Endotoxin Extraction via Aliphatic Acid and Amine Solvents
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for extracting endotoxins from bacteria, particularly Gram-negative bacteria, rely on toxic solvents like phenol and chloroform, leading to health risks and contamination issues, making them unsuitable for human or animal administration and scientific use.
Innovation Solution
A method involving suspending bacterial cells or culture supernatants in a mixture of linear or branched aliphatic acids and basic aqueous solutions of aliphatic amines, followed by separation and solvent elimination, which is faster, safer, and more selective, achieving higher yields without the need for toxic solvents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If toxic solvents like phenol and chloroform are used for endotoxin extraction, then extraction effectiveness is improved, but health risks and contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the extraction system by replacing toxic solvents (phenol, chloroform) with a non-toxic alternative system consisting of aliphatic acid and aliphatic amine. This parameter change maintains extraction effectiveness while eliminating health risks and contamination associated with traditional toxic solvents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful property of requiring toxic solvents for effective extraction into a benefit by discovering that non-toxic aliphatic acid and amine combinations can achieve equal or superior extraction effectiveness, thereby turning the previously harmful extraction process into a safe one.
2Quantity of substance
If toxic solvents are used for endotoxin extraction, then extraction yield is improved, but residues make the extract unfit for human or animal administration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using non-toxic aliphatic acid and amine systems instead of toxic solvents, achieving high extraction yields while producing extracts free of harmful residues, thereby ensuring suitability for human or animal administration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs readily available, non-toxic aliphatic acids and amines that can be easily removed or degraded, replacing expensive and problematic toxic solvents that require complex elimination steps. The simple, non-toxic nature of these reagents ensures no harmful residues remain in the final extract.
3Productivity
If toxic solvents are used for endotoxin extraction, then extraction capability is improved, but elimination of residues becomes difficult and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters by selecting aliphatic acid and amine reagents with favorable properties for easy removal or degradation, eliminating the need for complex residue elimination steps while maintaining effective extraction capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts endotoxins using a simplified system where the non-toxic aliphatic acid and amine can be easily separated or decomposed, taking out the endotoxins without leaving behind complex residues that would require elaborate elimination procedures.
4Reliability
If conventional extraction methods are used, then endotoxins can be isolated, but the process is time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the kinetic and chemical parameters by using aliphatic acid and amine systems that facilitate faster extraction kinetics, reducing the time required for endotoxin isolation while maintaining reliable extraction capability.
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 enables rapid extraction of endotoxins within 12-24 hours, with higher yields and reduced contamination, making it suitable for industrial scale and safe for handling, and allows for the preparation of compositions for human or animal administration.
Implementation Method 1
the starting product is a group of bacterial cells or, optionally, a culture supernatant; in a first step, the bacterial cells, or the culture supernatant, are (is) suspended in a mixture of solvents consisting of: 10 to 90%, preferably 30 to 70%, of a solvent chosen from: linear or branched aliphatic acids containing from 3 to 6 carbon atoms; 90 to 10%, preferably 70 to 30%, of a basic aqueous solution of an aliphatic amine
Implementation Method 2
in a second step, the particles in suspension are separated from the solution: either by filtration of the composition, or by centrifugation and recovery of the supernatant
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a novel method for extracting endotoxins from bacteria, and the use of said method for preparing compositions comprising endotoxins or derivatives thereof designed for human or animal use (scientific, medical usage).