BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates in general to a method of producing dry, free-flowing mixtures of vitamin powders. The present invention also relates to a dry free-flowing vitamin powder.

[0003] 2. Related Art

[0004] It is desirable to obtain free-flowing powders from fat-soluble or water-soluble vitamins. Such vitamin powders are commonly used as additives to feed mixtures or can be given to humans. Previous patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,858,215, 4,617,294. 3,608,083, 3,914,430, 3,947,596, 3,959,472, 3,962,384, 4,395,422, 4,486,435) have provided methods for producing vitamin powders. A common drying technique used for producing vitamin powders is spray drying. The present invention provides a more economical method than spray drying to produce vitamin powders. Additionally, the invention provides a composition which has an extended shelf life and a higher level of mixed tocopherols than has been described in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention provides a method of producing a dry, free-flowing vitamin powder comprising blending redried corn starch, silica and at least one vitamin in a blender, wherein said corn starch and silica are blended and said vitamin are added to make a composition.

[0006] The invention also provides a method of producing a dry, free-flowing vitamin powder comprising blending silica and at least one vitamin in a blender wherein said silica has a density of at least 12.5 lbs/cu. ft., a particle size of between 40 and 50 microns and a BET surface area of from about 400 m ² /g to 500 m ² /g.

[0007] The invention further provides a method of producing a dry, free-flowing vitamin powder comprising mixing silica and at least one vitamin in a blender which has at least 3600 rotations per minute (rpm).

[0008] The invention also provides a method of producing a dry, free-flowing vitamin powder comprising mixing silica and liquid mixed tocopherols wherein said tocopherols are present in amounts greater than 50 to about 80 weight percent.

[0009] The invention further provides a composition comprising about 5 to about 34 weight percent redried corn starch, silica and at least one vitamin.

[0010] The invention also provides a composition comprising silica wherein said silica has a density of at least 16.8 lbs/cu. ft., a particle size minimum of 125 microns and at least one vitamin.

[0011] The invention also provides a composition comprising silica and at least one vitamin in amounts from about 50 to about 80 weight percent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of producing a dry, free-flowing powder from liquid vitamins by blending redried corn starch, wheat starch, silica and at least one vitamin in a blender. Preferably, the above-described method comprises (a) mixing redried corn starch and silica in a blender and (b) adding at least one vitamin to said redried corn starch and silica mixture. In the present invention “blend” is intended to be synonymous with “mix”: to join or combine two or more components into a single mass. One advantage of the above and below-described methods is a 10 percent cost reduction in manufacturing over spray dried vitamin powders. Similarly, equipment costs for the present invention would be lower than the cost of a spray drier.

[0013] The invention further provides compositions comprising corn starch, silica and at least one vitamin. The compositions of the present invention have extended shelf lives of over nine months and higher levels of mixed tocopherols than has been described in the prior art. The product wets out better, has improved dispersion in solution, improved uniformity and the particle size is more compatible with other nutritional products.

[0014] The invention further relates to the above and below-described methods and compositions wherein said vitamin may be preheated prior to blending with corn starch and silica, preferably to at least 130° C.

[0015] The vitamin-containing powders of the present invention may contain as their active vitamin ingredient any suitable vitamin, including an oil-soluble vitamin or mixture thereof, a water-soluble vitamin or mixture thereof, or mixtures of water and fat soluble vitamins. “Vitamin” may be defined as a trace organic substance required in the diet of some species for proper growth and function. In the present invention, the above and below-described methods and compositions provide use of fat and/or water soluble vitamins comprising at least one vitamin selected from the group consisting of: vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B ₁ , vitamin B ₂ , vitamin B ₆ , vitamin B ₁₂ , folic acid, biotin, inositol, beta carotene, vitamin B ₃ , and vitamin B ₅ , and mixtures thereof. Preferably said vitamin comprises a mixed tocopherol composition, and more preferably, a mixed tocopherol composition with a minimum assay of 100 mg/g mixed tocopherols, and even more preferably, with a minimum assay of 400 mg/g mixed tocopherols, and most preferably, with a minimum assay of 700 mg/g tocopherols. Vitamin E is composed of at least three molecular species. The amounts of d-alphas, d-beta, d-gamma, and d-delta tocopherol can vary because of natural variation of the oil. But the typical value would be d-alpha 14%, d-beta 1%, d-beta 1%, d-gamma 62% and d-delta 23%. “Mixed tocopherols” is a composition of these molecular species. Mixed tocopherols may be obtained commercially (Henkel Corp. and ADM Co.).

[0016] The vitamins and vitamin mixtures of the above and below-described methods and compositions may be present in amounts from about 0.02 to about 90 weight percent, preferably about 20 to about 90 weight percent, more preferably about 40 to about 90 weight percent, more preferably greater than about 50 to about 80 weight percent, and most preferably from about 60 to about 80 weight percent.

[0017] As the binder or filler in the vitamin powders, generally any starch which is at least partially soluble in water at ambient temperature can be employed in the vitamin powders made by the above and below-described methods. Corn starch is one type of binder that may be used; it is a fine, granular or powdery starch which enhances the flow properties of the vitamin powders of the invention. Prior to use, the corn starch should have a moisture of 7.5%. The invention provides the above and below-described methods and compositions wherein said corn starch is present in amounts from about 5 to about 90 weight percent, preferably, in amounts from about 5 to about 34 weight percent.

[0018] Certain vitamins are absorbed onto inert carriers such as silica, and the resulting absorbate product is mixed or blended with United States Pharmaceutical (USP), Food Chemical Codex (FCC), or grass products (FDA safe supplement). The carrier must be chemically inert with respect to the vitamin with which it is mixed and also harmless to the animal who ingests the absorbate product. Vitamin E mixtures are also suitable for use as anti-oxidants to protect various materials such as lard and vegetable oils. Silica is particularly suitable as carrier for vitamins because it is essentially inert with respect to many vitamins and harmless to the animal or human who ingests the adsorbate product. Silica (empirical formula SiO ₂ , silicon dioxide) is a white, granular, bead-like powder that is dry to the touch. Despite appearing dry, the silica normally contains two different types of bound water which may be removed by heating. “Free water” may be removed by heating to at least 105° C. for approximately 24 hours, whereas “bound water” may be removed by heating to between 1000° C. and 1200° C. for approximately 24 hours. Chemically, the silica contains at least 99 weight percent of SiO ₂ . The invention provides the above and below-described methods and compositions wherein said silica has a density of at least 200 g/l, a particle size of between 40 and 50 microns, and a surface area of from about 400 m ² /g to 500 m ² /g.

[0019] The invention also provides a method of producing a dry, free-flowing vitamin powder comprising mixing silica and at least one vitamin in a blender wherein said silica has a density of at least 16.8 lbs/cu. ft., a particle size of a minimum of 125 microns.

[0020] In a further embodiment, the present invention provides a method of producing a dry, free-flowing vitamin powder comprising mixing silica and liquid mixed tocopherols wherein said tocopherols are present in amounts greater than 50 to about 80 weight percent.

[0021] In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of producing a dry, free-flowing vitamin powder comprising mixing silica and at least one vitamin in a blender which has an rpm of at least 3600 etc. The plow inside the mixer is used to blend the silica and starch. Then as the liquid tocopherol is added, the chopper is run at a minimum of 3600 rpm for dispersion. In the present invention “blender(s)” are intended to include both blenders and mixers and/or any equipment means useful for the mixing or blending of any liquid/solid, solid/solid or liquid/liquid materials. Such blenders include Warring blenders and Littleford mixers, Turbulizer and Walters. The invention also provides a composition comprising silica and at least one vitamin.