SUBCRITICAL GAS ASSISTED DRYING OF BIOPOLYMER MATERIAL

摘要

A method is provided for producing a dehydrated biopolymer powder, said method comprising the successive steps of: a) providing a filter cake comprising biopolymer material and 30 to 60 wt.% of water; b) contacting said filter cake with a pressurised gas to extract water from the filter cake, said pressurised gas having a pressure and a temperature below the critical point of the gas; c) separating water-containing pressurised gas from the dehydrated filter cake; and d) collecting a dehydrated biopolymer powder wherein the pressurised gas has a pressure of at least 0.6 MPa (6 bar) and up to 6 MPa (60 bar), and a temperature of 10 to 40 0C.