Corn Fiber Arabinoxylan Extraction at Controlled pH
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for extracting arabinoxylan from corn fiber face challenges in providing a high-quality product efficiently and effectively, particularly under highly acidic conditions which can degrade the oligosaccharides and require stringent process control.
Innovation Solution
A method involving de-starching corn material, maintaining an aqueous mixture at a pH of 5-14 and an appropriate temperature to extract arabinoxylan into an aqueous phase, followed by separation and purification to obtain a high-quality arabinoxylan product with specific compositional characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If highly acidic conditions are used for extraction, then arabinoxylan can be extracted from corn fiber, but the oligosaccharides are degraded and process control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the extraction pH parameter from highly acidic (conventional) to neutral or slightly basic (pH 7-9), which prevents degradation of arabinoxylan oligosaccharides while maintaining effective extraction. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by achieving both high yield and high product quality without degradation.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional extraction methods are used, then arabinoxylan can be obtained, but additional purification steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary de-starching of corn fiber before extraction, which removes starch that would otherwise require additional purification steps. This preliminary action simplifies the overall process by eliminating the need for subsequent starch removal operations, reducing both complexity and processing time.
3Ease of manufacture
If extraction is performed without de-starching, then the process is simpler, but starch contamination occurs in the final product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the extraction process into distinct stages: de-starching phase followed by arabinoxylan extraction phase. This segmentation allows starch to be removed first, then arabinoxylan to be extracted in a separate step, achieving high product purity while maintaining clear process boundaries and operational simplicity.
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 yields an arabinoxylan product with high dietary fiber content, low digestible carbohydrates, and minimal protein and fat, suitable for food applications without the need for further purification steps.
Implementation Method 1
maintaining an aqueous mixture of the de-starched corn material at an extraction pH in the range of 5-14 for a time and at a temperature effective to extract arabinoxylan from the de-starched com material into an aqueous phase
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure related generally to a method of providing an arabinoxylan product from a corn material such as a corn fiber. The method includes de-starching the corn material to provide a de-starched corn material; maintaining an aqueous mixture of the destarched corn material at an extraction pH in the range of 5-14 for a time and at a temperature effective to extract arabinoxylan from the de-starched corn material into an aqueous phase of the aqueous mixture and to provide a corn residue; separating the aqueous phase containing the extracted arabinoxylan from the corn residue; and providing the arabinoxylan product from the aqueous phase.