Patent ID: 7736628

Claim:
A process for preparing modified lactose mixtures, the process comprising: mixing a lactose fraction with a small average particle size of x 50 <50 μm into a carrier lactose with an average particle size of x 50 being from 15 μm to 80 μm to form a lactose mixture, wherein the lactose fraction with the small average particle size contains amorphous lactose; exposing the lactose mixture to a relative humidity (r.h.) of at least 85% r.h. at a temperature in the range from 20 to 40° C. for a period of at least 4 hours; and exposing the lactose mixture to a relative humidity (r.h.) of less than 20% r.h. for a period of at least 1 hour while increasing the temperature to 70° C., so that a modified lactose mixture of lactose particles having crystalline alpha-lactose-monohydrate surfaces is produced.