Claims
- 1. A composition comprising a microcrystalline cellulose particle having a substantially spherical shape as seen at 150 times magnification, having a loose bulk density greater than 0.4 grams per cubic centimeter and having an oil absorptivity of less than one.
- 2. The microcrystalline cellulose of claim 1, wherein the loose bulk density is greater than 0.5 grams per cubic centimeter.
- 3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the microcrystalline cellulose has a mean particle size within the range of 5 to 35 microns, and a loose bulk density within the range of 0.50 to 0.65 grams per cubic centimeter.
- 4. The composition of claim 2, wherein the microcrystalline cellulose has a mean particle size within the range of 20-30 microns.
- 5. A process for making a cellulose, comprising the steps of:
- A). forming an aqueous microcrystalline cellulose slurry,
- B). attriting the microcrystalline cellulose to an attrited microcrystalline cellulose intermediate having a mean particle size of less than 15 microns, and
- C). spray drying the attrited microcrystalline cellulose intermediate to produce a substantially spherical, microcrystalline cellulose aggregate having a mean particle size of less than about 50 microns.
- 6. The process of claim 5 wherein the attrited cellulose intermediate produced in step B has a mean particle size of less than about 15 microns.
- 7. The process of claim 5 wherein:
- the attrited cellulose aggregate produced in step C has a mean particle size that falls within the range of from 20 to 35 microns, and
- the attrited cellulose intermediate produced in step B has a mean particle size of less than about 15 microns, and is generally smaller than the cellulose aggregate.
- 8. The product made according to the process of claim 5.
- 9. A reduced calorie nut butter product containing ground non-defatted nut butter and from about 0.1 to about 40 percent by weight of a smooth, spherical microcrystalline cellulose aggregate bulking agent having an oil absorptivity of less than 1.0, and a loose bulk density within the range of 0.5 to 0.65 microns.
- 10. A reduced calorie cream filling containing a hydrogenated vegetable oil and at least 1 percent by weight of a pure, smooth, spherical microcrystalline cellulose aggregate bulking agent having an oil absorptivity of less than 1.0, a mean particle size of 35 microns or less, and a loose bulk density greater than 0.40.
- 11. The cream filling of claim 10 wherein the pure, smooth, spherical microcrystalline cellulose aggregate bulking agent has an oil absorptivity of less than 0.88.
- 12. A reduced calorie food product containing a smooth, spherical microcrystalline cellulose aggregate bulking agent having an oil absorptivity of less than about 1.0, a mean particle size of 35 microns or less, and a loose bulk density greater than 0.40 grams per cubic centimeter.
- 13. The reduced calorie food of claim 12, wherein the pure, smooth, spherical microcrystalline cellulose aggregate bulking agent has an oil absorptivity of less than 0.88.
- 14. The reduced calorie dry food of claim 12 wherein the smooth, spherical microcrystalline cellulose aggregate bulking agent has an oil absorptivity of less than about 0.83.
- 15. The reduced calorie food product of claim 12 wherein the food is chocolate.
- 16. The reduced calorie dry food of claim 12 wherein the food is peanut butter.
- 17. The reduced calorie dry food of claim 12 wherein the food is a baked good product.
- 18. The reduced calorie dry food of claim 12 wherein the food contains a cream filling.
- 19. A process for making a microcrystalline cellulose, comprising the steps of
- A) attriting microcrystalline cellulose to an attrited microcrystalline cellulose intermediate having a mean particle size of less than 15 microns,
- B) forming an aqueous microcrystalline cellulose slurry by mixing the attrited microcrystalline cellulose intermediate with water, and
- C) spray drying the attrited microcrystalline cellulose intermediate to form a microcrystalline cellulose aggregate having a mean particle size of less than about 50 microns, wherein the aggregate is comprised of particles having a substantially spherical shape as seen at 150 times magnification, having a loose bulk density greater than 0.4 grams per cubic centimeter and having an oil absorptivity of less than one.
- 20. The process of claim 19 wherein the aggregate has a mean particle size of less than about 35 microns and has a bulk density greater than 0.40 gm/cc.
- 21. The product made according to the process of claim 20.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 07/949,301, filed Sep. 22, 1992, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
949301 |
Sep 1992 |
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