Beetroot Powder Nitrate Enrichment via Alcohol Extraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current beetroot products, such as powders and juices, have low nitrate content and high sugar levels, making it impractical to achieve efficacious doses of nitrate for health benefits, particularly for individuals with low carbohydrate/sugar intake, and existing products often falsely claim benefits due to non-efficacious amounts.
Innovation Solution
A method involving mixing dried beetroot products with an extraction mixture of low molecular weight alcohol and acid, followed by steeping, filtering, and drying to increase nitrate content and reduce sugar levels, using ethanol and acetic acid, and optional ethanol fermentation to convert sugars into alcohol, resulting in a beetroot powder with at least 3% nitrate by weight and reduced sugar content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional dried beetroot products are used, then the product is easy to manufacture and consume, but the nitrate content is low (0.8-2.5% by weight) and sugar content is high, making it impractical to achieve efficacious doses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts nitrate from beetroot material using an alcohol-based extraction process, separating the nitrate-containing compounds from the bulk beetroot material. This allows concentration of nitrate into a smaller volume while removing excess sugars and other unwanted components, achieving high nitrate content (at least 3% by weight) in the final product.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the extraction process by using specific ratios of alcohol to water and controlling the extraction conditions to optimize nitrate recovery. The process transforms the nitrate from a dilute form in whole beetroot to a concentrated form in the extracted powder, achieving at least 3% nitrate by weight.
2Quantity of substance
If beetroot products are consumed to achieve efficacious nitrate doses (150-322 mg/day), then health benefits are achieved, but the high sugar content (9-10 g sugars per 100 ml in concentrated products) makes it problematic for diabetics and weight loss
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction process selectively extracts nitrate-containing compounds from beetroot while leaving behind a significant portion of sugars in the residue. This separation allows the final product to have high nitrate content while reduced sugar content, making it suitable for diabetics and weight loss programs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a product with non-uniform composition where nitrate is concentrated in the extracted powder form while sugars remain in the discarded residue. This local concentration of desired components (nitrate) and removal of unwanted components (sugars) achieves the dual goal of high nitrate efficacy and low sugar content.
3Ease of operation
If concentrated beetroot products are used to achieve efficacious nitrate doses, then the required dosage becomes practical, but the earthy taste from geosmin and high sugar content make consumption objectionable
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction process removes geosmin and other earthy-tasting compounds along with the excess sugars, while retaining the nitrate-containing compounds. This selective removal improves the sensory properties of the product, making it more palatable and acceptable for daily consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the final product by controlling the extraction process to remove geosmin and sugars while concentrating nitrate. This results in a product that is both efficacious (high nitrate) and palatable (low geosmin and sugar), solving the contradiction between effectiveness and acceptability.
4Quantity of substance
If whole beetroot or beetroot juice is consumed, then nitrate is provided, but the high carbohydrate content per dry weight makes it difficult to make practical solid products like tablets, capsules or powder
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction process concentrates nitrate into a small volume of alcohol extract, which is then dried to produce a lightweight powder. This removes the bulk of the beetroot material (water, fibers, sugars) while retaining the active nitrate compounds, resulting in a high-concentration, low-weight product suitable for practical supplementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an asymmetric composition where the desired component (nitrate) is highly concentrated while the bulk components (water, sugars, fibers) are removed. This asymmetric concentration achieves high nitrate content per unit weight, making the product practical for supplementation without excessive weight or volume.
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 method significantly increases nitrate content in beetroot products, reducing sugar levels and maintaining temperature-sensitive nutrients like antioxidants, enabling convenient and effective daily nitrate administration while avoiding the earthy taste and smell of conventional beetroot products.
Implementation Method 1
mixing dried beetroot product with an extraction mixture comprising an alcohol and an acid
Implementation Method 2
adding an ethanol fermentation agent to the beetroot solution; fermenting the beetroot solution containing the ethanol fermentation agent, wherein sugars in the beetroot solution are converted into alcohol
Implementation Method 3
removing water and alcohol from the fermented liquid by vacuum drying
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to methods of enriching beetroot products to increase the nitrate content of the beetroot powder product. The disclosure also relates to beetroot powder products with increased with at least 4% nitrate.