A double-sealing type apparatus for collecting spray freeze ice ball particles and a collecting method for the double-sealing type apparatus are provided. The double-sealing type apparatus includes a collector, a collecting trolley, a vacuum pumping device, a heating device, a first sealing pad and a second sealing pad. The collector is arranged on the collecting trolley, and is provided with a collecting port. The collecting port corresponds to a discharging port at the bottom of a freezing tower. A water inlet is further provided at the collecting port, and the water inlet is in communication with a space formed by the aligning of the collecting port and the discharging port. Good sealing performance is achieved in a double-sealing manner including the sealing pads and the ice sealing, so as to smoothly transfer ice balls in the freezing tower.

Methods are provided for rapid and efficient removal and separation of leaves and bark from harvested plant material for use in extraction and purification of plant products, and in particular, the removal of leaves and bark from Guayule for the extraction of latex for use in latex and rubber products.

Methods of preparing dried powders of biologically active compositions are disclosed. They are designed to provide dried material that maintains biological activity at low economic cost. Compositions made by the above methods are also described.

A method of treatment of plasma with a physiologically compatible spray dry stable acidic substance (SDSAS) prior to or contemporaneously with spray drying of the plasma that results in greater recovery and greater long-term stabilization of the dried plasma proteins as compared to spray dried plasma that has not be subject to the formulation method of the present invention, as well as compositions related to plasma dried by the methods of the present invention.

Methods of preparing dried powders of biologically active compositions are disclosed. They are designed to provide dried material that maintains biological activity at low economic cost. Compositions made by the above methods are also described.

A solid colorant including a. 30-97 wt % of a pigment, b. less than 5 wt % of a solvent c. 3-40 wt % surfactants and wherein: the ratio S/A [Std dev of the particle size distribution/average particle size] of the solid colorant is <25%, preferably <22% and more preferably <20%, wherein wt % is relative to the total weight of the solid colorant, and wherein the particle size distribution is determined with light scattering with fully automated image analysis according to ISO 13322-1 Static image analysis First edition 2004-12-01 by the use of the OCCHIO ZEPHYR ESR analyzer. A process for making the solid colorant, and the use of the solid colorant for tinting base paints by volumetric dosing of the solid colorant to the base paint.

Disclosed are methods of spray drying blood plasma using a two-step drying process.

A method of treatment of plasma with a physiologically compatible spray dry stable acidic substance (SDSAS) prior to or contemporaneously with spray drying of the plasma that results in greater recovery and greater long-term stabilization of the dried plasma proteins as compared to spray dried plasma that has not be subject to the formulation method of the present invention, as well as compositions related to plasma dried by the methods of the present invention.

A freeze drying system (200) having a nozzle (30) operated at a setpoint pressure to generate fluid product drops (242) for freezing in a freezing chamber (244) of a freezing vessel (228). The freezing chamber includes an inner wall (250) that defines a cavity (254) and an outer wall (252) having an inlet (260) that extends from a location on the outer wall that is lower than an outlet (262). A cooling fluid flows through the inlet, cavity and outlet to form a freezing zone (280). A drying chamber (304) having sloped shelves (352) receives frozen particles (282) from the freezing chamber. A heating element (418) is associated with each shelf that heats the frozen particles to promote sublimation. Vibration elements (396, 398, 400, 402) located outside the drying chamber vibrate the shelves causing the frozen particles to move from shelf to shelf to form freeze dried product (284).

Provided is a process for providing a flake powder characterized by a particle size of 40 mesh to +200 mesh; a Scott density of at least 1.458 g/cm.sup.3; and a flow of at least 1 g/s. The process includes introducing a milled flake powder in a solvent to a first dryer; removing the solvent at a temperature below a melting point of the solvent under a reduced atmosphere to obtain a partially dry flake powder; and introducing the partially dry flake powder to a second dryer to form flake powder wherein particles of partially dry flake powder are heated and simultaneously subjected to an uncorrelated motion relative to adjacent particles.