Flowable bulk granular polysaccharide
Disclosed herein are compositions comprising polysaccharide particles with an average size of about 0.1-10 mm. These particles comprise at least (i) about 50%-90% by weight water or an aqueous solution, and (ii) about 10%-50% by weight insoluble alpha-glucan, or an insoluble cationic ether thereof, comprising alpha-1,3-glycosidic linkages and having a weight-average degree of polymerization (DPw) of at least about 100. Further disclosed are methods of preparing these compositions, as well as systems for storing and/or moving them.
1. Particles with an average size of about 0.1-10 mm, wherein said particles comprise at least
(i) about 50%-90% by weight water or an aqueous solution, and
(ii) about 10%-50% by weight insoluble alpha-glucan or an insoluble cationic ether of said insoluble alpha-glucan,
wherein the insoluble alpha-glucan comprises at least 50% alpha-1,3-glycosidic linkages and has a weight-average degree of polymerization (DPw) of at least 100, and wherein the particles are powder-like.
2. The particles of claim 1 , wherein the insoluble alpha-glucan has at least 80% alpha-1,3-glycosidic linkages.
3. The particles of claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise about 30%-45% by weight of said insoluble alpha-glucan or insoluble cationic ether thereof.
4. The particles of claim 1 , wherein the insoluble alpha-glucan has at least 90% alpha-1,3-glycosidic linkages.
5. The particles of claim 1 , wherein the insoluble alpha-glucan is enzymatically produced in a reaction composition comprising at least water, sucrose and a glucosyltransferase enzyme that synthesizes insoluble alpha-glucan.
6. The particles of claim 1 , wherein the particles are produced by contacting a first composition with a particle-forming device, wherein said first composition comprises at least (i) about 50%-90% by weight water or an aqueous solution, and (ii) about 10%-50% by weight of said insoluble alpha-glucan.
7. The particles of claim 6 , wherein the first composition is a cake of the insoluble alpha-glucan.
8. The particles of claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise said insoluble alpha-glucan.
9. A method of preparing a particles of claim 1 , said method comprising:
(a) providing a first composition comprising at least (i) about 50%-90% by weight water or an aqueous solution, and (ii) about 10%-50% by weight of said insoluble alpha-glucan or said insoluble cationic ether of said insoluble alpha-glucan, and
(b) providing particles of the first composition with an average size of about 0.1-10 mm.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first composition is a cake of the insoluble alpha-glucan.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein step (b) comprises contacting the first composition with a particle-forming device, optionally wherein the particle-forming device comprises a plurality of 0.1-mm to 10-mm passages through which the first composition is forcibly transited, and optionally further wherein the particle-forming device comprises a screen.
12. The particles of claim 3 , wherein the particles comprise said insoluble alpha-glucan.
13. The particles of claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise said insoluble cationic ether of said insoluble alpha-glucan.
14. The particles of claim 1 , wherein the particles are continuously flowable.
15. The particles of claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise less than 0.5% by weight any other substance aside from those of (i) and (ii).
16. The particles of claim 15 , wherein said other substance comprises a filler.
17. The particles of claim 16 , wherein said filler comprises wood or pulp.
18. The particles of claim 15 , wherein said other substance comprises a plasticizer.
19. The particles of claim 18 , wherein said plasticizer comprises glycerol.