Process for preparing dextrins

Abstract

Dextrins are prepared by hydrolyzing starch with an enzyme that consists essentially of a beta-amylase enzyme. The product prepared thereby will include a dextrin, such as beta-limit dextrin. Upon ultrafiltration of this product, a dextrin-rich fraction may be recovered. If desired, the dextrin-rich fraction may be further purified via diafiltration. Retrograded amylose may be separated from the product of enzymatic hydrolysis.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for preparing a dextrin product, comprising: 
 treating a starch with an enzyme that consists essentially of a beta-amylase enzyme under conditions suitable to form a product mixture that includes a dextrin and at least one sugar having a degree of polymerization less than 10; and    recovering a dextrin rich fraction from said product mixture via ultrafiltration.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , said product mixture being a liquid product mixture that contains retrograded amylose, the method further comprising: 
 allowing at least a portion of said retrograded amylose to crystallize from said mixture; and    separating the crystallized retrograded amylose from said mixture.    
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 liquefying said starch with an alpha-amylase enzyme; and    quenching said alpha-amylase enzyme prior to treating said starch with said beta-amylase enzyme.    
     
     
         4 . The dextrin rich fraction prepared in accordance with  claim 1 .  
     
     
         5 . The dextrin rich fraction prepared in accordance with  claim 3 .  
     
     
         6 . The dextrin rich fraction of  claim 5 , wherein said dextrin is beta-limit dextrin.  
     
     
         7 . A method for spray-drying maltose, comprising: 
 providing a maltose-containing product;    adding to said product an amount of a dextrin effective to enhance the susceptibility of said maltose-containing product to be spray-dried to thereby form a blended product; and    spray-drying said blended product.    
     
     
         8 . A method for preparing retrograded amylose, comprising 
 treating a starch with an enzyme that consists essentially of a beta-amylase enzyme under conditions suitable to form a product mixture that includes a dextrin and at least one sugar having a degree of polymerization less than 10    recovering retrograded amylose from said product mixture.    
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein said product mixture is a liquid product mixture that includes said dextrin and said sugar in solution and wherein said retrograded amylose is not in solution, wherein said retrograded amylose is separated from said product mixture via microfiltration.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein said product mixture is a liquid product mixture that includes said dextrin and said sugar in solution and wherein said retrograded amylose is not in solution, wherein said retrograded amylose is separated from said product mixture via centrifugation.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein said dextrin is beta-limit dextrin.