Flow aids for use in bulk materials and bulk material compositions

Abstract

A flow agent for use in bulk materials, particularly in food or feed, is described. The bulk material may be hygroscopic and / or contain fat and have a low dropping point. The flow agent comprises a powder of crushed, particularly ground, fruit seeds of berries and / or berries and / or crushed, particularly ground, fibrous plant products. A bulk material composition containing the bulk material and the flow agent is also described. Furthermore, food products, feedstuffs, and pigment powders containing, and in particular consisting of, the bulk material composition are described.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a flow agent for use in bulk materials, particularly hygroscopic materials, for example in food or animal feed. The invention also relates to a bulk material composition and products thereof, particularly food, animal feed, and pigment powders. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of a powder as a flow agent in bulk materials, particularly hygroscopic materials.

[0002] Particularly in the food and feed industries, bulk materials that tend to clump together often need to be handled and processed. Hygroscopic bulk materials, such as salt, sugar, pieces of fruit and / or vegetables, and / or powders made from them, tend to absorb water from their environment due to their physical properties. This hygroscopic behavior can be described using so-called sorption isotherms, where the increase or decrease in the water content of a bulk material as a function of relative humidity at a specific temperature serves as a measure of its hygroscopicity. Through water absorption, the bulk material particles develop a sticky surface, which can lead to reduced flowability and consequently to problems in industrial processing, even resulting in production downtime.For example, dried apple pulp, which is used in various particle sizes for fruit tea blends, exhibits pronounced hygroscopicity. Food products containing it, such as fruit tea blends, can clump together, preventing high throughput during filling and potentially leading to production downtime. Another example is bulk materials with a fat content and a low dropping point. The fatty components of these bulk materials can melt at ambient temperatures above their respective dropping points, causing the material to clump together.

[0003] To improve the flowability of bulk materials, it is common practice to add flow-enhancing agents. Many such agents, like silicon dioxide, are either not permitted or only permitted to a limited extent in the food industry. Rice starch is often used as an alternative, but it leaves a colored film on the bulk material, which is detrimental to the product's appearance. Therefore, there is a constant need to improve flow-enhancing agents, especially for hygroscopic bulk materials.

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved free-flowing agent, particularly for the food and feed industries, and in particular to provide a free-flowing agent based on natural ingredients.

[0005] This problem is solved by a flow agent having the features specified in claim 1. This problem is also solved by a bulk material composition according to claim 10, which can be used in particular in foodstuffs, animal feed, or pigment powders. The problem is also solved by using a powder according to claim 20. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] The free-flowing agent for use in bulk materials, particularly in food or feed, comprises a powder made from crushed fruit seeds of berries or berries and / or crushed fibrous plant products. The free-flowing agent can consist entirely of this powder. The crushing of the fruit seeds and / or fibrous plant products can be achieved, in particular, by milling. The inventors have recognized that such powders are exceptionally well-suited as free-flowing agents or components thereof. The coating of the surface of the bulk material particles with the powder creates a microscale layer that facilitates the rolling of the individual particles against each other, thus ensuring good flowability. Clumping of the bulk material particles, for example, due to their hygroscopic properties and / or due to the melting of components, especially those containing fats, is prevented.The free-flowing agent can be used particularly advantageously in hygroscopic bulk materials and / or bulk materials with a low dropping point.

[0007] This free-flowing agent is particularly advantageous for use in hygroscopic bulk materials. Furthermore, it has been found that corresponding powders exhibit a high water absorption capacity, specifically absorbing more water from the environment than previously used free-flowing agents. This reduces, and in particular prevents, water absorption by the bulk material particles of the hygroscopic material and the clumping of these particles.

[0008] A particular advantage of this anti-caking agent lies in the fact that the raw materials for the powder—fruit seeds from berries and / or berries, or fibrous plant products—are generated as by-products, by-products, or waste products in many industrial processes, especially in the food and feed industries. Often, entire plants or plant parts must be purchased from suppliers. Unusable components are generated as by-products, by-products, or waste products. Surprisingly, it has been found that these components, when ground, are suitable as anti-caking agents. This provides a new application for these by-products. The anti-caking agent is economical and resource-efficient.

[0009] Another advantage of the flow agent is that the powder's starting materials consist of natural ingredients, thus reducing, and in particular completely avoiding, the use of synthetic, purified or highly processed additives.

[0010] Another advantage is that the raw materials for the powder can be derived from a wide range of plants. This counteracts supply bottlenecks and shortages, for example, due to climate change. Depending on the bulk material, raw materials can be selected that are based on plants that are also present in the bulk material in the form of other plant components. In this way, any influence on other properties of the bulk material, such as color and taste, is reduced or, in particular, avoided.

[0011] The fruit seeds and berries and / or berry fruits, as well as the fibrous plant products, are in particular plant components of edible or edible plants. The anti-caking agent is suitable for direct consumption and / or as an infusion. There are no approval issues for its use in food, feed, or cosmetic products.

[0012] The anti-caking agent comprises, in particular, a powder made from crushed, especially ground, fruit seeds of berries and / or berry fruit; it may consist, in particular, of such powder.

[0013] For the purposes of the present invention, a berry is understood to be a berry in the botanical sense. A berry is a single, indehiscent fruit that develops from a single ovary, in which the entire fruit wall (pericarp) remains juicy or at least fleshy even when ripe. Botanical berries include, among others, bananas, blueberries, citrus fruits, dates, melons, kiwis, papayas, the fruits of many nightshade plants, for example, peppers or tomatoes, and avocados.

[0014] For the purposes of this invention, "berries" refers to perennial, particularly edible, fruit species with mostly soft, small, and roundish fruits. "Berries" is a collective term for fruit species whose common characteristics lie primarily in their fruit properties. Fruits classified as berries are often called berries due to their external shape, although they are not berries in the botanical sense. The main categories of berries include members of the rose family (Rosaceae). Berries include, in particular: chokeberry, blackberry, strawberry, currant, blueberry, raspberry, elderberry, mulberry, cloudberry, cranberry, lingonberry, sea buckthorn, gooseberry, tayberry, and grapeberry.

[0015] According to a preferred aspect of the free-flowing agent, the powder comprises comminuted, in particular ground, fruit seeds of rose family plants. Preferably, the powder consists of these seeds. Fruit seeds of rose family plants are particularly suitable starting materials for the free-flowing agent. They often occur as by-products in industrial manufacturing, especially of food products. Suitable rose family plants include, in particular, rose hips, blackberries, raspberries, and / or strawberries.

[0016] According to a preferred aspect of the free-flowing agent, the powder comprises crushed, in particular ground, rosehip seeds. Preferably, the powder consists of crushed, in particular ground, rosehip seeds. Powders made from crushed rosehip seeds have proven to be particularly suitable free-flowing agents. They exhibit a particularly high water absorption capacity.

[0017] According to a preferred aspect of the anti-caking agent, the powder comprises crushed, in particular ground, citrus fruit seeds. The powder may consist specifically of these seeds. Citrus fruit seeds have proven to be particularly suitable starting materials for the anti-caking agent powder, either as an alternative or in addition to rose fruit seeds. Suitable citrus fruits include, for example, lemons and / or oranges.

[0018] According to a preferred aspect of the free-flowing agent, the powder has a residual oil content of a maximum of 6% by weight, and in particular a maximum of 3% by weight. Preferably, the fruit seeds are partially defatted, and in particular completely defatted, before crushing, and in particular before grinding. The partially defatted, and in particular completely defatted, fruit seeds can be ground into powder in a simple and economical process. Furthermore, the low residual oil content has advantageous effects on sensory aspects, especially when the free-flowing agent is used in food products. All common methods can be used to defatt the fruit seeds, such as pressing, extraction with chemical solvents, in particular n-hexane, and / or mechanical removal of the oil-rich germ by cutting and / or crushing. Defatting by pressing, solvent extraction, and / or mechanical germ removal before pressing has proven to be particularly advantageous.

[0019] Alternatively or additionally to crushed berry seeds and / or berries, the powder may contain crushed, especially ground, fibrous plant products. A plant product is understood to mean, in particular, a component of a plant and / or a product obtained from the plant or its components, which arises especially as a by-product, by-product, or waste product in industrial production. Suitable fibrous plant products include, for example, pomace, especially juice pomace, and / or fibrous plant stems.

[0020] According to a preferred aspect of the flow aid, the powder comprises comminuted, in particular ground, fibrous plant products with a fiber content of at least 25% by weight. The fiber content refers specifically to the proportion of crude fiber in the plant product. It has been found that a high fiber content is advantageous for the properties of the flow aid. The fiber content can, in particular, be at least 35% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight.

[0021] Preferably, the fibrous plant products are dried. A residual moisture content can be less than 10% by weight.

[0022] According to a preferred aspect of the anti-caking agent, the powder contains, and in particular consists of, crushed, especially ground, juice pomace. Juice pomace is a by-product of juice production. Surprisingly, it has been found that powders made from juice pomace are suitable as anti-caking agents.

[0023] Preferably, the juice pomace has a low acid content and / or a low sugar content. This improves the hygroscopic properties of the juice pomace powder. For example, the acid content can be less than 6% by weight, particularly less than 4% by weight, preferably less than 2% by weight. The sugar content is particularly less than 20% by weight, particularly less than 15% by weight, preferably less than 7% by weight.

[0024] According to a preferred aspect of the anti-caking agent, the powder contains, and in particular consists of, comminuted, especially ground, dried, fibrous plant stems. The residual moisture content of the fibrous plant stems can be less than 10% by weight. Suitable plant stems are, in particular, those of nettle, mint, and / or chamomile, which are obtained, for example, during the production of corresponding tea mixtures.

[0025] According to a preferred aspect of the flow aid, the powder particles of the powder exhibit a particle size distribution such that: Q3 (50) ≤ 250 µm, in particular Q3 (50) ≤ 100 µm, in particular Q3 (50) ≤ 50 µm. Preferably: Q3 (50) ≥ 0.1 µm, in particular Q3 (50) ≥ 1 µm, in particular Q3 (50) ≥ 10 µm, in particular Q3(50) ≥ 20 µm. Particularly preferred: 20 µm ≤ Q3 ≤ 50 µm. Q3(50) describes the cumulative distribution, here the volumetric distribution, of the particle sizes in a particle mixture. The letter "Q" stands for quantile. The subscript "3" indicates that it is a volumetric distribution. The value in parentheses specifies the proportion in the distribution. Q3(50) means that, in this case, 50% of the particles in the volumetric distribution are smaller or larger than the specified value.

[0026] It has been shown that smaller particle sizes are advantageous because they improve the surface area of ​​the bulk material particles. Firstly, the spherical packing of the powder particles on the surface of the bulk material particles is higher. Secondly, a small powder particle size favors physical holding forces, such as van der Waals forces and electrostatic forces, over gravity. Another advantage is that small powder particles have a higher surface area to volume ratio, which increases their ability to absorb moisture from the environment. However, smaller particle sizes require more complex manufacturing methods, particularly milling, which leads to higher production costs. Furthermore, the approval of nanoparticles smaller than 100 nm for use in food is subject to critical review.

[0027] All common milling methods can be used to produce the powder, especially with the advantageous particle size distribution. It is also possible to obtain the powder by sieving from cutting processes in the production of smaller grain sizes of fruit seeds and / or fibrous plant products, and / or by sieving from milling processes and other particle sizes.

[0028] The bulk material composition according to the invention, particularly for use in or as food or feed, comprises a bulk material and a flow agent as described above. The bulk material composition remains free-flowing even at high humidity and temperature. The flow agent used may, in particular, possess one or more of the advantageous properties described above. The bulk material may, in particular, be hygroscopic and / or contain fat and have a low dropping point. Clumping of the bulk material, especially the hygroscopic material, is avoided even at high humidity and / or high ambient temperature.

[0029] Preferably, the bulk material is hygroscopic. The hygroscopic properties of the bulk material can be determined, in particular, by means of the respective sorption temperature curve. Steep sorption temperature curves indicate strongly hygroscopic behavior, while shallow sorption temperature curves indicate weakly hygroscopic behavior. The hygroscopic behavior can be determined, in particular, according to the standard DIN 66138:2008-09 "Isothermal measurement of the sorption of vapors on solids".

[0030] Hygroscopicity can be quantified by the percentage weight gain resulting from water absorption when a bulk material is stored at various relative humidity levels after reaching equilibrium. This weight gain occurs at a set temperature, for example, 20 °C, above a certain relative humidity, such as a relative humidity greater than 44%. Specifically, at a temperature of 20 °C and a relative humidity of up to 44%, the bulk material exhibits no water absorption, and therefore no weight gain. The following are examples of relative weight gain at a temperature of 20 °C. At a relative humidity of 53%, the weight gain is, for example, at least 4%, at least 5%, and at least 7%.At a relative humidity of 75%, the weight gain is, for example, at least 15%, in particular at least 19%, and in particular at least 23%. At a relative humidity of 84%, the weight gain is, for example, at least 24%, in particular at least 30%, and in particular at least 35%.

[0031] According to a preferred aspect of the bulk material composition, the proportion of the flow agent in the bulk material composition is between 0.1 wt.% and 10 wt.%, in particular between 0.1 wt.% and 5 wt.%, preferably between 0.1 wt.% and 1 wt.%. Such a proportion has proven particularly suitable for increasing the flowability of the bulk material composition, especially without affecting other properties of the bulk material composition, for example, without altering its color and / or taste.

[0032] According to a preferred aspect of the bulk material composition, the bulk material has a fat and / or oil content of at least 20 wt.%, preferably at least 60 wt.%. Such bulk materials are particularly prone to clumping. The free-flowing agent has a particularly relevant effect on these bulk materials.

[0033] According to a preferred aspect of the bulk material composition, the bulk material has a dropping point of less than 60 °C, particularly less than 50 °C, preferably less than 30 °C. Such bulk materials are particularly prone to clumping, for example at ambient temperature. The free-flowing agent has a particularly relevant effect on these bulk materials. The dropping point can be determined, for example, according to the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) standard AOCS Cc 18-80.

[0034] A foodstuff according to the invention has the bulk material composition described above and consists in particular of the following. The free-flowing agent has proven particularly suitable for foodstuffs. It is especially advantageous that the free-flowing agent is obtained from natural ingredients. Changes in the appearance and / or taste of the foodstuff are reduced, and in particular avoided.

[0035] The bulk material, which is particularly hygroscopic, can comprise various foodstuffs and / or food components. For example, the bulk material could be a spice powder or a spice powder mixture. It could also be a mixture or a single-ingredient preparation for herbal tea, fruit tea, green tea, or black tea, especially for flavored fruit tea. It is also possible for the bulk material composition to be used in a finished food product, where the powder is, in particular, a dry baking mix, instant soup powder, or a spice mixture. Such finished food products, for example, instant soup powders, regularly have a high fat content, which can lead to clumping.

[0036] The bulk material composition can also be used in animal feed and / or pigment powder for the cosmetics or paint industry. The animal feed or pigment powder can consist specifically of the bulk material composition.

[0037] The aforementioned problem is also solved by using a powder made from crushed, especially ground, fruit seeds of berries and / or berries and / or from crushed, especially ground, fibrous plant products as an anti-caking agent in bulk materials, particularly hygroscopic ones. The powder can be used, in particular, in tea mixtures or other foodstuffs, animal feed, and / or pigment powders. The advantages of using the powder correspond to those explained in connection with the anti-caking agent.

[0038] Further features, advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to a figure.

[0039] The Fig. Figure 1 shows the water absorption capacity of an anti-caking agent according to the invention in comparison to the water absorption capacity of a previously known anti-caking agent.

[0040] An example of an anti-caking agent consists of a powder made from ground rosehip seeds. The rosehip seeds were first defatted, so that their residual oil content is a maximum of 3% by weight. The defatted rosehip seeds were ground into a powder with a particle size distribution such that: 20 µm ≤ Q3(50) ≤ 50 µm.

[0041] The resulting powder is excellently suited as an anti-caking agent. In particular, the powder made from ground rosehip seeds exhibits a high water absorption capacity. Fig.Figure 1 shows a relative weight change ΔW as a function of the relative humidity rF. The relative weight change ΔW is determined at a set relative humidity rF after reaching equilibrium. A powder P1 obtained from ground rosehip seeds is compared with rice starch P2. It is shown that the relative weight gain of the rosehip seed powder P1 is significantly higher than that of the rice starch P2. This indicates that the rosehip seed powder P1 can absorb significantly more water from its surroundings than the rice starch P2. Furthermore, the rosehip seed powder P1 remains free-flowing even at high water absorption rates. Therefore, the rosehip seed powder P1 is particularly well-suited as an anti-caking agent for hygroscopic bulk materials, such as tea blends.Rosehip seed powder P1 is particularly suitable as an anti-caking agent in bulk materials with a low dropping point, such as fatty food or feed products. Another advantage of this anti-caking agent based on ground rosehip seeds is that many relevant bulk materials, such as apple pieces, especially in fruit tea blends, have a similar color to rosehip seeds. Unlike rice starch, the addition of ground rosehip seeds does not alter the color of these bulk materials.

[0042] The anti-caking agent made from ground rosehip seeds is particularly suitable for food, animal feed, and pigment powders. Suitable food products include tea blends. Tables 1 and 2 list exemplary compositions of tea blends, specifically flavored fruit teas, that contain the anti-caking agent in the form of ground rosehip seeds (rosehip seed powder). The anti-caking agent comprises 1% by weight in the composition. This has proven sufficient to ensure free-flowing properties even under adverse conditions (high humidity and high temperatures). The tea blends are particularly suitable for industrial filling, for example, in a double-chamber filter bag. Table 1: Exemplary recipe for an aromatized fruit tea (type “berry”) containing rosehip seed powder as an anti-caking agent. ingredient Percentage [wt.%) Rosehip peel, dried, finely cut 14 Rosehip seed powder (anti-caking agent) 1 Hibiscus, dried, finely cut 50 Dried blueberries, finely chopped 0,5 Dried currants, finely cut 0,5 Dried raspberries, finely sliced 0,5 Dried apple, finely sliced 25,5 blueberry flavor 2 Blackcurrant flavor 2 Raspberry flavor 4 Table 2: Exemplary recipe for an aromatized fruit tea (type “apple”) containing rosehip seed powder as an anti-caking agent. ingredient Percentage [wt.%) Dried apple, finely sliced 36,2 Dried orange peel, finely cut 12 Rosehip seed powder (anti-caking agent) 1 Finely sliced ​​cinnamon 5 Hibiscus, dried, finely cut 35 Dried ginger, finely sliced 5 Finely chopped cloves 2 cinnamon flavor 0,8 Vanilla cream flavoring 2 apple flavor 1 QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited non-patent literature

[0000] Standard DIN 66138:2008-09 “Isothermal measurement of the sorption of vapors on solids

[0029] Standard AOCS Cc 18-80 of the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS

[0033]

Claims

[1] Flow aid for use in, in particular hygroscopic, bulk materials, in particular in food or animal feed, comprising a powder - from crushed fruit seeds of berries and / or soft fruits and / or - from crushed fibrous plant products. [2] Flow aid according to claim 1, characterized by that the powder comprises, preferably consists of, crushed, in particular ground, fruit seeds of rose plants, in particular rosehip seeds, blackberry seeds, raspberry seeds and / or strawberry seeds. [3] Flow aid according to claim 2, characterized by that the powder contains crushed, in particular ground, rosehip seeds, in particular consists of these. [4] Flow aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the powder contains, and in particular consists of, crushed, in particular ground, fruit seeds of citrus fruits. [5] Flow aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the powder has a residual oil content of maximum 6 wt.%, in particular maximum 3 wt.%. [6] Flow aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the powder contains, in particular consists of, ground fibrous plant products with a fiber content of at least 25% by weight. [7] Flow aid according to one of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 6, characterized by that the powder contains crushed, in particular ground, juice pomace, in particular consists of this. [8] Flow aid according to one of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 6, characterized by that the powder contains, in particular consists of, crushed, in particular ground, dried fibrous plant stems. [9] Flow aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat powder particles of the powder have a particle size distribution for which the following applies: Q3(50) ≤ 250 µm, in particular Q3(50) ≤ 100 µm, in particular Q3(50) ≤ 50 µm. [10] Bulk material composition, in particular for use in or as food or feed, comprising - a bulk material, especially a hygroscopic one, and - a flow aid according to one of the preceding claims. [11] Bulk material composition according to claim 10, characterized by that a proportion of the flow aid in the bulk material composition is between 0.1 wt.% and 10 wt.%, in particular between 0.1 wt.% and 5 wt.%, preferably between 0.1 wt.% and 1 wt.%. [12] Bulk material composition according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized by that the bulk material has a fat and / or oil content of at least 20 wt.%, preferably at least 60 wt.%. [13] Bulk material composition according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized by that the bulk material has a dropping point of less than 60 °C, in particular less than 50 °C, preferably less than 30 °C. [14] Food, wherein the food comprises a bulk material composition according to one of claims 10 to 13, in particular consisting thereof. [15] Food according to claim 14, wherein the bulk material is a spice powder or a spice powder mixture. [16] Food according to claim 14 in the form of a tea mixture, wherein the bulk material is a mixture or a monopreparation for a herbal tea, a fruit tea, a green tea or a black tea. [17] Food according to claim 14 in the form of a ready-to-eat food product, wherein the powder is in particular a dry baking mix, an instant soup powder or a spice mix. [18] Feed, wherein the feed comprises a bulk material composition according to one of claims 10 to 13, in particular consisting thereof. [19] Pigment powder for the cosmetics or paint industry, wherein the color pigment powder has a bulk material composition according to one of claims 10 to 13, in particular consists thereof. [20] Use of a powder made from crushed fruit seeds of berries and / or soft fruits and / or crushed fibrous plant products as a flow agent in, in particular hygroscopic, bulk materials, for example in tea mixtures or other foodstuffs, animal feed and / or pigment powders.

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