Germany invents self-dissolving milk capsules to reduce packaging use

[Chinese Packaging Network News] Germany's Martin Luther University researchers invented a kind of self-dissolved milk capsules in hot drinks, this capsule can be easily used in conferences, aircraft and other fast hot beverage supply, reducing milk plastic Or paper shell packaging. This invention was published in the latest issue of Chemical Engineering and Technology.

According to Dr. Werner of Martin Luther University, the inventor of this milk capsule process was his mentor, Prof. Joachim Ulrich, of the Engineering Science Center at Martin Luther University. Milk capsules use glycosides as capsule shells containing sugar cubes, milk and condensed milk, which dissolve automatically when milk capsules come in contact with hot liquids.

The method of producing capsules is quite simple. First, milk and sugar are formulated into a milk solution, then the hot milk solution is injected into a forming mold, and the temperature is controlled to cool it. Excess sugar on the edge of the liquid crystallizes with changes in temperature and forms a capsule containing a milk sugar solution. The entire production process seems to be very simple, but the researchers through the trial and error, to master the best formula for the production of milk capsules and cooling process.

At present, sweet and slightly sweet milk capsules have been developed, and raw milk capsules are still being researched to meet the needs of consumers with different tastes. According to Dr. Werner, milk capsules can be produced in different shapes and can be stored at room temperature. The produced capsules can be stored for at least 3 weeks. Their process can also be applied to other liquid capsules such as fruit juice concentrate capsules.

The team led by Prof. Joachim Ulrich began researching the capsule making process many years ago and studied how to make the crystal forming process suitable for industrial applications such as drug capsules. Professor Ullrich said that the new self-dissolving capsules have many potential uses, such as the replacement of plastic boxes of coffee condensed milk that are currently in heavy use at meetings or on plane flights. The technology invented by Professor Ullrich has already applied for a patent in 2015, but it has not yet become a product, and a large number of cheap milk capsule industrial production processes still need to be further improved.