The present invention relates to a process of compacting a microporous fat powder, notably a microporous fat powder that can suitably be used as an oil structuring agent.

One aspect of the invention relates to a process for compacting a microporous fat powder, said process comprising: feeding the fat powder into the feed zone of an extruder having a forwarding screw and a barrel within which said screw is centrally positioned; rotating said forwarding screw to advance said fat powder feed through a compacting zone of the extruder where the barrel comprises a plurality of venting openings having a shorter dimension that exceeds the volume weighted average diameter of the fat powder feed and that is less than 10 mm; and expelling the compacted fat powder from the extruder;
wherein the temperature of the fat powder during passage through the extruder is maintained below 40 C. and wherein the compaction factor achieved exceeds 1.5

Another aspect of the invention relates to a compacted microporous fat powder having the following characteristics: a freely settled density in the range of 90-600 g/l; a particle size distribution with at least 90 vol. % of the particles having a diameter in the range of 20 to 600 m; a maximum G.sub.i/G.sub.d ratio of more than 2.0, wherein G represents the elastic modulus at 10 C. of a dispersion of 2 wt. % of the compacted fat powder in glycerol, and wherein the maximum ratio is determined by recording G.sub.i whilst increasing the frequency from 0.1 to 15 s.sup.1, by subsequently recording G.sub.d whilst decreasing said frequency from 15 to 0.1 s.sup.1, and by calculating the ratio G.sub.i/G.sub.d at the frequency at which said ratio is highest.

The present invention relates to a process of compacting a microporous fat powder, notably a microporous fat powder that can suitably be used as an oil structuring agent.

One aspect of the invention relates to a process for compacting a microporous fat powder, said process comprising: feeding the fat powder into the feed zone of an extruder having a forwarding screw and a barrel within which said screw is centrally positioned; rotating said forwarding screw to advance said fat powder feed through a compacting zone of the extruder where the barrel comprises a plurality of venting openings having a shorter dimension that exceeds the volume weighted average diameter of the fat powder feed and that is less than 10 mm; and expelling the compacted fat powder from the extruder;
wherein the temperature of the fat powder during passage through the extruder is maintained below 40 C. and wherein the compaction factor achieved exceeds 1.5

Another aspect of the invention relates to a compacted microporous fat powder having the following characteristics: a freely settled density in the range of 90-600 g/l; a particle size distribution with at least 90 vol. % of the particles having a diameter in the range of 20 to 600 m; a maximum G.sub.i/G.sub.d ratio of more than 2.0, wherein G represents the elastic modulus at 10 C. of a dispersion of 2 wt. % of the compacted fat powder in glycerol, and wherein the maximum ratio is determined by recording G.sub.i whilst increasing the frequency from 0.1 to 15 s.sup.1, by subsequently recording G.sub.d whilst decreasing said frequency from 15 to 0.1 s.sup.1, and by calculating the ratio G.sub.i/G.sub.d at the frequency at which said ratio is highest.

Microparticles include a matrix of an encapsulating material, in which are dispersed particles of a low melting point fat and a bioactive material, such as one or more probiotic bacteria. The microparticles are formed by preparing an emulsion of melted low melting point fat in an aqueous mixture of the encapsulating material, cooling the emulsion below the melting point of the low melting point fat, dispersing the bioactive material in the emulsion and spray drying the emulsion. The particles of solid low melting point fat are believed to protect the bioactive material from heat damage during the spray drying process.

Microparticles include a matrix of an encapsulating material, in which are dispersed particles of a low melting point fat and a bioactive material, such as one or more probiotic bacteria. The microparticles are formed by preparing an emulsion of melted low melting point fat in an aqueous mixture of the encapsulating material, cooling the emulsion below the melting point of the low melting point fat, dispersing the bioactive material in the emulsion and spray drying the emulsion. The particles of solid low melting point fat are believed to protect the bioactive material from heat damage during the spray drying process.

A hardstock fat composition for use in making edible water-in-oil emulsions such as spreads, in particular (but not exclusively) when produced using the hardstock in the form of micronized fat powder, and process to use such hardstock fat to make a fat slurry and to make a water-in-oil emulsion (like spreads) using such hardstock fat. The hardstock fat may give improved properties of the resulting emulsion.

A hardstock fat composition for use in making edible water-in-oil emulsions such as spreads, in particular (but not exclusively) when produced using the hardstock in the form of micronized fat powder, and process to use such hardstock fat to make a fat slurry and to make a water-in-oil emulsion (like spreads) using such hardstock fat. The hardstock fat may give improved properties of the resulting emulsion.

A system according to various embodiments can include a source for supplying a material to be treated, an extruder, at least two screws, and a drive coupled to the screws for axially rotating the screws. The extruder includes an inlet for receiving the material, which is fed therein in a controlled manner. The screws are provided within the housing of the extruder. The screws have a plurality of compression and release stages that create mechanical heat which is directly applied to the material to change the mechanical properties of the material thereby facilitating a conversion of a physical state of the material from a non-compactable state to a compactable state as the screws rotate and move the material longitudinally along the screws to produce a final product, for example, a feed tub for use as an animal feed.

Improved methods for reducing whole plant Cannabis matter is provided. These various methods including reducing Cannabis plant matter to a nanoparticle powder. Reducing the particle size of Cannabis plant matter to a nano range difficult, and requires specific steps, as Cannabis plant matter is extremely sticky, and has a tendency to adhere and clump during the particle reduction size process. The whole Cannabis plant matter remains naturally green.

The present invention relates to a dry powder composition comprising particles of a carrier material coated with a fatty acid glyceride, a dry bakery pre-mix comprising the composition, a method of making the composition and its use to make bakery products.

The present invention relates to a dry powder composition comprising particles of a carrier material coated with a fatty acid glyceride, a dry bakery pre-mix comprising the composition, a method of making the composition and its use to make bakery products.