Abstract: A process is provided for the rapid wetting and dispersing of powders suitable for obtaining an essentially gas-free paste, particularly in the manufacture of toothpaste compositions. The process consists of charging a vacuum mixer with the appropriate liquids, and subjecting the liquids to a continuous vacuum that will draw the powders in at the bottom of the mixer in an area of high turbulence generated by a high speed mixing device. The turbulence caused by the expanding air entrained in the powder as it enters the vacuum and generated by the impeller of a high speed mixer, wets the powders very rapidly, inhibits the formation of undesirable lumps, and essentially minimizes loss of powders to the vacuum system. In addition, little or no air is entrained in the resulting paste.

Abstract: A process is presented for dispersing hydrophilic gums swiftly into formulations containing water wherein the lumping problem is avoided.The method of obtaining lump-free aqueous gum compositions comprises:(a) preparing a blend of water and an effective amount of water-miscible alcohol (I): ##STR1## wherein n and m are the same or different integers from 0 to 500, and when Y is hydrogen, (I) has a molecular weight of at least 200, and when Y is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, (I) has a molecular weight of at least 32;(b) introducing into said aqueous alcohol blend a hydrophilic gum, resulting in a final weight ratio water:gum of about 20:1 to 1.3:1;(c) intimately mixing the resultant slurry; and(d) feeding the slurry into a water containing formulation.