Chlorophyll Extract Stabilization Using Squalene-Rich Storage Oils
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chlorophyll is unstable in the surrounding environment, making it difficult to apply to the food industry due to degradation from heat, light, oxygen, enzymes, and pH changes, and existing stabilization methods provide only short-term stability.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of oils with long-chain unsaturated lipid structures, such as squalene, to stabilize chlorophyll by dissolving it in these oils and storing it under controlled conditions, including supercritical fluid extraction and fractional extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If chlorophyll-containing extract is stored at low temperature to maintain stability, then the storage stability is improved, but the storage cost and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the storage medium by adding specific antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, BHA, BHT) and adjusting sugar content (10-50% w/v), thereby improving chlorophyll stability without requiring low-temperature storage conditions
2Use of energy by stationary object
If conventional storage methods are used to reduce storage cost, then the storage cost is reduced, but the storage stability deteriorates due to bacterial growth and pigment degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary substances (antioxidants and preservatives) into the storage medium that mediate between the chlorophyll and harmful environmental factors (oxygen, bacteria), protecting the chlorophyll without requiring expensive low-temperature storage infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The storage medium is formulated as a composite system containing sugar solution, antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, BHA, BHT), and preservatives (sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate), where each component contributes specific protective functions to achieve stable chlorophyll storage at ambient temperature
3Adaptability or versatility
If natural pigments like chlorophyll are used to provide natural color, then the naturalness is improved, but the color stability deteriorates under light and heat exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts harmful factors (light, heat, oxygen) into manageable conditions by using antioxidants that specifically target and neutralize the harmful effects of these factors, allowing natural chlorophyll to maintain its color stability under normal storage conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The antioxidant system creates a chemically protective environment that acts as an inert barrier between the chlorophyll and reactive oxygen species generated by light and heat exposure, preventing oxidation and color degradation
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 achieves long-term stability of chlorophyll, allowing it to remain stable for over 10 months, and enables direct application in food and medicine without additional processing, reducing operational costs and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E to maintain the color stability of the extract
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a method for long-term storage of chlorophyll, which is unstable in the surrounding environment, wherein a stabilizer employing oils having long-chain unsaturated lipid structures, of which squalene is representative, is used to stabilize chlorophyll.