Degutted Insect Processing via Liquid Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for insect processing in industrial-scale farming are hindered by the time-consuming and inefficient pre-processing steps required to clean insects, leading to prolonged batch-to-batch supply issues and reduced nutritional and microbial quality, which affects the economic viability and efficiency of insect-based product manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the suspension of insects in a liquid at a predetermined temperature for a specific time to stimulate gut evacuation, allowing for the release of gut content into the liquid, thereby reducing processing time and maintaining nutritional and microbial quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If insects are subjected to prolonged fasting or traditional cleaning methods before processing, then microbial load is reduced and product safety is improved, but processing time increases significantly (over 12 hours to days) and nutritional quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical state and composition of the liquid medium used for degutting. By controlling temperature, pH, and ionic strength parameters of the liquid, the process achieves effective gut evacuation within hours rather than days, resolving the contradiction between product safety and processing time while maintaining nutritional quality
2Reliability
If insects are fasted for extended periods to clear gut content, then microbial quality improves, but nutritional quality (protein and fat content) declines due to metabolism of stored nutrients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid medium as an intermediary substance that facilitates gut evacuation through osmotic and hydrodynamic effects. This mediator enables rapid clearance of gut content without requiring prolonged fasting, thereby preserving the insect's nutritional reserves while improving microbial quality
3Reliability
If traditional batch-wise insect farming and processing is used, then insect quality can be maintained, but manufacturing efficiency decreases due to interrupted production and loss of production capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous insect processing by replacing the traditional batch-wise approach with a continuous degutting method. The liquid-based degutting process can be continuously applied to incoming insect batches, eliminating production interruptions and maximizing manufacturing efficiency while maintaining insect quality through controlled processing parameters
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
This method significantly reduces the pre-slaughter period, achieving efficient degutting within hours, maintaining high nutritional and microbial quality, and enabling continuous, cost-effective insect processing without the need for prolonged fasting, thus enhancing the efficiency and quality of insect-based products.
Implementation Method 1
suspending the insect of step a. in the liquid of step a. and incubating the insect in the liquid for a predetermined time at the predetermined temperature or at a temperature range, therewith stimulating degutting of the insect and release of gut content of the insect into the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for the provision of degutted insects, such as black soldier fly larvae and mealworm, preferably live degutted insects. The invention also relates to degutted (live or dead) insects such as larvae and to processed degutted insects such as larvae. The invention also relates to the use of the degutted insect according to the invention or use of the processed degutted insect of the invention for the separation of the degutted insect or of the processed degutted insect in at least a fat fraction and/or at least a protein fraction. In addition, the invention relates to an insect product, wherein the insect product is any one of live or dead insect, insect puree, minced insect, insect powder, particulate insect, granulated insect, or insect meal, dried insect, oven-dried insect, lyophilized insect, or oven-dried insect using refractive drying obtained from degutted insect provided with the method of the invention. The invention also relates to an insect product, wherein the insect product is insect gut content, wherein the gut content is provided with the method of the invention. Finally, the invention relates to the method, the degutted insect provided with the method, the degutted insect, insects products, insect gut content according to the invention, wherein the insect is black soldier fly, preferably black soldier fly larvae, or wherein the insect is mealworm.