Patent ID: 9011741
Filing Date: 2015-04-21
Classification: B29B,B29C,B29K,C08B,C08J,C08K,C08L

Abstract:
1. A process for producing biopolymer nanoparticles, the process comprising: feeding biopolymer feedstock and a plasticizer to a feed zone of an extruder; processing the feedstock and plasticizer in a gelatinization zone of the extruder at temperatures above the boiling point of water, wherein the gelatinization zone comprises a series of moderate steam seals each having an upstream pressure generating section and an adjacent downstream mixing section, each pressure generating section generating enough forward pumping so that its respective steam seal and a steam pressure therein are overcome without steam back-venting; processing gelatinized feedstock in a crosslinking reaction zone of the extruder downstream of the gelatinization zone and under lower shear than in the gelatinization zone; and processing crosslinked feedstock in a post reaction conditioning zone of the extruder downstream of the crosslinking reaction zone, wherein water is added to the crosslinked feedstock in the post reaction conditioning zone.