Purified Collagen Extraction via Alkali-Ethanol Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for extracting collagen from porcine skin are inefficient, resulting in collagen solutions with high impurity levels and often involve toxic chemicals or denaturation of collagen molecules.
Innovation Solution
A method involving sodium hydroxide and ethanol treatments followed by multistage filtration and concentration to produce a highly purified collagen solution from porcine skin, utilizing sodium hydroxide to break down tissue structures and ethanol to remove impurities, with subsequent acid dissolution and clarification steps to isolate and concentrate collagen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional extraction methods are used, then collagen can be extracted from porcine skin, but the extracted collagen contains high amounts of impurities and other protein contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction process is divided into multiple sequential steps: (1) NaOH treatment to remove non-collagen proteins, (2) ethanol treatment to remove lipids and remaining impurities, (3) acid dissolution to extract collagen, and (4) multistage filtration. This segmentation allows each step to target specific impurities, progressively purifying the collagen while maintaining extraction efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent selectively removes different types of impurities at different stages: non-collagen proteins are extracted first using NaOH, followed by lipid removal with ethanol, and finally collagen extraction with acid. This selective extraction approach ensures high purity collagen is obtained without compromising the overall extraction efficiency.
2Productivity
If heating to 80°C or above is used to extract collagen, then extraction efficiency improves, but collagen is denatured and converted to gelatin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the extraction parameters by using chemical treatments (NaOH and ethanol) instead of thermal treatment. The NaOH treatment occurs at controlled pH and temperature conditions that do not denature collagen, and ethanol treatment removes impurities without requiring high temperatures. This parameter change allows efficient extraction while preserving collagen's native triple-helical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal-mechanical extraction method (heating to 80°C or above) with a chemical-mechanical method using NaOH and ethanol treatments followed by acid dissolution. This substitution eliminates the denaturation issue caused by high temperature while maintaining effective collagen extraction through chemical solubilization.
3Quantity of substance
If enzymatic extraction with pepsin is used, then collagen can be extracted from tissue, but the process requires long reaction times and strict reaction conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the biochemical enzymatic extraction method (pepsin digestion) with a chemical extraction method using NaOH and ethanol treatments followed by acid dissolution. This substitution eliminates the need for long enzymatic reaction times and strict pH/temperature control requirements, while achieving effective collagen extraction through chemical solubilization and impurity removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the extraction mechanism from enzymatic hydrolysis to chemical solubilization. The NaOH and ethanol treatments followed by acid dissolution occur under milder and more flexible conditions compared to enzymatic extraction, reducing reaction time and relaxing strict condition requirements while maintaining effective collagen extraction.
4Productivity
If toxic chemicals are used for extraction, then collagen can be extracted efficiently, but the process introduces harmful residues and safety concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses NaOH and ethanol as removable treatment agents that are discarded after serving their purification function. The NaOH treatment removes non-collagen proteins, ethanol removes lipids and impurities, and then acid dissolution extracts the purified collagen. The treatment chemicals are washed away in the process, leaving no harmful residues in the final collagen product, thus eliminating toxicity concerns while maintaining extraction efficiency.
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 a highly purified collagen solution with minimal impurities, suitable for medical and cosmetic applications, as demonstrated by SDS-PAGE and FTIR analysis, indicating effective removal of non-collagen proteins and preservation of collagen integrity.
Implementation Method 1
treating the porcine skin with a sodium hydroxide treatment, resulting in a sodium hydroxide processed skin
Implementation Method 2
treating the sodium hydroxide processed skin with an ethanol treatment, resulting in ethanol treated processed skin
Implementation Method 3
producing liquid collagen from the ethanol treated processed skin
Implementation Method 4
clarifying the liquid collagen
Implementation Method 5
concentrating the clarified liquid collagen
Data Source
AI summary
A method of preparing a purified collagen solution from porcine skin may include receiving and inspecting the porcine skin; treating the porcine skin with a sodium hydroxide treatment, resulting in a sodium hydroxide processed skin; treating the sodium hydroxide processed skin with an ethanol treatment, resulting in ethanol treated processed skin; producing liquid collagen from the ethanol treated processed skin; clarifying the liquid collagen; and concentrating the clarified liquid collagen.