Plant Biomass Fermentation for Low-Heat Cosmetic Ingredient Extraction

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for preparing cosmetic and dermatological ingredients from plant and algae biomass face challenges such as the destruction of active components due to high temperatures and chemicals during pretreatment, limited growth and metabolite production of beneficial microorganisms, and the difficulty in removing undesirable monosaccharides, leading to reduced quality and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A process involving extrusion at low temperatures combined with ultrasonication, followed by enzyme treatment with hydrolases, and fermentation with beneficial microorganisms to release cosmetically and dermatologically active components while forming oligosaccharide prebiotics and postbiotics, effectively eliminating monosaccharides.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If chemical, physicochemical or enzymatic pretreatment is used to hydrolyze structural polysaccharides, then the biomass can be converted to valuable products, but the cosmetically or dermatologically active components are destroyed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconversion of biomass to valuable productsVSAvoiddestruction of active components

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical pretreatment (milling, grinding, or extrusion) before enzymatic hydrolysis to physically disrupt the lignocellulosic structure and increase enzyme accessibility. This preliminary mechanical action reduces the need for aggressive chemical or high-intensity enzymatic treatment, thereby preserving thermolabile cosmetically active components while still enabling effective conversion of structural polysaccharides to valuable products

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces chemical pretreatment methods with mechanical pretreatment methods (milling, grinding, extrusion). This substitution eliminates the use of harsh chemicals that could degrade active components, while the mechanical energy input effectively disrupts the biomass structure to facilitate subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis of structural polysaccharides

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If high temperatures are used during pretreatment to hydrolyze structural polysaccharides, then the hydrolysis efficiency is improved, but the cosmetically or dermatologically active components are destroyed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrolysis efficiencyVSAvoiddestruction of active components

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical pretreatment (milling, grinding, or extrusion) before enzymatic hydrolysis to physically disrupt the lignocellulosic structure and increase enzyme accessibility. This preliminary mechanical action reduces the need for aggressive chemical or high-intensity enzymatic treatment, thereby preserving thermolabile cosmetically active components while still enabling effective conversion of structural polysaccharides to valuable products

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the hydrolysis process by using milder temperatures and extending the hydrolysis time. This parameter adjustment allows sufficient hydrolysis of structural polysaccharides while preventing degradation of thermolabile cosmetically active components that would be destroyed at higher temperatures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If beneficial microorganisms are cultivated on plant or algae biomass, then cosmetic ingredients are produced, but the microorganisms exhibit limited growth and metabolite production due to inability to hydrolyze structural polysaccharides

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction of cosmetic ingredientsVSAvoidgrowth and metabolite production of microorganisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical pretreatment (milling, grinding, or extrusion) before enzymatic hydrolysis to physically disrupt the lignocellulosic structure and increase enzyme accessibility. This preliminary mechanical action reduces the need for aggressive chemical or high-intensity enzymatic treatment, thereby preserving thermolabile cosmetically active components while still enabling effective conversion of structural polysaccharides to valuable products

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces enzymes as an intermediary to facilitate the breakdown of structural polysaccharides into fermentable sugars. These enzymes act as a bridge between the recalcitrant lignocellulosic biomass and the beneficial microorganisms, enabling the microbes to access and utilize the carbon sources for growth and metabolite production

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Manufacturing precision

If monosaccharides are removed from the final product, then the quality of cosmetic ingredients is improved, but the production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of cosmetic ingredientsVSAvoidproduction costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces enzymes as an intermediary to facilitate the breakdown of structural polysaccharides into fermentable sugars. These enzymes act as a bridge between the recalcitrant lignocellulosic biomass and the beneficial microorganisms, enabling the microbes to access and utilize the carbon sources for growth and metabolite production

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 preserves active components and enhances the production of high-quality cosmetic and dermatological ingredients by releasing cosmetically and dermatologically active compounds, achieving a high content of oligosaccharides and postbiotics while minimizing monosaccharides.

Implementation Method 1

The present invention relates to a process of preparing cosmetic and/or dermatological ingredients by extrusion of plant and/or algae biomass

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExtrusion: Extrusion

Implementation Method 2

by extrusion of plant and/or algae biomass at temperature lower than 80 °C combined with ultrasonication

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonication: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 3

followed by treatment with enzymes hydrolyzing structural polysaccharides

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzymatic hydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 4

and fermentation with beneficial microorganisms

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentEP4700131A1Process of preparing cosmetic ingredients containing cosmetically or dermatologically active components from plant or algae

Publication Date: 2026.02.25 BIOREALIS S R O

AI summary

A combined process for a preparation of a cosmetic ingredient containing a cosmetically and/or dermatologically active component of plant or algae origin in an increased yield and at the same time postbiotics from beneficial microorganisms and a high content of oligosaccharide prebiotics with a negligible amount of monosaccharides is presented. It is based on a treatment of plant or algae biomass with an extrusion preferably combined with an ultrasonication and followed by enzymatic cleaving their structural polysaccharides by enzymes selected from cellulases, hemicellulases, xylanases and pectinases, in a combination with a fermentation with beneficial microorganisms, selected from bacteria and yeasts. The active component of plant or algae origin is preferably selected from the group consisting of phenolic compounds, vitamins, antioxidants, essential oils, hydrocolloids, proteins, peptides, terpenoids, amino acids, organic acids, and polyols. The fermented biomass obtained after the described treatment can be further processed by physical methods, such as heating, freezing, homogenization, filtration, centrifugation, concentration, drying or lyophilization.