PROCESS FOR PREPARING MICRO-ORGANISMS INCORPORATED WITHIN SUBSTANTIALLY DEHYDRATED GELS, GELS OBTAINED AND THEIR USE IN THE PREPARATION OF FERMENTED BEVERAGES

摘要

In a process for preparing micro-organisms incorporated within at least partially dehydrated gels, a) the micro-organisms are incorporated in a polymer solution capable of forming a gel; b) the solution containing the micro-organisms is gelled to form a gel in which the micro-organisms are incorporated; c) the gel in which the micro-organisms are incorporated is dried to obtain at least partially dehydrated gel. The process is characterized in that gels in which micro-organisms having a high concentration of hydrophilic substances are prepared and then subjected to said drying step. This is preferably effected by soaking the gel in a solution of hydrophilic substances having said high concentration until equilibrium is attained, and then subjecting the gel to said drying step. The gels obtained, in which the micro-organisms are incorporated, have a high concentration of hydrophilic substances and enhanced viability after rehydration.