Egg Protein Extrusion Using Starch Composite

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing high protein snack products, particularly those using extrusion technology, face challenges with poor organoleptic properties and consumer acceptance due to the use of vegetable proteins like soy, which have low quality and digestibility issues, and animal proteins like egg protein, which inhibit expansion and texture, leading to unsatisfactory products.

Innovation Solution

An expanded extruded high protein food product is developed using 10-50% egg white and 50-90% edible starch, processed through a twin screw extruder with controlled temperature and pressure to achieve a product with high protein content, low density, and improved taste and mouthfeel, allowing for the use of egg white as a major protein source.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If vegetable proteins like soy are used in high protein snack products, then protein content is increased, but organoleptic properties and digestibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotein contentVSAvoidorganoleptic properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines egg white powder (animal protein) with starch to create a composite extruded product. This composite approach allows achieving high protein content (10-50% egg white powder) while maintaining good organoleptic properties, as egg white provides superior digestibility and taste compared to vegetable proteins alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the protein source from vegetable-based to egg white-based, fundamentally altering the chemical composition parameters. By using 10-50% egg white powder in the formulation, the product achieves both high protein content and improved digestibility while maintaining acceptable organoleptic properties through controlled extrusion parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If animal protein like egg protein is used, then protein quality and digestibility are improved, but expansion and texture properties worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotein qualityVSAvoidexpansion and texture
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes extrusion parameters (temperature, pressure, screw speed) to compensate for the reduced expansion properties of egg white-based products. By controlling these parameters, the process achieves adequate expansion and acceptable texture despite using 10-50% egg white powder, which inherently provides poorer expansion compared to vegetable proteins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The combination of egg white powder with starch creates a composite matrix that balances the superior protein quality of egg white with the functional properties of starch, including its ability to provide structure and expansion. This composite approach allows achieving high protein content while maintaining acceptable texture and expansion properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Quantity of substance

If egg white is used as major protein source, then nutritional quality is improved, but product acceptance deteriorates due to poor texture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenutritional qualityVSAvoidconsumer acceptance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes extrusion parameters including temperature (typically 80-150°C), pressure, and screw speed to achieve adequate expansion and acceptable texture in egg white-based products. These parameter adjustments compensate for the inherent poor expansion properties of egg white, improving consumer acceptance while maintaining high nutritional quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

By formulating a composite product with 10-50% egg white powder and 50-90% starch, the patent creates a balanced product that leverages the superior nutritional quality of egg white while using starch to provide acceptable texture and expansion properties, thereby improving overall consumer acceptance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution results in a high protein, nutritious, and organoleptically acceptable product with enhanced expansion properties, overcoming the limitations of previous technologies by utilizing egg white as the primary protein source, offering superior nutritional quality and consumer acceptance.

Implementation Method 1

processed through a twin screw extruder with controlled temperature and pressure to achieve a product with high protein content, low density, and improved taste and mouthfeel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

processed through a twin screw extruder with controlled temperature and pressure to achieve a product with high protein content, low density

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentUS11229222B2Egg protein product
Publication Date: 2022.01.25 SASKATCHEWAN EGG PRODRS

AI summary

An expanded extruded high protein product comprising an extrudate of a composition comprising about 10-50% by dry weight of egg white and about 50-90% by dry weight of an edible starch, wherein the product has a moisture content of less than 8%, a protein content of at least 10%, and a density of less than 100 grams per liter.