METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF AGAR OR AGAROSE BEADS USING NATURAL OR VEGETABLE OIL

A method for the manufacture of agar or agarose beads, the method comprising the steps of: i) providing a water phase comprising an aqueous solution of agar or agarose at a temperature above the gelling temperature of said aqueous solution; ii) providing an oil phase comprising a natural or vegetable oil at a temperature above the gelling temperature of the aqueous solution provided in step i); iii) combining the water phase provided in step i) with the oil phase provided in step ii) in a reactor, and adding an emulsifier; iv) emulsifying the mixture obtained in step iii), preferably by agitating the mixture, thereby creating an emulsion; v) performing a stepwise cooling comprising a first cooling step for cooling the emulsion obtained in step iv) to a temperature 0.1-30 degrees C. above the gelling temperature of the aqueous solution provided in step i), followed by a second cooling step for emptying the reactor from the emulsion and passing the emulsion through a heat exchanger, thus resulting in cooling of the emulsion to a temperature below the gelling temperature of the aqueous solution provided in step i); and vi) recovering of agar or agarose beads from said emulsion.