Method of producing salt composition

• Main Authors: SUSAN E BUTLER, ANDREW HOFFMAN, SHIJI SHEN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.02.2015
• Subjects: CHEMISTRY; COMPOUNDS OF ALKALI METALS, i.e. LITHIUM, SODIUM, POTASSIUM,RUBIDIUM, CAESIUM, OR FRANCIUM; CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING; CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BYSUBCLASSES A23B - A23J; HUMAN NECESSITIES; INORGANIC CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY; MILLING GRAIN; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PREPARATORY TREATMENT OF GRAIN FOR MILLING; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OFNUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; THEIR TREATMENT, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES; TRANSPORTING

A method of producing a free-flowing salt composition comprises comminuting, e.g. milling, a first particulate fraction comprised of sodium chloride crystals having a mean particle size by volume of at least 500 μm (i.e. standard size), in the presence of a second particulate fraction which is a salt product wherein at least 95% by volume of the particles of the salt product have a size less than 100 μm (i.e. extra fine). The resulting salt composition has a mean particle size distribution by volume of 150 to 250 μm. The first particulate fraction comprise about 65 to 85 wt% of the mixture. The salt product comprises sodium chloride and an organic material that is a solid at ambient temperature. The organic material is preferably a polymeric material, in particular a carbohydrate, e.g. maltodextrin, a protein or a synthetic organic polymer. The particles of the second particulate fraction have a structure comprised of individual crystallites of sodium chloride attached together in the particles of the product and wherein particles of the product comprise hollow particles formed of an outer shell of said crystallites. The salt composition has an increased saltiness but remains free-flowing with reduced agglomeration during the milling step.