Salt coatings

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for preparing coated granules comprising the steps of: (a) providing a core unit comprising an active component (b) contacting the core unit with a liquid dispersion comprising a solvent, a dissolved salt and solid dispersed particles wherein the solid particles constitute at least 10% wlw of the total dry matter of the dispersion (c) evaporating the solvent of the liquid dispersion to leave salt and solid particles coated onto the core unit.

1 - 30 . (canceled)  
     
     
         31 . A process for preparing a coated granule comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a core unit comprising an active component    b) contacting the core unit with a liquid dispersion comprising a solvent, a dissolved salt and solid dispersed particles wherein the solid particles constitute at least 10% w/w of the total dry matter of the dispersion    c) evaporating the solvent of the liquid dispersion to leave salt and solid particles coated onto the core unit.    
     
     
         32 . A process according to  claim 31  wherein the core unit comprises an active component lay-ered over an inert core particle.  
     
     
         33 . A process according to  claim 31  wherein the active component is a pro-tein.  
     
     
         34 . A process according to  claim 31  wherein the active component is an en-zyme.  
     
     
         35 . A process according to  claim 31 , wherein the liquid dispersion has a dry matter content in the range of 10-90% w/w.  
     
     
         36 . A process according to  claim 31  wherein the liquid dispersion is substan-tially active free.  
     
     
         37 . A process according to  claim 31 , wherein the solubility of the dissolved salt is above 0.1 g/litre, such as above 1 g/litre or above 10 g/litre.  
     
     
         38 . A process according to  claim 31 , wherein the liquid dispersion is satu-rated with salt.  
     
     
         39 . A process according to  claim 31 , wherein at least part of the solid dis-persed particles are the same salt as the dissolved salt.  
     
     
         40 . A process according to  claim 31 , wherein the dissolved salt is selected among the group consisting of NaH2PO4, Na2HPO4, Na3PO4, (NH4)H2PO4, KH2PO4, K2HPO4, Na2SO4, K2SO4, KHSO4, ZnSO4, MgSO4, CuSO4, Mg(NO3)2, (NH4)2SO4, sodium borate, magnesium acetate, sodium citrate, magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (MgSO4(7H2O)), zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO4(7H2O)), copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4(5H2O)), sodium phosphate dibasic heptahydrate (Na2HPO4(7H2O)), magnesium nitrate hexahydrate (Mg(NO3)2(6H2O)), sodium borate decahydrate, sodium citrate dihydrate and magnesium acetate tetrahydrate.  
     
     
         41 . A process according to  claim 31 , wherein the solid dispersed particles have a size in the longest dimension less than the thickness of the coating, such as less than 20 mi-crons, or less than 10 microns, or less than 5 microns or less than 2 microns such as less than 1 micron.  
     
     
         42 . A process according to  claim 31 , wherein the solid dispersed particles consti-tutes at least one salt.  
     
     
         43 . A process according to  claim 31 , wherein the solid dispersed particles are selected among the group consisting of NaH2PO4, Na2HPO4, Na3PO4, (NH4)H2PO4, KH2PO4, K2HPO4, Na2SO4, K2SO4, KHSO4, ZnSO4, MgSO4, CuSO4, Mg(NO3)2, (NH4)2SO4, CaCO3, sodium borate, magnesium acetate, sodium citrate, magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (MgSO4(7H2O)), zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO4(7H2O)), copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4(5H2O)), sodium phosphate dibasic heptahydrate (Na2HPO4(7H2O)), magnesium nitrate hexahydrate (Mg(NO3)2(6H2O)), sodium borate decahydrate, sodium citrate dihydrate and magnesium acetate tetrahydrate.  
     
     
         44 . A process according to  claim 31 , wherein the solid dispersed particles are selected among the group consisting of kaolin, bentonite, talc, silicates, lime, chalk or TiO2.  
     
     
         45 . A process according to  claim 31  wherein the dispersion is prepared by (1) preparing a saturated solution of a desired salt and (2) adding a sufficient amount of solid particles to be dispersed.  
     
     
         46 . A process according to  claim 31  wherein the liquid dispersion is pre-pared by wet milling.  
     
     
         47 . A process according to  claim 31  wherein the coating of the core unit, step b) is performed in a fluid bed, mixer, pan granulator, coating drum.  
     
     
         48 . A process according to  claim 31 , wherein the core unit is a spray drying product, a layered product, an absorbed core particle, an extrusion or pelletized product, a prilled product or a mixer granulation product e.g. a melt granulation product or a high shear granulation product.  
     
     
         49 . A process according to  claim 31  comprising further steps of coating.  
     
     
         50 . A coated granule obtainable by a process according to  claim 31.