A food cleaning agent and a method for preparing the same

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of food cleaning agent and its preparation method, and the food cleaning agent is obtained by crushing, pulping, purification, dissociation and powdering of raw ore, wherein the slurry obtained by pulping is purified by multi-stage using cyclone with different diameters to remove almost all mechanical impurities in raw ore;The mineral crystal bundle is dissociated under the action of ultrasonic wave after the slurry is purified, wherein the total power of the ultrasonic wave is above 20KW.The preparation method of the present application uses pure natural inorganic minerals, and the effective active ingredients of raw ore are fully retained and greatly improved during processing, through pure physical wet multi-stage purification process, and through the cavitation effect of continuous high energy density ultrasonic wave, the local temperature of slurry can reach above 100 DEG C, at the same time, equivalent hydrothermal activation effect is generated, so that the mineral crystal bundle is fully dissociated, the activity of surface group and cation exchange capacity are strengthened, and the adsorption capacity is effectively improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention specifically relates to a food cleaning agent and its preparation method. Background Technology

[0002] This section is intended to provide background or context for embodiments of the present invention. The description herein is not intended to imply that it is prior art simply because it is included in this section.

[0003] With increasing public concern about food safety, the removal of pesticide residues, heavy metals, and microorganisms from food surfaces has become a growing concern. However, existing cleaning agents and mineral adsorbents have shortcomings in terms of safety and removal efficiency, making it difficult to simultaneously meet the comprehensive requirements of being "all-natural," "highly effective at removing contaminants," and "residue-free."

[0004] While existing chemically synthesized cleaning agents (such as surfactants) have strong cleaning power, they are prone to leaving secondary residues on food surfaces, and long-term ingestion may cause chronic damage to human health. Traditional physical cleaning agents (such as flour, baking soda, and table salt) are relatively safe, but their removal rate of pesticide residues, especially bifenthrin residues, is generally no more than 35%, and they are prone to leaving starch or alkaline substances, which can damage the natural flavor and appearance of food.

[0005] Furthermore, some commercially available cleaning agents labeled "natural" actually still contain chemical additives such as citric acid, chelating agents, and surfactants, which do not meet the requirements of truly all-natural products. Some products also contain exogenous extracts such as plant extracts and enzyme preparations. These ingredients have stringent storage requirements and are highly susceptible to degradation and deterioration during storage and use, posing a risk of secondary contamination.

[0006] Natural mineral materials have attracted attention in the field of pollutant adsorption due to their wide availability and environmental friendliness, but existing materials still face many bottlenecks in food cleaning applications.

[0007] Attapulgite, montmorillonite, zeolite, and other natural silicate minerals have a certain adsorption capacity for heavy metal ions, but their adsorption selectivity for organic pesticides is poor. Furthermore, their adsorption rate is slow due to limitations in their original specific surface area and pore structure. The presence of sand, gravel, and mechanical impurities in the raw ore makes it difficult to meet the requirements for rapid and fine cleaning. The CaO generated from calcined shell powder (mainly CaCO3) has a good adsorption capacity for Pb. 2+ The adsorption capacity can reach 57.79 mg / g, but the adsorption kinetics for organophosphorus pesticides such as dichlorvos (DDVP) are slow, and the inherent "sea odor" is difficult to remove. Furthermore, the preparation of shell powder usually requires the use of chemical reagents to treat the shell surface, and the introduction of these chemical reagents inevitably leads to reagent residues, further limiting its application in the food cleaning field. Diatomaceous earth modified by mechanical wet milling exhibits improved adsorption capacity for Pb. 2+The removal rate can be increased from 15.92% to 96.88%, but the adsorption capacity is only 27.03 mg / g, and the process is energy-intensive and does not solve the problem of pesticide residues.

[0008] In general, existing pure mineral powder production processes have limitations such as low specific surface area, limited functionality, and slow adsorption kinetics. Traditional dry grinding methods are prone to causing lattice damage, while wet modification methods suffer from problems such as chemical reagent residues.

[0009] Natural raw attapulgite clay and its effect on Pb 2+ The adsorption capacity is approximately 28 mg / g, and the removal rate of organophosphorus pesticides is only about 40%, which cannot meet the requirements of practical use. Its performance bottleneck mainly stems from factors such as dilution by impurity minerals, occupation of adsorption sites by exchangeable cations in the pores, and crystal agglomeration restricting mass transfer.

[0010] Chinese patent CN105969551A discloses a method for washing fruits and vegetables using a single component, attapulgite, diluted with water, claiming a removal rate of over 90% for various pesticide residues. However, our repeated studies have revealed that untreated attapulgite's removal efficiency for the aforementioned pesticide residues falls far short of the patent's claims. Specifically, the removal rate for chlorpyrifos was only 49.32%, and for bifenthrin, only 51.03%. This indicates that the direct application of raw attapulgite ore is insufficient for achieving efficient pesticide removal, and a reasonable modification process is still needed to overcome its performance bottlenecks.

[0011] Existing modification processes mostly employ acid treatment or chemical loading (such as sodium alginate, tea saponin, etc.), which can improve adsorption performance to some extent, but generally introduce exogenous substances, increase safety risks, and have limited effect on improving the removal rate of organophosphorus pesticides. Dry pulverization processing is prone to lattice damage and pore collapse, and the problem of residual chemical reagents in wet modification has not yet been effectively solved.

[0012] In summary, the current food cleaning agent industry still lacks food cleaning materials that simultaneously meet the requirements of being made from pure natural minerals, having zero chemical additives, removing a broad spectrum of pollutants (pesticides + heavy metals + microorganisms), and exhibiting rapid adsorption kinetics. Developing novel mineral-based cleaning materials that possess these characteristics is of significant practical importance for improving food safety. Summary of the Invention

[0013] The purpose of this invention is to provide a physical adsorption type food cleaning agent based on natural mineral materials, its preparation method, and its usage.

[0014] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: The first aspect of this invention provides a method for preparing a food cleaning agent, which involves crushing, pulping, purifying, dissociating, and pulverizing a raw ore to obtain the food cleaning agent. The method involves using hydrocyclones of different diameters to perform multi-stage purification of the pulp to remove almost all mechanical impurities present in the raw ore. The purified slurry is then subjected to ultrasonic waves to dissociate the mineral crystal bundles, wherein the total power of the ultrasonic waves is above 20 kW.

[0015] In some embodiments, the raw ore is a silicate mineral.

[0016] Preferably, the raw ore is attapulgite, montmorillonite, diatomite, or zeolite. More preferably, the raw ore is attapulgite. Even more preferably, the raw ore is attapulgite clay ore from Xuyi, Jiangsu Province, with an attapulgite mineral content ≥80% and MgO ≥10%.

[0017] In some embodiments, the diameters of the hydrocyclones used in the multi-stage purification are set in descending order to retain slurry with a particle size ≤5μm.

[0018] Furthermore, the hydrocyclones used in the multi-stage purification include hydrocyclones with a diameter of 80-120 mm, hydrocyclones with a diameter of 30-70 mm, and hydrocyclones with a diameter of 5-20 mm.

[0019] Furthermore, the multi-stage purification is a three-stage purification.

[0020] In some embodiments, the dissociation is performed in a plurality of ultrasonic devices connected in series, the total power of which is the sum of the powers of the plurality of ultrasonic devices.

[0021] In some embodiments, the total time for the dissociation is 5 min to 20 min, which is the cumulative time for the slurry to flow through each ultrasonic device until the dissociation is completed.

[0022] The number of ultrasonic devices can be selected according to actual needs such as the flow rate, as long as the total ultrasonic power is above 20KW, the total dissociation time is between 5min and 20min, and the viscosity of the dissociated slurry reaches the set value or no longer changes significantly. The ultrasonic power of a single ultrasonic device is controlled between 1-10KW, and the temperature inside the ultrasonic device is controlled below 90℃.

[0023] Furthermore, the dissociation method includes the following steps: (1) The purified slurry is fed into a hydrocyclone, and the top flow of the hydrocyclone is returned to the purified slurry tank; (2) The bottom flow of the hydrocyclone is fed into the ultrasonic device for dissociation to improve dissociation efficiency and effect. The dissociated slurry is returned to the purified slurry tank. (3) Detect the viscosity of the slurry in the purification tank. If the viscosity value is still changing or has not reached the pre-calibrated value, continue with steps (1) and (2); if the viscosity value no longer changes significantly or has reached the pre-calibrated value, proceed to step (4). (4) Discharge the slurry from the slurry tank to carry out the powdering step.

[0024] The viscosity of the slurry is directly proportional to the degree of dissociation.

[0025] Furthermore, all of the hydrocyclones are water hydrocyclones.

[0026] Furthermore, the diameter of the hydrocyclone used in the dissociation step can be determined by those skilled in the art based on the viscosity of the slurry and the flow rate.

[0027] Furthermore, the ultrasonic device can be an existing ultrasonic device, such as one that includes a tank, an inlet and an outlet on the tank, and an ultrasonic head for emitting ultrasonic waves, which is disposed inside or outside the tank.

[0028] In some embodiments, the raw ore is crushed to an average particle size ≤1mm, for example 0.1mm-1mm.

[0029] In some embodiments, the pulverized raw ore powder is mixed with water at a mass ratio of 1:5-15 (e.g., 1:5, 1:6, 1:7, 1:8, 1:9, 1:10, 1:11, 1:12, 1:13, 1:14, 1:15, etc.) to prepare a mixture before the pulping is carried out.

[0030] In some embodiments, a homogenizer is used for pulping, and the power of the homogenizer is controlled to be 3000-5000W, for example 3000W, 3100W, 3200W, 3300W, 3400W, 3500W, 3600W, 3700W, 3800W, 3900W, 4000W, 4100W, 4200W, 4300W, 4400W, 4500W, 4600W, 4700W, or 4800W. 4900W, 5000W, etc., homogenization time is 20-40min, for example 20min, 21min, 22min, 23min, 24min, 25min, 26min, 27min, 28min, 29min, 30min, 31min, 32min, 33min, 34min, 35min, 36min, 37min, 38min, 39min, 40min, etc.

[0031] In some embodiments, the powdering temperature is controlled between 110-260°C. Drying is carried out at this temperature to effectively achieve sterilization, and a bag filter is used to collect the powder escaping from the cyclone separator.

[0032] In some embodiments, the parts of the equipment used in the preparation method that come into contact with the material are made of food-grade materials, such as 304 stainless steel or other environmentally friendly materials.

[0033] A second aspect of the present invention provides a food cleaning agent prepared by the preparation method described in any of the preceding claims.

[0034] In some embodiments, the food cleaning agent has a specific surface area of ​​220 m². 2 / g or more.

[0035] In some embodiments, the food cleaning agent is in powder form with a bulk density of 0.2-0.35 g / cm³. 3 .

[0036] The food cleaning agent of this invention contains no exogenous additives such as surfactants, preservatives, flavorings, or synthetic auxiliaries. It is suitable for the safe cleaning of fruits, vegetables, meat, food contact surfaces, and food processing utensils, as well as for use in other suitable scenarios. This food additive is stable and can be stored and used for a long time.

[0037] The third aspect of the present invention provides a food cleaning agent prepared by the preparation method described in any of the preceding claims, or a method of using the food cleaning agent described in any of the preceding claims, wherein the food cleaning agent is mixed with water to prepare a suspension with a concentration of 0.1-2.5 wt%, the food to be cleaned is placed in the suspension and soaked for 15-30 minutes, and selectively stirred, or the food cleaning agent is applied to the surface of the food to be cleaned after being wetted with water; and then the food is rinsed with water.

[0038] In some embodiments, the food is a food that is difficult to clean, including but not limited to vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, shiitake mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms, button mushrooms, bok choy, spinach, Chinese cabbage, lettuce, and romaine lettuce, fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, grapes, raisins, and peaches, and may also be food such as rice, meat, and seafood.

[0039] In some implementations, for foods such as cucumbers, apples, and pears, it is preferable to clean them by applying food cleaning agent to the surface of the food.

[0040] Due to the application of the above technical solution, the present invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art: The preparation method of this invention uses pure natural inorganic minerals. The processing fully preserves and significantly improves the effective active components of the raw ore. Through a pure physical wet multi-stage purification process, and by utilizing the cavitation effect of continuous high-energy-density ultrasound (related literature records that high-intensity cavitation will generate a microenvironment with an explosive effect of 1000°C and pressure exceeding 10 MPa), the local temperature of the slurry can reach above 100°C. Simultaneously, an equivalent hydrothermal activation effect is generated, allowing for the full dissociation of mineral crystal bundles, enhancing the activity of surface groups and cation exchange capacity, and effectively improving its adsorption capacity. Furthermore, this preparation method is a complete clean processing technology, introducing no chemical reagents and leaving no chemical reagent residues.

[0041] The food cleaning agent of the present invention uses high-purity fine minerals prepared by the above method as the sole cleaning component, with zero chemical additives, broad-spectrum cleaning power, and wide range of applications. Attached Figure Description

[0042] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0043] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a cyclic dissociation device; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a series-connected ultrasonic device; Figure 3 Electron micrograph of the slurry before it enters the hydrocyclone after purification; Figure 4 Electron micrograph of the underflow of a hydrocyclone; Figure 5 Electron micrograph of the slurry after dissociation by the dissociation device; Figure 6 Photograph of attapulgite powder prepared for the example; Figure 7 The image shows a comparison of the state of the attapulgite powder prepared in the example and the attapulgite powder prepared in Comparative Example 2 in water. The left side shows the attapulgite powder of Comparative Example 2, and the right side shows the attapulgite powder of the example. Detailed Implementation

[0044] This invention discloses for the first time a novel food cleaning agent composed of a single raw mineral component, processed using a series of cleaning processes including wet impurity removal, purification, mineral crystal dissociation, hydrothermal activation, and ultrafine pulverization through purely physical methods.

[0045] It is prepared from a single-component raw mineral material, and after a series of refined processes including wet impurity removal, purification, dissociation, hydrothermal activation, and ultrafine pulverization, it is transformed from a simple raw mineral material into a functional material. It possesses a high specific surface area and excellent dispersibility in water, and through physical adsorption, ion exchange, and interfacial interactions, it can effectively remove pesticide residues, organic matter, heavy metals, and some microorganisms from the surface of fruits, vegetables, and other foods. The product contains no chemical additives, is safe and convenient to use, has stable performance, and is suitable for long-term storage and use. It is a new material that can be widely used in green cleaning scenarios in households and the food industry, filling the gap in the production technology, equipment application, processes, and products for using single minerals in food cleaning products.

[0046] Specifically, this invention provides a pure natural fruit, vegetable, and food cleaning powder made solely from attapulgite clay. Through the synergistic effect of physical wet purification and deep rod-crystal dissociation + hydrothermal treatment, crystal bundle aggregates are broken down, active sites are exposed, and the intrinsic adsorption and detoxification properties of the minerals are fully activated and utilized. This allows the specific surface area to be increased several times over, from 80m². 2 / g increased to 220m 2 / g or more.

[0047] The processing adopts a purely physical process, without contact with any chemical reagents. All equipment that comes into contact with the materials is made of environmentally friendly materials such as national standard food-grade 304 stainless steel, and there are no chemical residues.

[0048] In the following description, only certain exemplary embodiments are briefly described. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the described embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the embodiments of the invention. Therefore, the drawings and description are considered to be exemplary in nature and not restrictive.

[0049] All features disclosed in this invention, or steps in all methods or processes disclosed, may be combined in any way, except for mutually exclusive features or steps.

[0050] The technical solutions of the present invention will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments. However, the present invention should not be limited to these embodiments. Unless specifically stated otherwise, all features can be replaced by other equivalent or similar alternative features. Unless specifically stated otherwise, each feature is only one example of a series of equivalent or similar features. The terminology used in the present invention, unless otherwise stated, generally has the meaning commonly understood by those skilled in the art. The implementation conditions adopted in the embodiments can be further adjusted according to different requirements of specific use. Implementation conditions not specified are conventional conditions in the industry. The technical features involved in the various embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0051] In this invention, operations without specific instructions are performed at room temperature. The raw materials used in this invention are commercially available or can be prepared using conventional methods in the prior art. Unless otherwise specified, the methods and apparatus in this invention are methods and apparatus in the prior art.

[0052] Example: The preparation method of food cleaning agent is as follows: 1. The raw attapulgite clay is sourced from Xuyi, Jiangsu Province, with an attapulgite mineral content of ≥80% and MgO content of ≥10%.

[0053] 2. Crush the attapulgite clay ore to 1mm and add water at a solid-liquid ratio of 1:10 to prepare a mixture.

[0054] 3. Use a homogenizer to pre-disperse the mixture (power 4000W, 30min) to prepare a slurry.

[0055] 4. Perform three-stage centrifugal purification on the slurry, selecting hydrocyclones of different diameters: 100 mm, 50 mm, and 10 mm, to achieve fine purification, effectively remove particulate impurities, and retain effective components such as fine slurry particles with a particle size ≤5 μm.

[0056] 5. A cascade circulating ultrasonic device is adopted, which uses high-energy-density ultrasonic units connected in series and running in a cycle to achieve deep dissociation. This can fully dissociate attapulgite crystal bundles in fine-particle slurries, thereby activating the adsorption sites of attapulgite and significantly improving the adsorption capacity of the material.

[0057] Among them, cascade circulating ultrasonic devices, such as Figure 2 As shown, it is Figure 1 The dissociation device 10 in the cyclic dissociation device.

[0058] like Figure 1 As shown, the circulating dissociation device includes a slurry tank 1 and a hydrocyclone 2. The outlet of the purified slurry tank 1 is connected to the inlet of the hydrocyclone 2 via a slurry pump 3 and a liquid outlet pipe 4. The overflow outlet of the hydrocyclone 2 is connected to the first return port of the purified slurry tank 1 via an overflow pipe 5. The underflow outlet of the hydrocyclone 2 is connected to the first return pipe 6 and the second return pipe 7. The first return pipe 6 is equipped with a first valve 8 and is connected to the second return port of the purified slurry tank 1. The second return pipe 7 is equipped with a second valve 9 and is connected to the third return port of the purified slurry tank 1 via a dissociation device 10. The purified slurry tank 1 is equipped with a viscometer 11. The liquid outlet pipe 4 is equipped with a finished product liquid outlet bypass 12. The finished product liquid outlet bypass 12 is equipped with a third valve 13. The liquid outlet pipe 4 after the finished product liquid outlet bypass 12 is equipped with a fourth valve 14.

[0059] Hydrocyclone 2 is a hydrocyclone, and the dissociation device 10 is a cascade circulating ultrasonic dissociation device. Viscometer 11 is connected to valve control system 15 to control the opening and closing of each valve.

[0060] like Figure 2 As shown, the cascade circulating ultrasonic deionization device includes multiple ultrasonic units 101 connected in series via connecting pipes, and a circulating pump 102 connected between the first ultrasonic unit 101 and the last ultrasonic unit 101 via connecting pipes, which can transport the slurry discharged from the last ultrasonic unit 101 back to the first ultrasonic unit 101. The inlet of the first ultrasonic unit 101 is connected to the second return pipe 7, and the outlet of the last ultrasonic unit 101 is connected to the third return port of the purified slurry tank 1 via a connecting pipe.

[0061] in, Figure 2 The diagram shows five ultrasonic units 101 connected in series, but the number of ultrasonic units can be increased or decreased as needed.

[0062] In this process, after the cascade circulating ultrasonic decomposition device completes one round of decomposition, the output of the last ultrasonic unit 101 can be fed into the purification slurry tank 1, or, as needed, the slurry can be sent by the circulating pump 102 to the first ultrasonic unit 101 for a second round of decomposition.

[0063] The specific working process of the cascaded cyclic deionization device for deionization is as follows: (1) Pass the purified fine particle slurry into the purified slurry tank 1, close the third valve 13, open the fourth valve 14, and continuously introduce the purified slurry in the purified slurry tank 1 into the hydrocyclone 2 through the liquid outlet pipe 4 via the slurry pump 3. (2) The hydrocyclone 2 starts working, and the top flow slurry returns to the purified slurry tank 1 through the overflow pipe 5. The first valve 8 is closed and the second valve 9 is opened. The bottom flow slurry enters the dissociation device 10 through the second return pipe 7 for dissociation. The dissociated slurry then returns to the purified slurry tank 1. The total ultrasonic power in the dissociation device 10 is 30KW, and the maximum temperature in the dissociation device 10 is controlled within 90℃. (3) The viscometer 11 on the slurry tank 1 detects in real time or at regular intervals whether the viscosity value changes or reaches the pre-calibrated value (this value is pre-calibrated in the laboratory according to the specific conditions of the raw ore); if the viscosity value is still changing or has not reached the pre-calibrated value, then continue with steps (1) and (2); if the viscosity value enters a stable state and does not change for a long time or has reached the predetermined calibration value, then proceed to step (4). (4) Close the second valve 9 and the fourth valve 14, and open the first valve 8 and the third valve 13. The underflow slurry of the hydrocyclone 2 no longer passes through the dissociation device 10. The slurry in the purified slurry tank 1 is sent to the finished slurry tank through the slurry pump 3 and the finished product outlet bypass 12 to obtain the finished slurry.

[0064] In this embodiment, the dissociation time in step 5 is 15 minutes, the dissociation degree of mineral crystal bundles is ≥95%, and the material decolorization rate is increased from about 50% to ≥85%.

[0065] 6. The finished slurry is processed into powder at 200°C in an integrated dewatering and pulverizing device. The powder is sterilized at high temperature and has good flowability.

[0066] The powder has a particle size of D90 = 10 μm and a specific surface area of ​​226 m². 2 / g, moisture content ≤3%, actual measured bulk density 0.29g / cm³ 3 .

[0067] Electron micrographs of the slurry before and after dissociation are shown below. Figures 3-5 As shown.

[0068] The production process uses a purely physical process, without contact with any chemical reagents. All parts of the equipment that come into contact with materials are made of international food-grade 304 stainless steel, and there are no chemical residues.

[0069] Comparative Example 1: Commercially available domestic fruit and vegetable cleaning powder The main ingredients of the domestically produced fruit and vegetable cleaning powder sold in the city include: shell extract, monk fruit extract, radish seed extract, perilla leaf extract, and bamboo leaf extract.

[0070] Comparative Example 2: Undissociated attapulgite powder The preparation method of the powder in this comparative example is basically the same as that in Example 1, except that the dissociation step in step 5 is omitted.

[0071] The powders from Examples 1, 2, and 3 were tested by Guangfen Testing Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. During testing, each powder was prepared with water to a concentration of 0.2%. The rinsing residue and pesticide removal rate were tested according to Appendix A of GB / T 24691-2022. When testing the rinsing residue, the rotation speed was 60 rpm. The test results are shown in Table 1 below.

[0072] Table 1 As shown in Table 1, the dissociated attapulgite powder prepared by the method of the embodiment has better rinsing residue and pesticide removal rate than the undissociated attapulgite powder of Comparative Example 2. In particular, compared with Comparative Example 2, the removal rate of chlorpyrifos increased by 17.5% and the removal rate of bifenthrin increased by 27.7%. It can be seen that the dissociated attapulgite powder is more effective than the undissociated attapulgite powder, which also proves that it is impossible to achieve a pesticide residue removal rate of more than 90% using attapulgite ore with a single component.

[0073] Compared with Comparative Example 1, the pesticide removal rate of the Example 1 was comparable. Although the rinsing residue was slightly higher than that of Comparative Example 1, the food cleaning agent of the Example 1 only contained attapulgite, which is a permitted food additive under the national mandatory standard "National Food Safety Standard for Food Additives - Attapulgite Clay". Even if trace amounts of attapulgite residue in food enter the human body, it will be safely excreted. Therefore, the cleaning effect of the food cleaning agent of this application is comparable to commercially available products and meets the requirements for market sales.

[0074] Furthermore, Comparative Example 1 contains shell extract, as well as plant extracts such as monk fruit extract, radish seed extract, perilla leaf extract, and bamboo leaf extract. Its complex composition leads to high preparation costs and difficulty in ensuring consistent product quality. Moreover, plant and marine biological materials are prone to heavy metal residues. Plant extracts contain plant-derived proteins and volatile terpenes, and shell extract, being an aquatic product, poses a potential risk of sensitization for individuals with seafood or plant protein allergies. Therefore, it is not suitable for safe use by pregnant women, infants, or individuals with allergies. Additionally, plant extracts require stringent storage conditions and are highly susceptible to degradation and deterioration during storage and use, leading to secondary contamination risks. In contrast, the food cleaning agent of this application contains only attapulgite, which can be used as a food additive. Therefore, while achieving comparable cleaning effectiveness to commercially available products, the food cleaning agent of this application offers superior safety.

[0075] The food cleaning agent from the example was added to water to prepare a 2.5 wt% suspension. After the suspension was allowed to stand for 30 minutes, no significant sedimentation was observed (e.g., ...). Figure 7 (As shown in the right figure), thus improving the contact between the food cleaning agent and the cleaned substance, thereby enhancing the cleaning effect. In contrast, the powder in Comparative Example 2 was added to water to prepare a 2.5 wt% suspension. After standing for 30 minutes, a large amount of sediment was observed at the bottom of the cup (such as...). Figure 7 (Left image). Although there is no significant difference in appearance between fully dissociated and undissociated attapulgite powder, their sedimentation in suspension is significantly different. Fully dissociated attapulgite powder is more suitable as a food cleaning agent.

[0076] Furthermore, attapulgite is a natural one-dimensional nanomineral with fibrous and rod-like crystal structures and regularly arranged nanoscale channels. This unique "nano-sponge" structure endows it with a huge specific surface area. The powder processed by the method of this application further increases its specific surface area to 200m² without damaging the natural structure of attapulgite. 2 The adsorption capacity of attapulgite is further improved by increasing the concentration of attapulgite to above 1 g / g. Furthermore, attapulgite can adsorb not only residual pesticides but also microorganisms such as fungal toxins and heavy metals, and the adsorption rate is fast. Therefore, the food cleaning agent of this application can simultaneously meet the requirements of being made from pure natural minerals, having zero chemical additives, removing a broad spectrum of pollutants (pesticides + heavy metals + microorganisms), and providing rapid adsorption. It is also odorless and does not damage the natural flavor and appearance of food, thus meeting people's requirements for food cleaning.

[0077] The preparation method described in this application, through adjustment and matching of process parameters, can be applied to the fine processing of other related minerals, such as montmorillonite, diatomite, zeolite, etc.

[0078] The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical concept and features of the present invention, and are intended to enable those skilled in the art to understand the content of the present invention and implement it accordingly. They should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. All equivalent changes or modifications made in accordance with the spirit and essence of the present invention should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a food cleaning agent, characterized in that: The food cleaning agent is obtained by crushing, pulping, purifying, dissociating, and pulverizing the raw ore. The pulping slurry is purified in multiple stages using hydrocyclones of different diameters. The purified slurry is then subjected to ultrasonic waves to dissociate the mineral crystal bundles. The total power of the ultrasonic waves is above 20KW.

2. The method for preparing the food cleaning agent according to claim 1, characterized in that: The raw ore is a silicate mineral.

3. The method for preparing the food cleaning agent according to claim 2, characterized in that: The raw ore is attapulgite, montmorillonite, diatomite, or zeolite.

4. The method for preparing the food cleaning agent according to claim 1, characterized in that: The diameter of the hydrocyclones used in the multi-stage purification process is set from large to small in order to retain slurry with a particle size ≤5μm; The dissociation is performed in a series of ultrasonic devices, and the total power of the ultrasonic waves is the sum of the power of the multiple ultrasonic devices. The total time for the dissociation is 5 min to 20 min.

5. The method for preparing the food cleaning agent according to claim 4, characterized in that: The hydrocyclones used in the multi-stage purification include hydrocyclones with a diameter of 80-120 mm, hydrocyclones with a diameter of 30-70 mm, and hydrocyclones with a diameter of 5-20 mm. The dissociation method includes the following steps: (1) The purified slurry is fed into a hydrocyclone, and the top flow of the hydrocyclone is returned to the purified slurry tank; (2) The bottom flow of the hydrocyclone is fed into the ultrasonic device for dissociation, and the dissociated slurry is returned to the purified slurry tank; (3) Detect the viscosity of the slurry in the purification tank. If the viscosity value is still changing or has not reached the pre-calibrated value, continue with steps (1) and (2); if the viscosity value no longer changes significantly or has reached the pre-calibrated value, proceed to step (4). (4) Discharge the slurry from the slurry tank to carry out the powdering step.

6. The method for preparing the food cleaning agent according to claim 1, characterized in that: The raw ore is crushed to an average particle size ≤1mm; and / or, the crushed raw ore powder is mixed with water at a mass ratio of 1:5-15 and then pulped; the pulping is carried out using a homogenizer with a power of 3000-5000W and a homogenization time of 20-40min; the temperature of the pulverization is controlled at 110-260℃.

7. The method for preparing the food cleaning agent according to claim 1, characterized in that: The equipment used in the preparation method uses food-grade materials for the parts that come into contact with the materials.

8. A food cleaning agent prepared by any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The food cleaning agent according to claim 8, characterized in that: The specific surface area of ​​the food cleaning agent is 220 m². 2 / g or more; the food cleaning agent is in powder form with a bulk density of 0.2-0.35 g / cm³. 3 .

10. A food cleaning agent prepared by any one of claims 1 to 7, or a method of using the food cleaning agent as described in any one of claims 8 to 9, characterized in that: Mix the food cleaning agent with water to prepare a suspension with a concentration of 0.1-2.5 wt%. Place the food to be cleaned into the suspension and soak for 15-30 minutes, stirring selectively. Alternatively, apply the food cleaning agent to the surface of the food to be cleaned after wetting it with water. Then rinse the food with water.

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