Gelled starch compositions and methods of making gelled starch compositions

Abstract

A starch composition is made by combining starch with a species which induces gelation, and cooking the starch before or after the combination, to produce a gel. The species which induces gelation is selected from the group consisting of the following species and combinations thereof: (a) one or more anionic, cationic or amphoteric inorganic colloidal species; (b) one or more species capable of ionic or coordination bonding; and (c) one or more species capable of hydrogen bonding. The invention also provides a dry starch composition suitable for forming an additive for a paper furnish. A method of making a starch composition is also provided.

1 . A starch composition made by combining starch with a species which induces gelation, and cooking the starch before or after the combination, to produce a gel, the species which induces gelation selected from the group consisting of the following species and combinations thereof: 
 (a) one or more anionic, cationic or amphoteric inorganic colloidal species;    (b) one or more species capable of ionic or coordination bonding; and    (c) one or more species capable of hydrogen bonding.    
     
     
         2 . The starch composition of  claim 1  in which the species which induces gelation comprises an anionic, cationic or amphoteric inorganic colloidal species selected from the group consisting of montmorillonite, bentonite, titania, silica sols, aluminum modified silica sols, aluminum silicate sols, polysilicic acid, polysilicate microgels, polyaluminosilicate microgels, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The starch composition of  claim 1  which also contains polyacrylamide.  
     
     
         4 . The starch composition of  claim 1  which also contains a polymer bearing anionic or potential anionic groups.  
     
     
         5 . The starch composition of  claim 1  which also contains an aluminum compound.  
     
     
         6 . A furnish including the starch composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         7 . A furnish according to  claim 6  further including an aluminum compound.  
     
     
         8 . The starch composition of  claim 1  in which the species which induces gelation comprises a species capable of ionic or coordination bonding selected from the group consisting of beryllium, magnesium, calcium, scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, aluminum, boron, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon, silicon containing compounds or ions, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The starch composition of  claim 1  in which the species which induces gelation comprises a species capable of hydrogen bonding selected from the group consisting of inorganic species such as borates, silicates, aluminates and organic species such as glycol or polyol containing moieties including oligomers and polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide and other oligomers or polymers capable of hydrogen bonding such as polyvinyl acetate and poly(n-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone), and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         10 . A dry starch composition suitable for forming an additive for a paper furnish, the starch composition comprising starch and a species which induces gelation selected from the group consisting of the following species and combinations thereof: 
 (a) one or more anionic, cationic or amphoteric inorganic colloidal species;    (b) one or more species capable of ionic or coordination bonding; and    (c) one or more species capable of hydrogen bonding.    
     
     
         11 . The starch composition of  claim 10  in which the species which induces gelation comprises an anionic, cationic or amphoteric inorganic colloidal species selected from the group consisting of montmorillonite, bentonite, titania, silica sots, aluminum modified silica sots, aluminum silicate sots, polysilicic acid, polysilicate microgels, polyaluminosilicate microgels, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The starch composition of  claim 10  which also contains polyacrylamide.  
     
     
         13 . The starch composition of  claim 10  which also contains a polymer bearing anionic or potential anionic groups.  
     
     
         14 . The starch composition of  claim 10  which also contains an aluminum compound.  
     
     
         15 . A furnish including the starch composition of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         16 . A furnish according to  claim 15  further including an aluminum compound.  
     
     
         17 . The starch composition of  claim 10  in which the species which induces gelation comprises a species capable of ionic or coordination bonding selected from the group consisting of beryllium, magnesium, calcium, scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, aluminum, boron, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon and silicon containing compounds or ions, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The starch composition of  claim 10  in which the species which induces gelation comprises a species capable of hydrogen bonding selected from the group consisting of inorganic species such as borates, silicates, aluminates and organic species such as glycol or polyol containing moieties including oligomers and polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide and other oligomers or polymers capable of hydrogen bonding such as polyvinyl acetate and poly(n-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone), and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         19 . A method of making a starch composition, the method comprising combining starch with a species which induces gelation, and cooking the starch before or after the combination, to produce a gel, the species which induces gelation selected from the group consisting of the following species and combinations thereof: 
 (a) one or more anionic, cationic or amphoteric inorganic colloidal species;    (b) one or more species capable of ionic or coordination bonding; and    (c) one or more species capable of hydrogen bonding.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  in which the species which induces gelation comprises an anionic, cationic or amphoteric inorganic colloidal species selected from the group consisting of montmorillonite, bentonite, titania, silica sols, aluminum modified silica sols, aluminum silicate sols, polysilicic acid, polysilicate microgels, polyaluminosilicate microgels, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein polyacrylamide is also combined with the starch and the species which induces gelation.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein a polymer bearing anionic or potential anionic groups is also combined with the starch and the species which induces gelation.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein an aluminum compound is also combined with the starch and the species which induces gelation.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19  in which the species which induces gelation comprises a species capable of ionic or coordination bonding selected from the group consisting of beryllium, magnesium, calcium, scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, aluminum, boron, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon and silicon containing compounds or ions, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19  in which the species which induces gelation comprises a species capable of hydrogen bonding selected from the group consisting of inorganic species such as borates, silicates, aluminates and organic species such as glycol or polyol containing moieties including oligomers and polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide and other oligomers or polymers capable of hydrogen bonding such as polyvinyl acetate and poly(n-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone), and combinations thereof.