Bacterial Concentrate Purification via Dilution and Freeze-Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for purifying and concentrating bacteria-containing suspensions, such as lactic acid bacteria, face challenges in preserving viability during freeze-drying due to cell damage, long process times, and high costs, with water activity being a critical factor affecting storage stability and cell survival.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the addition of an aqueous solution to a bacteria-containing concentrate, followed by centrifugation or filtration, and subsequent freeze-drying at specific pressures, which reduces water activity and improves the storage stability and viability of the bacteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional concentration methods (centrifugation, filtration) are used to reduce suspension volume, then processing efficiency improves, but cell damage and loss of viable cells occur during subsequent freeze-drying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by adding aqueous solution to the bacteria-containing concentrate before concentration to adjust the water activity and composition of the suspension. This pre-treatment step modifies the physical-chemical properties of the suspension, making it more suitable for subsequent freeze-drying and reducing cell damage during the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters including water activity (aw), solution composition, and concentration ratios. By controlling the amount of aqueous solution added (0.1-10 volumes per volume of concentrate) and adjusting the water activity to specific ranges, the process optimizes both processing efficiency and cell survival during freeze-drying.
2Stability of the object's composition
If freeze-drying is used to preserve bacteria, then storage stability improves, but process time increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary adjustment of water activity and composition before freeze-drying, which prepares the bacteria-containing suspension for more efficient drying. This pre-treatment reduces the actual freeze-drying time required while maintaining high storage stability of the preserved bacteria.
Solution Approach 2:
By optimizing water activity parameters and composition before freeze-drying, the patent achieves faster drying rates and reduced process time while maintaining the storage stability benefits of freeze-dried bacteria.
3Ease of manufacture
If water activity is not controlled during concentration, then processing simplicity is maintained, but cell survival during storage decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water activity control as a key parameter, adjusting it to specific ranges (0.6-0.95) through controlled addition of aqueous solution. This parameter control significantly improves cell survival during storage while maintaining relatively simple processing through straightforward concentration methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses aqueous solution as a medium to transfer and adjust the water activity of the bacteria-containing concentrate, effectively copying the desired water activity profile into the final product without complex processing equipment.
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
The process results in bacteria-containing concentrates with higher viability and lower water activity, enabling faster freeze-drying and improved storage stability, reducing energy and transportation costs while maintaining bacterial activity.
Implementation Method 1
adding an aqueous solution to a first bacteria-containing concentrate to provide a bacteria-containing suspension
Implementation Method 2
concentrating said bacteria-containing suspension to provide a second bacteria-containing concentrate
Implementation Method 3
concentrating said bacteria-containing suspension to provide a second bacteria-containing concentrate
Implementation Method 4
freeze-drying said second bacteria-containing concentrate at a pressure of 0.5 to 2.0 mBar
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for providing purified bacteria-containing concentrates, comprising at least the steps of adding an aqueous solution to a first bacteria- containing concentrate to provide a bacteria-containing suspension, wherein the volume of the added aqueous solution is in the range of 0.3 liters to 10 liters per liter of said first bacteria- containing concentrate; and concentrating said bacteria-containing suspension to provide a second bacteria-containing concentrate. Further, the present invention relates to the purified concentrates per se.