BR-112021008748-B1 - Metal Chelate or Metal Complex Composition and Animal Feed

Abstract

METAL COMPLEX OR METAL CHELATE COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING MINIMAL NANOPARTICLES. The present invention generally relates to metal complex or metal chelate compositions comprising minimal nanoparticles wherein the compositions maintain fluidity.

Inventors

• Ren Gonzalez
• Tod Jenness

Assignees

• BALCHEM CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260317

Application Date

20191125

Priority Date

20181130

Claims (16)

1. 1. Metal chelate or metal complex composition, characterized by a water content of less than 15%, as measured by thermogravimetric analysis, and less than 1% of nanoparticles by total weight of the composition; wherein: the metal chelate or metal complex composition is ferrous bisglycinate, ferrous aspartic glycinate, ferric glycinate, calcium citrate malate, calcium citrate, zinc bisglycinate, zinc arginate, dicalcium malate, magnesium bisglycinate, magnesium lysinate glycinate, magnesium aspartate, magnesium glycyl glutamine, dimagnesium malate, magnesium citrate, iron citrate, iron malate or iron succinate; the nanoparticles have a particle size between 1 and 100 nanometers in at least one dimension; the composition lacks a desiccant; the composition has a flowability as determined by a Hausner ratio of less than 1.12 or a Flowdex index of less than 10; the % of nanoparticles by weight is determined by centrifugal sedimentation, comprising separating larger particles from nanoparticles that remain. suspended in the aqueous layer and measured by water evaporation.
2. 2. Metal chelate composition or metal complex, according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal complex or metal chelate comprises an amino acid ligand.
3. 3. Metal chelate or metal complex composition according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the water activity of the composition is less than 0.5.
4. 4. Metal chelate or metal complex composition, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the composition has less than 0.5% nanoparticles by total weight of the composition.
5. 5. Metal chelate or metal complex composition, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the composition has less than 0.25% nanoparticles by total weight of the composition.
6. 6. Metal chelate or metal complex composition, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the composition has less than 0.1% nanoparticles by total weight of the composition.
7. 7. A metal chelate or metal complex composition, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the composition has a water content of less than 12% by total weight of the composition.
8. 8. A metal chelate or metal complex composition, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the composition has a water content of less than 10% by total weight of the composition.
9. 9. A metal chelate or metal complex composition, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the composition has a water content of less than 8% by total weight of the composition.
10. 10. Metal chelate or metal complex composition, according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the composition has a water content of less than 6% by total weight of the composition.
11. 11. A metal chelate or metal complex composition, according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the composition is stored in moisture-resistant packaging.
12. 12. Metal chelate or metal complex composition, according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the water content is measured at the end of the manufacturing process.
13. 13. A metal chelate or metal complex composition, according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the water content is measured after the composition has been stored for 3 months in moisture-resistant packaging.
14. 14. Metal chelate or metal complex composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the composition has fluidity, as determined by a Hausner ratio of less than 1.25.
15. 15. Metal chelate or metal complex composition according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the composition has flowability, as determined by a Flowdex index of less than 20.
16. 16. Animal feed, characterized in that it comprises a metal complex or metal chelate, as defined in any one of claims 1 to 15.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED REQUESTS [0001] This application claims priority over U.S. Provisional Application 62/773,617, filed November 30, 2018, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to metal chelate or metal complex compositions comprising minimal nanoparticles in which the compositions maintain fluidity. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Metal complexes or metal chelates are prevalent in many areas of society. They are widely used in agriculture to provide valuable nutrients from an agrochemical standpoint to a variety of plants. In the field of imaging, metal complexes or metal chelates (especially gadolinium chelates) are used in MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) as an imaging agent. Metal complexes or metal chelates are also used in the food industry as nutritional supplements, consumed by athletes as performance enhancers, used as antimicrobial agents, and used as antioxidants. Other industries that use metal complexes or metal chelates include the pharmaceutical industry, the photographic industry in photographic processing, and in the manufacture of catalysts. [0004] In current manufacturing practice for metal complexes or metal chelates, the inclusion of a desiccant is considered mandatory to prevent and/or reduce metal ion oxidation by reducing the amount of internal moisture activity that drives the oxidative process. Furthermore, the addition of a desiccant to a chelated metal composition reduces agglomeration and increases the fluidity of the reacted material in the manufacturing and mixing equipment. As a result, the addition of a desiccant increases production and yield while reducing equipment wear and downtime due to equipment cleaning between manufacturing runs. [0005] One of the main concerns regarding the use of a desiccant is particle size, as desiccants can contain nanoparticles. Because nanoparticles are small enough to penetrate the skin, lungs, digestive system, and possibly cross the blood-brain barrier, there is growing concern that the use of additives such as desiccants in food, pharmaceuticals, and other consumer products exposes consumers to potentially hazardous nanoparticles. Silicon dioxide desiccant, for example, is composed of aggregated nanometric primary particles. The sizes of the aggregates and agglomerates are typically larger than 100 nm. However, depending on the starting material and/or manufacturing process, some aggregates of the primary particles may disintegrate into particles smaller than 100 nm in size – which is classified as a nanoparticle by definition. [0006] Therefore, there is a need for metal chelate or metal complex compositions that contain minimal amounts of nanoparticles, while demonstrating low levels of moisture and/or activity, while maintaining fluidity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0007] FIG. 1 is an image of ferrous bisglycinate formulated with fumed silica. The image shows the presence of nanoparticles. The image is representative of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) performed on ferrous bisglycinate containing fumed silica where the indicated scale is 200 nm. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0008] Current commercial metal chelate or metal complex compositions require the use of a desiccant to reduce the water content and water activity of the composition and increase the flowability of the composition. Certain desiccants, however, result in nanoparticulate contamination of the metal chelate or metal complex composition. It is important to note that the present disclosure provides metal chelate or metal complex compositions with minimal amounts of nanoparticles, as detailed below. In general, the metal chelate or metal complex compositions disclosed herein comprise one or more metal ions and one or more ligands. In several embodiments, the metal chelate or metal complex compositions of the present disclosure have minimal nanoparticles, low water content, and low water activity. In several embodiments, the metal chelate or metal complex compositions of the present disclosure maintain flowability. (1) Metal chelate or metal complex compositions [0009] One aspect of the present disclosure encompasses a metal chelate composition or metal complex comprising one or more metal complexes or metal chelates. These metal complexes or metal chelates comprise a metal ion or metal ions bonded to one or more ligands. The metal chelate compositions or metal complexes further comprise minimal nanoparticles in the absence of a desiccant. The metal chelate compositions or metal complexes also comprise low moisture levels, low moisture activities, and maintain fluidity. In preferred embodiments, the metal chelate composition or metal complex is an organic metal complex composition or organic metal chelate composition, meaning that the ligand is an organic molecule. (a) Metal complex or metal chelate compounds [0010] In various embodiments, the metal