Density-Based Separation of Amino Acid Particles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing and isolating amino and organic acids are inefficient and costly, particularly in animal feed and chemical production, due to high costs of essential amino acids like lysine, methionine, and glutamic acid, and the need for more effective separation from complex mixtures.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a separation process using a medium of fixed density to float or sink amino and organic acid-containing particles based on their density differences, allowing for the separation of enriched or depleted fractions, which can be achieved through a semi-continuous centrifugal process at low gravitational forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If ion exchange or precipitation methods are used for amino acid purification, then amino acids can be isolated from fermentation broths, but the production cost is too high for bulk chemical applications
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameter of density to achieve separation. By adjusting the density of the separation medium to match the density of specific amino acid particles, the method enables gravity-based separation without expensive chemical reagents or ion exchange resins, thereby reducing production costs while maintaining purification effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex chemical purification systems (ion exchange columns, precipitation chemicals) with a simple mechanical gravity-based separation system. Density-matched particles are separated naturally through gravity settling, eliminating the need for expensive chemical processes and reducing manufacturing costs
2Manufacturing precision
If density gradient centrifugation is used for particle separation, then separation based on density is achieved, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential separation function from complex density gradient centrifugation processes. By using a simple gravity settling tank with a density-matched medium instead of complex centrifugal equipment and gradient preparations, it achieves the same separation effect with minimal device complexity and operational steps
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex centrifugal forces with density gradients to achieve separation, the invention inverts the approach by using simple gravity with a density-matched medium. This inversion simplifies the process from complex to simple while maintaining separation effectiveness
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method reduces production costs by efficiently separating and purifying amino and organic acids, enabling their use in animal feed and as chemical building blocks, while also addressing the need for cheap organic acids and improved organic feed streams.
Implementation Method 1
a separation step in a medium of a density wherein amino and/or organic acid-containing particles that have a density that is lower than the density of the medium will float (lighter fraction) and amino and/or organic acid-containing particles that have a density that is lower than the density of the medium will sink (heavier fraction)
Implementation Method 2
This density-based separation may be performed in a centrifugal process at low g-forces
Data Source
AI summary
Method for separating amino and/or organic acid-containing particles from a mixture of amino and/or organic acid-containing particles based on density, comprising providing a feed of the amino and/or organic acid-containing particles providing a medium having a selected density effective for particles of a lower density than the selected density to float in the medium for particles of a higher density than the selected density to sink in the medium; combining the feed of the amino and/or organic acid-containing particles with the medium; and separating the amino and/or organic acid-containing particles of the higher density from the amino and/or organic acid-containing particles of the lower density.