Calcium Lactate Powder Dissolution via Sodium Addition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Calcium lactate powders, particularly in the anhydrous form, exhibit poor water solubility and stability due to their hygroscopic nature, leading to stickiness and dissolution issues, which are not adequately addressed by existing methods like mass crystallization and spray drying.
Innovation Solution
A lactate powder with a lactate content of at least 20 wt. % and a water content of less than 3.5 wt. %, comprising calcium and sodium cations in a molar ratio of 0.1-5, along with the addition of fast-dissolving carbohydrates, enhances dissolution behavior and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If calcium lactate is used in anhydrous form to prevent moisture uptake by hygroscopic components, then storage stability is improved, but dissolution properties deteriorate (particles form lumps that dissolve very slowly)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining anhydrous calcium lactate with a specific amount of water (0.5-5 wt%) and/or calcium lactate pentahydrate (5-40 wt%) to create a composite powder formulation. This composite structure allows the anhydrous calcium lactate to maintain storage stability while the controlled water content and pentahydrate portions facilitate rapid dissolution, resolving the contradiction between stability and dissolution properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the water content (0.5-5 wt%) and the ratio of anhydrous calcium lactate to pentahydrate in the powder mixture. By adjusting these parameters, the formulation achieves optimal balance between storage stability (maintained by low overall water content) and dissolution speed (enhanced by controlled water and pentahydrate content), transforming the harmful effect of water into a beneficial dissolution promoter
2Ease of operation
If calcium lactate is used in crystalline pentahydrate form to achieve favorable dispersion properties and easy dissolution, then dissolution properties are improved, but storage stability deteriorates (water of hydration is extracted by hygroscopic components causing stickiness)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by formulating a mixture where anhydrous calcium lactate (60-94.5 wt%) serves as the stable base material, while controlled amounts of water (0.5-5 wt%) and calcium lactate pentahydrate (5-40 wt%) are added as functional components. This composite structure provides the dissolution benefits of pentahydrate while the dominant anhydrous portion prevents moisture-related stickiness, resolving the stability-dissolution contradiction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform distribution of water and pentahydrate within the powder mixture. Rather than uniformly distributing water throughout the calcium lactate structure (which would cause stickiness), the water and pentahydrate are present as localized portions that facilitate dissolution at the particle level without causing macroscopic stickiness, achieving both dissolution speed and storage stability
3Ease of manufacture
If mass crystallisation followed by grinding or spray drying is used to produce calcium lactate powder, then manufacturing process is simplified, but product quality deteriorates (high water content leading to stickiness and dissolution issues)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the water content (0.5-5 wt%) and lactate content (≥20 wt%) parameters in the final powder product. By maintaining water content below 5 wt% while ensuring adequate lactate content, the formulation prevents stickiness and dissolution issues without requiring complex manufacturing processes, achieving both ease of manufacture and high product quality through parameter optimization
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 powder achieves rapid dissolution in water with a dissolution time of less than 90 seconds and maintains storage stability, preventing moisture uptake and stickiness, while maintaining a high lactate content and favorable taste profile.
Implementation Method 1
drying the liquid to a water content of less than 3.5 wt. %, preferably by means of spray drying
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a lactate powder, more particularly a lactate powder having a lactate content of at least 20 wt. % and a water content of less than 3.5 wt. %, said powder comprising calcium cations as well as sodium cations. According to the invention, a calcium lactate powder combining high stability with excellent water dissolution properties can be obtained even though anhydrous calcium lactate represents the bulk of the powder if the powder additionally contains a certain amount of sodium lactate. The inventors have found that the presence of sodium lactate greatly improves the dissolution behavior of the anhydrous calcium lactate while maintaining the storage stability of the powder. The present inventors also established that the dissolution behavior of the powder can be further improved by the addition of a fast-dissolving carbohydrate material.