Ergothioneine extraction device

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of food, cosmetics and biological medicine production, in particular to an ergothioneine extraction device which comprises an extraction tank and a storage tank. And a feeding hole, an exhaust hole and a spraying device are arranged at the top of the extraction tank. A gas distribution screening device is arranged in the extraction tank and comprises a ventilation pipeline and a screening plate. A gas distributor and a discharge hole are arranged at the bottom in the extraction tank, and the gas distributor is arranged near the discharge hole at the bottom of the extraction tank. The storage tank is connected with the extraction tank through a pipeline, and the pipeline is divided into a feeding pipeline and a discharging pipeline. According to the utility model, the gas distribution screening device and the gas distributor are arranged to disperse mycelium clusters under the action of gas distribution, and the plurality of screening plates merge mycelium / clusters with similar diameters in the same level for extraction, so that the extraction efficiency is greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the fields of food, cosmetics and biopharmaceutical production, and in particular to an ergothioneine extraction device. Background Technology

[0002] Ergothioneine (EGT) is a compound first discovered in fungi. It is water-soluble and has functions such as scavenging free radicals, maintaining normal cell growth, cellular immunity, whitening, and anti-aging. It is recognized as a unique and multifunctional cell physiological protectant with broad application prospects in the food, cosmetics, and biopharmaceutical industries.

[0003] Currently, ergothioneine is mainly obtained industrially through chemical synthesis, natural extraction, and bio-fermentation. Chemically synthesized products are limited in their application due to numerous factors, including concerns about safety, high cost of raw materials, and high product prices. Natural extraction methods are unsuitable for industrialization due to issues such as high levels of impurities in raw materials, drug residues, high costs, and difficulty in achieving high yields. Ergothioneine prepared through microbial fermentation is characterized by low cost, wide availability, and ease of large-scale production, thus becoming the primary source in the market.

[0004] Ergothioneine is an intracellular product of Pleurotus ostreatus. In actual production, the fermentation broth, after centrifugation or filtration, typically produces a compacted residue / filter cake. Existing extraction equipment often suffers from poor agitation, leading to cross-linked mycelia entanglement and uneven dispersion. This significantly impacts subsequent water, alcohol, and crushing processes, placing a heavy load on the equipment, increasing wear and tear, shortening its lifespan, and consequently affecting purification, causing inconvenience and increasing production costs. Therefore, effectively extracting ergothioneine without damaging its components remains a challenge for industrial production.

[0005] The existing extraction equipment suffers from poor stirring, resulting in cross-linked mycelia failing to disperse evenly or become entangled in the equipment. This significantly reduces extraction efficiency, places a heavy load on the equipment, increases wear and tear, shortens its lifespan, and consequently affects subsequent purification processes. Industrially, the extract is concentrated, but the inability to effectively control the production temperature during concentration can reduce the activity of ergothioneine in the extract, thereby lowering product quality and nutritional value. Utility Model Content

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide an ergothioneine extraction device that has good stirring effect and can evenly disperse or prevent mycelium from tangling.

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution of this utility model is as follows:

[0008] An ergothioneine extraction apparatus includes an extraction tank 1 and a storage tank 2.

[0009] The extraction tank 1 is equipped with a feed port 11, an exhaust port 12, and a spray device 13 at the top. The exhaust port 12 balances the pressure inside the extraction tank 1.

[0010] The extraction tank 1 is equipped with an aeration and sieving device 16, which includes an aeration pipe 161 and a sieving plate 162. The aeration pipe 161 and the sieving plate 162 are completely hollow. The sieving plate 162 is provided with sieve holes 1621 and air flow holes 1622. Gas is introduced from top to bottom through the aeration pipe 161 and then distributed to the sieving plate 162. Gas comes out upward from the air flow holes 1622 on the sieving plate 162, and the mycelial clusters are dispersed through the aeration effect.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the diameter of the airflow hole is 1 cm.

[0012] Preferably, multiple sieve plates can be set as needed, and the sieve hole diameters of different sieve plates can be different. Setting multiple sieve plates will stratify the mycelium / clumps according to their diameter. The preferred embodiment of this utility model has a three-stage aeration sieve plate, and the sieve hole diameters of the three-stage aeration sieve plate are as follows: 5mm for the first stage plate, 2mm for the second stage plate, and 0.5mm for the third stage plate. The three-stage aeration sieve plate divides the space inside the extraction tank into four levels: from the upper part of the first stage plate to the top of the tank, from the lower part of the first stage plate to the upper part of the second stage plate, from the lower part of the second stage plate to the upper part of the third stage plate, and from the lower part of the third stage plate to the bottom of the tank. This will combine mycelium / clumps of similar diameter into the same level for extraction, avoid larger mycelium clumps containing smaller mycelium clumps, and greatly improve the extraction efficiency.

[0013] The bottom of the extraction tank 1 is equipped with an air distributor 18 and a discharge hole 19. The air distributor 18 is located near the discharge hole 19 at the bottom of the extraction tank. The air distributor 18 can not only disperse the mycelium, but also prevent the mycelium from depositing at the bottom of the tank and affecting the extraction efficiency, as well as prevent the mycelium from depositing at the discharge hole 19 at the bottom of the tank and affecting the discharge or circulation of the extract.

[0014] Preferably, the extraction tank 1 may or may not be equipped with stirring blades 17 as needed. If stirring blades 17 are required, they are installed on the ventilation pipe 161 to assist in screening mycelial clusters. The stirring blades 17 are made of lightweight materials and are driven to rotate by the convection of air and water flow inside the extraction tank 1.

[0015] Preferably, the top of the extraction tank 1 may also be provided with a manhole 14, which is used for cleaning and maintenance of the extraction tank 1.

[0016] Preferably, the extraction tank 1 is provided with a jacket 15 on the outside.

[0017] Storage tank 2 is connected to extraction tank 1 via a pipeline, which is divided into an inlet pipeline 5 and an outlet pipeline 6. A pump is installed between the inlet pipeline 5 and the outlet pipeline 6 of storage tank 2 and extraction tank 1 to provide power for feeding and discharging. An inlet valve 51 and an outlet valve 61 are also provided to control feeding and discharging. The top of the storage tank is provided with a water inlet pipe 21 and an air vent 22. The water inlet pipe 21 is equipped with an inlet valve 211, and the air vent 22 is used to balance the pressure inside the storage tank. The bottom of storage tank 2 is provided with a sampling pipe 23 and a discharge pipe 24. The sampling pipe 23 is equipped with a sampling valve 231, and the discharge pipe 24 is equipped with a discharge valve 241.

[0018] Preferably, according to the embodiments of the present invention, multiple storage tanks can be provided, for example, one storage tank, two storage tanks, or three storage tanks can be provided. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides three storage tanks, namely storage tank 2, storage tank 3, and storage tank 4. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an air distribution and sieving device. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The specific embodiments of this utility model will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that these descriptions are for the purpose of aiding understanding of this utility model, but do not constitute a limitation thereof. Furthermore, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of this utility model described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0022] like Figure 1-2As shown, an ergothioneine extraction device includes an extraction tank 1 and a storage tank 2. The top of the extraction tank 1 is provided with a feed port 11, an exhaust port 12, and a spray device 13. The exhaust port 12 balances the pressure inside the extraction tank 1. A manhole 14 may also be provided on the top of the extraction tank 1 for cleaning and maintenance. A jacket 15 is provided on the outside of the extraction tank 1. An aeration and sieving device 16 is provided inside the extraction tank 1. The aeration and sieving device 16 includes an aeration pipe 161 and a sieving plate 162. Both the aeration pipe 161 and the sieving plate 162 are hollow. The sieving plate 162 has sieve holes 1621 and airflow holes 1622. Gas is introduced from top to bottom through the aeration pipe 161, then distributed to the sieving plate 162, and exits upwards through the airflow holes 1622 on the sieving plate 162, dispersing the mycelial clusters through the aeration effect. This embodiment of the invention includes a three-stage aeration and sieving plate. The sieve aperture diameters of the three-stage aeration and sieving plate are as follows: 5mm for the first stage, 2mm for the second stage, and 0.5mm for the third stage. The extraction tank 1 may or may not be equipped with stirring blades 17. If stirring blades 17 are required, they are installed on the ventilation pipe 161 to assist in sieving the mycelial clusters. The stirring blades 17 are made of lightweight material and are driven to rotate by the convection of airflow and water flow within the extraction tank 1.

[0023] The bottom of the extraction tank 1 is equipped with an air distributor 18 and a discharge hole 19. The air distributor 18 is located near the discharge hole 19 at the bottom of the extraction tank. The air distributor 18 can not only disperse the mycelium, but also prevent the mycelium from depositing at the bottom of the tank and affecting the extraction efficiency, as well as prevent the mycelium from depositing at the discharge hole 19 at the bottom of the tank and affecting the discharge or circulation of the extract.

[0024] Storage tank 2 is connected to extraction tank 1 via a pipeline, which is divided into an inlet pipeline 5 and an outlet pipeline 6. A pump is installed between the inlet pipeline 5 and the outlet pipeline 6 of storage tank 2 and extraction tank 1 to provide power for feeding and discharging. An inlet valve 51 and an outlet valve 61 are also provided to control feeding and discharging. The top of the storage tank is provided with a water inlet pipe 21 and an air vent 22. The water inlet pipe 21 is equipped with an inlet valve 211, and the air vent 22 is used to balance the pressure inside the storage tank. The bottom of storage tank 2 is provided with a sampling pipe 23 and a discharge pipe 24. The sampling pipe 23 is equipped with a sampling valve 231, and the discharge pipe 24 is equipped with a discharge valve 241.

[0025] During the production process, the fermentation residue is fed into the extraction tank 1 through the feed hole 11. Gas is distributed to the extraction tank 1 through the gas distributor 18 and the gas distribution and sieving device 16 at the bottom of the extraction tank, and the gas pressure inside the extraction tank 1 is balanced through the exhaust hole 12. The feed valve 51 of the storage tank 2 is opened, and hot water is injected into the storage tank 1 through the feed pipe 5, then the feed valve 51 is closed. The hot water is pumped into the extraction tank 1 through the feed pipe 5 and the spray device 13. As the volume of hot water in the extraction tank 1 increases, the fermentation residue is immersed in the hot water, and the gas distribution and stirring operations inside the tank disperse the residue. The diameter of the airflow holes 1622 on the three-stage gas distribution and sieving plate 162 inside the extraction tank 1 is 1 cm, and the diameters of the sieve holes 1621 on the three-stage gas distribution and sieving plate are as follows: 5 mm for the first stage, 2 mm for the second stage, and 0.5 mm for the third stage. The dispersed mycelium residue is sieved through sieve 1621. Residue with a diameter greater than 5mm is retained at the top of the primary plate, while smaller pieces can pass through the sieve smoothly into the next stage. Residue with a diameter greater than 2mm is retained at the top of the secondary plate. Residue with a diameter greater than 0.5mm is retained at the top of the tertiary plate. Residue with a diameter less than 0.5mm smoothly enters the area between the tertiary plate and the bottom of the tank. Ultimately, the mycelium residue is separated through sieve gradation. Aeration is continuously applied during the extraction process, and the aeration time must precede the hot water injection to prevent water from entering the aeration device and flowing back.

[0026] After a certain extraction time, open the discharge valve 61 at the bottom of extraction tank 1. The extract is pumped into storage tank 2 through discharge pipe 6, and then the discharge valve 61 is closed. Open the sampling valve 231 on the side of storage tank 2 to take a sample and test the concentration of ergothioneine. If the concentration is less than the target concentration (default is unsaturated), the sampling valve 231 of storage tank 2 can be opened again to pump the extract into extraction tank 1 through feed pipe 5. The extract is then evenly distributed in the extraction tank through spray device 13 for repeated extraction.

[0027] Once the extraction is complete, open the discharge valve 241 below the storage tank 2, and the extract will be discharged through the discharge pipe 24 for the next step of extraction and purification.

[0028] If a secondary extraction is required, the feed valves of storage tanks 2 and 3 can be opened simultaneously. The extract from storage tank 2 and the hot water from storage tank 3 can be pumped into extraction tank 1 at a 1:1 volume ratio through the feed pipe. This dilutes the extract, allowing for further extraction of the bacterial residue. This ensures sufficient volume of extract in the tank for extraction without introducing excessive hot water, which would complicate subsequent concentration operations. If a tertiary extraction is required, the same procedure applies. The feed valves of storage tanks 3 and 4 can be opened simultaneously. The extract from storage tank 3 and the hot water from storage tank 4 can be pumped into extraction tank 1 at a 1:1 volume ratio through the feed pipe for a tertiary extraction.

[0029] In addition, the number of storage tanks and the mixing ratio of leachate and hot water can be adjusted according to process requirements.

[0030] The embodiments of this utility model have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but this utility model is not limited to the described embodiments. For those skilled in the art, various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of this utility model, and these variations still fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. An ergothioneine extraction apparatus, comprising an extraction tank (1) and a storage tank (2), characterized in that: The extraction tank (1) is provided with a feed hole (11), an exhaust hole (12) and a spray device (13) at the top; the extraction tank (1) is provided with an air distribution and sieving device (16) inside; the bottom of the extraction tank (1) is provided with an air distributor (18) and a discharge hole (19); the air distribution and sieving device (16) includes an air passage (161) and a sieving plate (162), and the air passage (161) and the sieving plate (162) are hollow inside.

2. The ergothioneine extraction apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sieve plate (162) is provided with sieve holes (1621) and airflow holes (1622).

3. The ergothioneine extraction apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air distributor (18) is located near the discharge port (19).

4. The ergothioneine extraction apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The extraction tank (1) is equipped with a stirring blade (17), which is located on the ventilation pipe (161).

5. The ergothioneine extraction apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that: The stirring blades (17) are made of lightweight material.

6. The ergothioneine extraction apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The extraction tank (1) is also provided with a manhole (14) on the top.

7. The ergothioneine extraction apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The extraction tank (1) is provided with a jacket (15) on the outside.

8. The ergothioneine extraction apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The storage tank (2) is provided with a water inlet pipe (21) and an air hole (22) at the top. The water inlet pipe (21) is provided with a water inlet valve (211). The storage tank (2) is provided with a sampling pipe (23) and a discharge pipe (24) at the bottom. The sampling pipe (23) is provided with a sampling valve (231). The discharge pipe (24) is provided with a discharge valve (241).

9. The ergothioneine extraction apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The storage tank (2) is connected to the extraction tank (1) through a pipeline. The pipeline is divided into a feed pipeline (5) and a discharge pipeline (6). A feed valve (51) and a discharge valve (61) are provided between the feed pipeline (5) and the discharge pipeline (6).

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