Process for preparing dry extracts

Abstract

Processes for preparing dry extracts from fluid extracts and at least one additional substance by a spray-drying process is effected by adding the additional substance to the spray-drying process in a dry form.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 986,116 filed Nov. 7, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.[0002] The present invention relates to new processes for preparing dry extracts having superior flow characteristics, and extracts made by such processes.[0003] Biologically, chemically and / or pharmaceutically active agents are often derived from natural sources in liquid form (including solutions, suspensions, emulsions, slurrys, pastes or other mixtures, hereinafter, "fluid"). This is particularly the case with plant extracts. Extracts from plant parts and / or plant preparations are widely employed in many industries, including but not limited to the feed, food, functional food, nutraceutical, dietary supplement and pharmaceutical industries. It is often desirable to dry these extracts to reduce their volume and / or to improve their handling and processing characteristics.[0004] Spray drying is a known and very impor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide finished products that contain low amounts of auxiliary agents introduced during the drying process or thereafter. Such products would enable further confectionery steps, for instance direct compression to produce tablets or direct compaction to produce granules, without adding large or any amounts of additional excipients.

[0016] The so formed agglomerated particles possess remarkable and advantageous properties. Due to the outstanding properties of the obtained products, like superior flow characteristics compared to prior art compositions, the new agglomerates allow faster processing for manufacturing final dosage forms including tablet, capsules, granulates and powder blends. Surprisingly, even extract products which are usually hygroscopic when processed with additional substances according to conventional methods can be obtained as free flowing powder when the inventive process disclosed here is employed.

[0033] Hydraulic pressure-nozzle atomization forces pressurized fluid through an orifice. Multiple nozzles are used to increase capacity. The particle size depends on the pressure drop across the orifice, so that the orifice size determines the capacity of the system.

Problems solved by technology

In practice, this form of common spray drying results in products having undesirable characteristics, tending to form hygroscopic (moisture retaining) and therefore "sticky" or "gummy" products.

Attempts to apply a common spray dry process therefore often fail.

This mixing of powders is also problematic because these blends still show dust formation, elevated moisture uptake and hygroscopicity, particle separation due to different particle density and size, and inferior compaction and compression properties and thus, also results in mixtures having inferior handling and tabletting properties.

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