the MC concentration is from 0.5 to 0.7 percent,
iii) at least 3.0 N when the MC concentration is from 0.8 to 1.0 percent,
iv) at least 4.5 N when the MC concentration is from 1.1 to 1.3 percent,
v) at least 5.0 N when the MC concentration is from 1.4 to 1.6 percent,
vi) at least 10.0 N when the MC concentration is from 1.7 to 1.9 percent, or
vii) at least 12.0 N when the MC concentration is from 2.0 to 2.2 percent,
based on the total weight of the aqueous solution.
4. The protein-free aqueous solution of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution has been prepared by dissolving the methylcellulose in water at a temperature of not higher than 5° C. at a shear rate of at least 1000 s −1 .
5. The protein-free aqueous solution of claim 1 wherein the viscosity of the methylcellulose is from 200 to 10000 mPa·s, when measured as a 2 wt. % solution in water at 5° C. at a shear rate of 10 s −1 .
6. The protein-free aqueous solution of claim 1 wherein the methylcellulose has a DS(methyl) of from 1.55 to 2.25.
7. A medicament, food, food ingredient or food supplement comprising or being made of the protein-free aqueous solution of claim 1 .
8. A method of reducing caloric intake, inducing satiety or reversibly reducing stomach void volume in an individual or of treating gastric ulcers, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, or obesity, or of aiding slimming, weight loss, or weight control in a non-obese individual, comprising the step of administering to said individual the protein-free aqueous solution of claim 1 .
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the individual is not obese.
10. A method of reducing caloric intake, inducing satiety or reversibly reducing stomach void volume in an individual or of treating gastric ulcers, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, or obesity, or of aiding slimming, weight loss, or weight control in a non-obese individual, comprising the step of administering to said individual the medicament, food, food ingredient or food supplement of claim 7 .
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the individual is not obese.