Enzyme Granules with Copper Ion Donor for Steam Pelleting Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing enzyme granules for animal feed face stability issues during steam pelleting due to high temperature and humidity, leading to reduced enzyme activity and the need for cumbersome coating processes, which are not compatible with all feed mill equipment.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a copper ion donor into the enzyme granules to enhance stability during steam pelleting, with the amount of copper ions optimized to maintain enzyme activity without degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If enzyme granules are steam treated to improve pelleting stability, then the physical properties of pellets are improved, but enzyme activity is reduced due to high temperature and humidity
Solution Approach 1:
A copper ion donor is introduced as an intermediary substance that mediates between the enzyme and the harsh steam treatment conditions. The copper ions stabilize the enzyme structure during steam pelleting, allowing the enzyme to withstand high temperature and humidity while maintaining activity. This resolves the contradiction by providing protective stabilization without requiring avoidance of steam treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the enzyme granule by incorporating copper ions, which alter the enzyme's stability properties. This parameter change enables the enzyme to tolerate steam treatment conditions that would otherwise degrade it, thus improving pelleting stability while preserving enzyme activity through chemical modification.
2Reliability
If a coating process is used to protect enzyme granules during steam pelleting, then enzyme stability is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and less compatible with feed mill equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the separate coating process step from the manufacturing sequence. By incorporating copper ion stabilization directly into the enzyme granule formulation, the need for post-manufacturing coating is removed. This simplifies the process while maintaining enzyme stability, directly resolving the contradiction between protection and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The copper ion stabilization is performed in advance during granule formation rather than as a subsequent coating step. This preliminary action embeds the protective function within the granule structure itself, eliminating the need for separate coating equipment and processes while ensuring enzyme stability throughout steam pelleting.
3Reliability
If a large surplus of enzymes is used to compensate for heat treatment degradation, then adequate enzyme activity is maintained, but the cost and formulation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the strategy of using large surplus quantities of enzymes with a more efficient copper ion stabilization approach. The copper ions act as a protective agent that prevents degradation, allowing standard enzyme quantities to maintain adequate activity after steam treatment. This reduces formulation complexity and material usage while achieving the same reliability goal.
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 use of copper ions significantly improves the pelleting stability of enzyme granules, making the coating process optional and ensuring the retention of enzyme activity during steam treatment.
Implementation Method 1
copper ions have a positive effect on enzyme stability during pelleting if formulated together with the enzyme
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is related to feed granules comprising a feed enzyme and a copper ion donor.