Crystalline form of sucralose, and method for producing it

a technology of sucralose and crystallization method, which is applied in the field of stable crystallization of sucralose, can solve the problems of undesirable dust, poor handling characteristics of sucralose, and difficult synthesis of sucralos

US20050203290A1Inactive Publication Date: 2005-09-15CATANI STEVEN J +2
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2005-09-15
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

A crystalline form of sucralose, and a method of making it. The method involves continuously crystallizing sucralose from an aqueous solution by a process providing continuous removal and recirculation of the vessel contents, and providing a long residence time for sucralose in the system. The crystals thus formed are of a relatively low length / diameter ratio, have an unsymmetrical shape, and exhibit good stability. The larger crystals in particular are tapered as compared to the rod-like larger crystals in prior art product.
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Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to stable crystals of sucralose having improved handling properties, and a method for making the crystals. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Sucra lose, 4,1′,6′-trichloro-4,1′,6′-trideoxygalactosucrose, a sweetener with a sweetness intensity several hundred times that of sucrose, is made from sucrose by replacing the hydroxyl groups in the 4, 1′, and 6′ positions with chlorine. Synthesis of sucralose is technically challenging because of the need to selectively replace specific hydroxyl groups with chlorine atoms, while preserving other hydroxyl groups including a highly reactive primary hydroxyl group. Numerous approaches to this synthesis have been developed. See, e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,362,869, 4,826,962, 4,980,463, and 5,141,860, which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] Crystallization is widely used to purify and recover compounds, including, but not limited to, sugar, sucralose, and related substances. Cr...

Examples

example

[0047] A system as seen in FIG. 1 comprises a vertical cylindrical tank as the crystallizer vessel, with a 4-foot diameter, a 12-foot straight side, a 45-degree cone bottom, and an 8-inch bottom discharge nozzle.

[0048] Crystallizer recirculation pump 14 comprises a Model MPAF axial flow centrifugal pump, in which the inlet, outlet, and impeller are all ten inches in diameter (source: Goulds Pumps of Seneca Falls, N.Y.). The pump is operated fully continuously (i.e. not intermittently) at a rate sufficient to provide a turnover of the vessel contents about every 5 minutes.

[0049] The entry point of the recirculation stream into the crystallizer vessel is configured to provide a tangential entry of the liquid, resulting in a turbulent or swirling motion that assists in keeping circulating sucralose crystals suspended in the vessel contents. The system is provided with a TEMA class BEM shell-and-tube single pass heat exchanger 18. Such heat exchangers are widely available from a numbe...