Method of producing vitamin powders

Abstract

The present invention relates in general to a method of producing a dry, free-flowing mixture of liquid tocopherols. The present invention also relates to a dry free-flowing vitamin powder.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of producing a dry, free-flowing vitamin powder comprising blending redried corn starch, silica and at least one vitamin in a blender, wherein said corn starch, silica and said vitamin are added in any order to make a composition.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising: 
 (a) blending redried corn starch and silica in a blender and    (b) adding at least one vitamin to said redried corn-starch and silica mixture.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said vitamin is heated prior to mixing.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said vitamin is selected from the group comprising vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B 1 , vitamin B 2 , vitamin B 6 , vitamin B 12 , folic acid, biotin, inositol, beta carotene, vitamin B 3 , and vitamin B 5 .  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound comprises liquid mixed tocopherols.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said redried corn starch is present in amounts from about 5 to about 34 weight percent.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said silica has a density of at least 12.5 lbs/cu. ft., a particle size of between 40 and 50 microns, a surface area of from about 400 m 2 /g to 500 m 2 /g.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said vitamin is present in amounts from about 50 to 80 weight percent.  
     
     
         9 . A method of producing a dry, free-flowing vitamin powder comprising blending silica and at least one vitamin in a blender wherein said silica has a density of at least 12.5 lbs/cu. ft., a particle size of between 40 and 50 microns, a surface area of from about 400 m 2 /g to 500 m 2 /g.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said vitamin is selected from the group comprising vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B 1 , vitamin B 2 , vitamin B 6 , vitamin B 2 , folic acid, biotin, inositol, beta carotene, vitamin B 3 , and vitamin B 5 .  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said vitamin comprises mixed tocopherols.  
     
     
         12 . A method of producing a dry, free-flowing vitamin powder comprising mixing silica and at least one vitamin in a blender which has an rpm of at least 3600.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said vitamin is selected from the group comprising vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B 1, vitamin B 2 , vitamin B 6 , vitamin B 12 , folic acid, biotin, inositol, beta carotene, vitamin B 3 , and vitamin B 5 .  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said vitamin comprises mixed tocopherols.  
     
     
         15 . A method of producing a dry, free-flowing vitamin powder comprising mixing silica and liquid mixed tocopherols wherein said tocopherols are present in amounts greater than 50 to about 80 weight percent.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said vitamin is selected from the group comprising vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B 1 , vitamin B 2 , vitamin B 6 , vitamin B 12 , folic acid, biotin, inositol, beta carotene, vitamin B 3 , and vitamin B 5 .  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said vitamin comprises mixed tocopherols.  
     
     
         18 . A composition comprising about 5 to about 34 weight percent redried corn starch, silica and at least one vitamin.  
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein said vitamin is selected from the group comprising vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B 1 , vitamin B 2 , vitamin B 6 , vitamin B 12 , folic acid, biotin, inositol, beta carotene, vitamin B 3 , and vitamin B 5 .  
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein said vitamin compound is liquid mixed tocopherols.  
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein said silica has a density of at least 12.5 lbs/cu. ft., a particle size of between 40 and 50 microns, a surface area of from about 400 m 2 /g to 500 m 2 /g.  
     
     
         22 . A composition comprising silica and at least one vitamin, wherein said silica has a density of at least 12.5 lbs/cu. ft., a particle size of between 40 and 50 microns, a surface area of from about 400 m 2 /g to 500 m 2 /g.  
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein said vitamin is selected from the group comprising vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B 1 , vitamin B 2 , vitamin B 6 , vitamin B 12 , folic acid, biotin, inositol, beta carotene, vitamin B 3 , and vitamin B 5 .  
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein said vitamin comprises liquid mixed tocopherols.  
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein said vitamin is present in amounts from about 50 to about 80 weight percent.  
     
     
         26 . A composition comprising silica and at least one vitamin, wherein said vitamin is present in amounts from about 50 to about 80 weight percent.  
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein said vitamin is selected from the group comprising vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B 1 , vitamin B 2 , vitamin B 6 , vitamin B 12 , folic acid, biotin, inositol, beta carotene, vitamin B 3 , and vitamin B 5 .  
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein said vitamin is liquid mixed tocopherols with a minimum assay of 700 mg/g liquid tocopherols.  
     
     
         29 . A composition prepared according to the method of any one of claims  1 ,  9 ,  12  or  15 .  
     
     
         30 . A United States pharmaceutical, food chemical codex, or grass supplement comprising the composition of any one of claims  18 ,  22 , or  26 .