Coated Fish Feed Pellets Reduce Nutrient Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard fish feeds are prone to nutrient leakage in water-borne feeding systems, such as recirculating aquaculture systems, leading to inefficiencies and environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
A coated fish feed composition comprising an extruded, pressed, or particulate fish feed pellet coated with a composition of oil and solid particles with a median particle size between 5 μm and 600 μm, which reduces nutrient leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If standard fish feed is used in water-borne feeding systems, then the feed is easy to deliver to fish, but nutrient leakage occurs into the water
Solution Approach 1:
A coating composition comprising oil and solid particles (such as wheat gluten, soy protein concentrate, or bentonite) is applied as an intermediary layer on the fish feed pellet surface. This coating acts as a barrier that prevents direct contact between the feed nutrients and water, thereby reducing nutrient leakage while maintaining the feed's deliverability through water-borne systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite materials by combining oil with solid particles to form a coating composition. This composite coating provides both the necessary adhesion to the feed pellet and the barrier properties to prevent nutrient leakage, resolving the contradiction between ease of delivery and nutrient retention.
2Loss of substance
If a coating composition is applied to reduce nutrient leakage, then nutrient retention improves, but the complexity of feed preparation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coating composition parameters are optimized to achieve effective nutrient leakage reduction at practical concentrations. The oil-to-solid particle ratio, particle size distribution (median 5-600 μm), and coating thickness are controlled within specific ranges to ensure effectiveness while maintaining preparation simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
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 coating composition effectively reduces nutrient leakage from the fish feed by at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, or 50% compared to uncoated fish feed, enhancing the efficiency of water-borne feeding systems.
Implementation Method 1
a coating composition surrounding the feed pellet and comprising an oil and a solid particle with a median particle size between 5 μm and 600 μm
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to a fish feed comprising an extruded, pressed, or particulate fish feed pellet and a coating composition surrounding the feed pellet and comprising an oil and a solid particle with a median particle size between 5 μm and 600 μm. In general, the coating composition will include a solid particle selected from the group consisting of wheat gluten, soy protein concentrate, pea protein concentrate, fish meal, concentrated fish soluble protein, feather meal, bentonite, diatomaceous earth, zyolate, ammonium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, algae oil, and combinations thereof.