Abstract: A method for the etherification of a carbohydrate is provided, by subjecting the carbohydrate to superheated steam under alkaline conditions in the presence of an etherification agent to obtain a carbohydrate ether.

Abstract: A process for producing thermally inhibited starch is described resulting in a viscostable starch product. The process comprises providing an alkaline starch having a pH, when measured in a 20% (w/v) aqueous dispersion, between 9.1 and 11.2, adjusting the water content of the starch to between 2 and 22 wt. %, heating the starch between 130 and 190° C., especially between 140 and 180° C., for a sufficient time and at a sufficient pressure for the inhibition of the starch to be initiated before the water content has reached a level of 1 wt. % and before the pH has reached a value of 9, continuing heating the starch between 140 and 190° C. until viscostability is achieved, and cooling and optionally further processing the starch.

Abstract: A colourless resistant starch is produced by a process comprising (i) suspending starch in a C2-C4 alcohol, in particular ethanol, in the presence of 0.01-3.0% (w/w) of acid based on the starch; (ii) heating the suspended starch at a temperature of 70-160° C., in particular 78-120° C., and (c) isolating the resulting product. The resulting starch has a resistant fraction of at least 20%.

Abstract: Method for preparing a branched glucan having a chain comprising a plurality of glucose units linked by alpha 1,4-glycoside bonds and a plurality of side-groups linked to said chain via another type of glycoside bonding, which side-groups comprise one or more glucose units, the method comprising contacting a glucose source with a polysaccharide—which polysaccharide is a glucan comprising a plurality of glucose units linked by alpha 1,4-glycoside bonds and is essentially linear or branched to a lesser extent than the branched glucan that is to be prepared—in the presence of an acid catalyst under polycondensation conditions, thereby forming the branched glucan.

Abstract: A colourless resistant starch is produced by a process comprising (i) suspending starch in a C2-C4 alcohol, in particular ethanol, in the presence of 0.01-3.0% (w/w) of acid based on the starch; (ii) heating the suspended starch at a temperature of 70-160° C., in particular 78-120° C., and (c) isolating the resulting product. The resulting starch has a resistant fraction of at least 20%.

Abstract: A process for producing thermally inhibited starch is described resulting in a viscostable starch product. The process comprises providing an alkaline starch having a pH, when measured in a 20% (w/v) aqueous dispersion, between 9.1 and 11.2, adjusting the water content of the starch to between 2 and 22 wt. %, heating the starch between 130 and 190° C., especially between 140 and 180° C., for a sufficient time and at a sufficient pressure for the inhibition of the starch to be initiated before the water content has reached a level of 1 wt. % and before the pH has reached a value of 9, continuing heating the starch between 140 and 190° C. until viscostability is achieved, and cooling and optionally further processing the starch.

Abstract: Method for preparing a branched glucan having a chain comprising a plurality of glucose units linked by alpha 1,4-glycoside bonds and a plurality of side-groups linked to said chain via another type of glycoside bonding, which side-groups comprise one or more glucose units, the method comprising contacting a glucose source with a polysaccharide—which polysaccharide is a glucan comprising a plurality of glucose units linked by alpha 1,4-glycoside bonds and is essentially linear or branched to a lesser extent than the branched glucan that is to be prepared—in the presence of an acid catalyst under polycondensation conditions, thereby forming the branched glucan.

Abstract: Esterification of a carbohydrate using an acylating agent can effectively be performed using a process comprising: (a) combining the carbohydrate with the acylating agent, (b) adjusting the moisture content of the combination below 40 wt. %, and (c) subjecting the combination to superheated steam. The carbohydrate is especially starch and the acylating agent is in particular an acid, such as an organic acid, amino acid, or diacid.

Abstract: This invention relates to inducible release vehicle comprised of crosslinked carbohydrates or proteins and an active ingredient. The release is induced by an external stimulus, e.g. an enzyme such as amylase. Such a vehicle can particularly be used in an applications for preventing microbial decay or combating microbial infections. Other uses are for oral applications such as providing anti-caries or flavoring compounds and for pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical applications.

Abstract: This invention relates to inducible release vehicle comprised of crosslinked carbohydrates or proteins and an active ingredient. The release is induced by an external stimulus, e.g. an enzyme such as amylase. Such a vehicle can particularly be used in applications for preventing microbial decay or combating microbial infections. Other uses are for oral applications such as providing antdaries or flavoring compounds and for pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a marking system for marking objects wherein said system comprises a microparticle comprising a cross-linked polymer and a marker component wherein the release of said marker component is triggered by contact of the microparticle with an external stimulus and wherein said polymer is a carbohydrate or a protein.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a barrier composition, to a vehicle comprising said barrier composition, to a layer comprising said barrier composition, to a foodstuff comprising said vehicle or layer, to a pharmaceutical or nutraceutical composition comprising said vehicle or layer, to a method for protecting one or more active ingredients, and to the use of said barrier composition. The barrier composition of the invention comprises: a hydrophobic organic phase; and 0.1-75 vol. %, based on the total volume of the barrier composition, of biodegradable solid plate-like particles.

Abstract: This invention relates to inducible release vehicle comprised of crosslinked carbohydrates or proteins and an active ingredient. The release is induced by an external stimulus, e.g. an enzyme such as amylase. Such a vehicle can particularly be used in an applications for preventing microbial decay or combating microbial infections. Other uses are for oral applications such as providing anti-caries or flavoring compounds and for pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a marking system for marking objects wherein said system comprises a microparticle comprising a cross-linked polymer and a marker component wherein the release of said marker component is triggered by contact of the microparticle with an external stimulus and wherein said polymer is a carbohydrate or a protein.

Abstract: Esterification of a carbohydrate using an acylating agent can effectively be performed using a process comprising: (a) combining the carbohydrate with the acylating agent, (b) adjusting the moisture content of the combination below 40 wt. %, and (c) subjecting the combination to superheated steam. The carbohydrate is especially starch and the acylating agent is in particular an acid, such as an organic acid, amino acid, or diacid.

Abstract: The invention is directed to copy protected paper, to a method for producing said paper, the use of a specific layer for copy protection of paper, and a method for protecting a printable paper from being copied. Copy protected paper comprising a printable paper having, on a side to be printed or a printed side, a first transparent layer, wherein said first transparent layer has a difference in refractive index with i) said paper; or ii) an optional second transparent layer being provided on said paper on the side to be printed or the printed side, wherein said difference in refractive index is at least 0.05.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of one or more non-digestible polysaccharides selected from the group consisting of dextrans having a molecular weight of 8 kD to 40,000 kD, hydrolysed (gluco)mannans having a molecular weight of 0.5 kD to 1,000 kD and hydrolysed (galacto) mannans having a molecular weigth of 0.5 kD to 1,000 kD for the preparation of a nutritional composition to reduce the uptake of high molecular weight substances, allergens and microorganisms through the intestinal wall, more particularly to reduce transport of high molecular weight substances, allergens and microorganisms through the tight junctions in the intestines, the rise in the viscosity of the nutritional composition caused by the polysaccharides being less than 20 mPa.s.

Abstract: A nutritional composition which contains slightly negatively charged non-digestible polysaccharides having a molecular weight of 8 kD to 40,000 kD, characterized in that the rise in the viscosity of the composition caused by the polysaccharides is less than 20 mpa·s. This nutritional composition is used to reduce the uptake of high molecular weight substances, allergens and microorganisms through the intestinal wall, more particularly to reduce transport of high molecular weight substances, allergens and microorganisms through the intestinal wall, ore particularly to reduce transport of high molecular weight substances, allergens and microorganisms through the tight junctions in the intestines.