| Background
Xanthan gum is a hydrocolloid gum and is microbial in origin.
It is a complex polysaccharide produced from the fermentation
of the microorganism Xanthomonias campestris. Xanthan gum
is an effective and versatile rheology modifier with pseudoplastic
characteristics. It is typically used as a thickener, emulsifier,
or suspending agent to a wide variety of industries to provide
stability, improved textural qualities and/or pouring characteristics.
Applications include salad dressings, sauces, beverages, dairy
products, low-calorie foods, soups, desserts, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals,
creams, lotions, cleaners, coatings and adhesives. Xanthan
gum is extremely difficult-to-disperse into water without
creating lumps or "fish-eyes". Typical problems associated
with dispersing Xanthan include: long batch times, filtering
of lumps in final product (powder waste), powder build-up
in process vessels and "gumming" of mixing equipment and process
vessels. Processors have developed methods to assist in the
hydration of Xanthan including the pre-blending of Xanthan
with other powders and the pre-dispersion of Xanthan into
oil or glycol using a separate gum hydration tank. These extra
steps require added expense/time.
Quadro Ytron
Performance
The Quadro Ytron Model ZC In-line Powder Disperser
is capable of dispersing Xanthan gum into water quickly
and completely lump-free in a single-pass. The ZC unit
has been shown to yield approximately 30% higher viscosities
than traditional methods. Consistent viscosities from
batch-to-batch are accomplished with single-pass, uniform
and consistent shear applied by the ZC to all of the
Xanthan powder. Gum hydration tanks, pre-dispersion
fluids and post filtering are not required with the
use of the ZC. The ZC technology is capable of producing
single-pass, lump-free Xanthan gum solutions at flow
rates from 15 to 120 USGPM (60-450 LPM).
Summary
The Ytron ZC disperses Xanthan gum into water quicker,
more consistently, to a better quality, with less equipment,
and more reliably than traditional methods. The Ytron
equipment's versatility, cleanability (3A Approved),
simplicity, and low maintenance make it ideal for use
in the food and sanitary related industries.
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