Flowable Polysaccharide Particles for Bulk Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
High moisture bulk polysaccharide materials, such as alpha-glucan compositions, exhibit poor material handling characteristics like low flowability, necessitating expensive and complex equipment for storage and transport, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
Development of high moisture insoluble alpha-glucan compositions with advantageous flow properties, comprising particles with 50%-90% water and 10%-50% insoluble alpha-glucan or its cationic ether, having alpha-1,3-glycosidic linkages and a weight-average degree of polymerization of at least 100, which are processed into particles of 0.1-10 mm size for improved storage and transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If high moisture bulk polysaccharide materials are used, then biodegradability and renewable sourcing are achieved, but material handling characteristics deteriorate with low flowability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the polysaccharide material by controlling moisture content (50-90% by weight), particle size (0.1-10 mm), and polymer structure (alpha-1,3-glycosidic linkages with DPw ≥100) to achieve optimal flow properties while maintaining high moisture content, thereby resolving the contradiction between biodegradability and handling characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system combining water (50-90% by weight) with insoluble alpha-glucan or cationic ether (10-50% by weight) to form a flowable bulk material that maintains both high moisture content and good flowability, addressing the contradiction between renewable sourcing and ease of operation
2Stability of the object's composition
If high moisture bulk materials are used, then polysaccharide-based material properties are maintained, but equipment complexity increases due to need for expensive handling equipment
Solution Approach 1:
By optimizing particle size (0.1-10 mm) and composition ratios (50-90% water, 10-50% insoluble alpha-glucan), the patent transforms the material properties to achieve natural flowability, eliminating the need for complex handling equipment while maintaining polysaccharide-based material properties
Solution Approach 2:
The flowable bulk material design allows the material to flow and handle itself under gravity without requiring expensive external equipment, making the system self-sufficient and reducing device complexity while maintaining material stability
3Ease of operation
If conventional bulk material handling is used, then storage and transport are possible, but flowability is insufficient leading to poor downstream operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes critical parameters including moisture content (50-90%), particle size (0.1-10 mm), and polymer degree of polymerization (DPw ≥100) to achieve optimal flowability that simultaneously enables efficient storage, transport, and downstream operations, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and productivity
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are compositions comprising polysaccharide particles with an average size of about 0.1-10 mm. These particles comprise at least (i) about 50%-90% by weight water or an aqueous solution, and (ii) about 10%-50% by weight insoluble alpha-glucan, or an insoluble cationic ether thereof, comprising alpha-1,3-glycosidic linkages and having a weight-average degree of polymerization (DPw) of at least about 100. Further disclosed are methods of preparing these compositions, as well as systems for storing and/or moving them.