Enzyme Granules Using Composite Binder for Moisture Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing enzyme immobilization methods for sucrose isomerization, such as those using alginate polymers, result in unstable and moisture-sensitive preparations that are prone to contamination and require hazardous crosslinking agents, leading to increased costs and reduced enzyme activity.
Innovation Solution
The use of a mixture of inorganic carrier materials with hydrophilic surfaces, such as precipitated silicas, and C1-C10-alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymers to produce drying-stable, storage-stable enzyme granules with high biocatalytic activity through known granulation processes like extrusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If alginate polymer is used for enzyme immobilization, then the immobilization process is simple and established, but the resulting granules are unstable, moisture-sensitive, and require hazardous crosslinking agents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite binder system comprising a natural polymer (starch or cellulose) combined with a synthetic polymer (polyvinyl alcohol). This composite approach leverages the biocompatibility and enzyme-binding properties of natural polymers while the synthetic component provides structural stability, moisture resistance, and eliminates the need for hazardous crosslinking agents like glutaraldehyde.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the binder from traditional alginate to a novel combination of starch/cellulose and polyvinyl alcohol. This parameter change fundamentally alters the properties of the immobilized granules, providing drying stability, moisture resistance, and elimination of contamination risks while maintaining ease of manufacture through conventional granulation processes.
2Stability of the object's composition
If alginate immobilizates are kept damp to prevent drying damage, then the structure remains intact, but contamination with foreign germs increases and water activity rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates granules that are inherently stable and do not require continuous damp storage conditions. The polyvinyl alcohol-starch/cellulose binder system provides such robust structural integrity that the granules can be stored dry or in various environmental conditions without degradation, effectively making the storage conditions flexible and eliminating the contamination risk associated with damp storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the water activity parameter of the immobilized granules by using a binder system that is inherently moisture-resistant. The polyvinyl alcohol component provides hydrophobic characteristics that reduce water absorption, allowing the granules to maintain structural stability at low water activity levels and thus preventing microbial growth without requiring damp storage conditions.
3Reliability
If glutaraldehyde and polyethyleneimine are used for crosslinking stabilization, then the immobilizate stability improves, but enzyme activity decreases and disposal costs increase due to hazardous waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the hazardous crosslinking agents (glutaraldehyde and polyethyleneimine) from the immobilization process. Instead, it uses a non-hazardous binder system based on starch or cellulose combined with polyvinyl alcohol that provides equivalent or superior stability without generating toxic waste or deactivating the enzyme.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the traditionally harmful role of crosslinking agents into a beneficial binder system. The polyvinyl alcohol-starch/cellulose combination naturally provides crosslinking-like stabilization through hydrogen bonding and physical entanglement, eliminating the need for toxic chemicals while maintaining granule stability and enzyme activity.
4Ease of manufacture
If polyvinylpyrrolidone binder is used for enzyme granulation, then the granules can be produced, but they are not stable in aqueous solutions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the single-component polyvinylpyrrolidone binder with a composite system of starch or cellulose combined with polyvinyl alcohol. This composite provides both ease of manufacture through conventional granulation and superior stability in aqueous solutions, as the natural polymer component offers biocompatibility and the polyvinyl alcohol provides structural integrity and water resistance.
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 resulting granules are mechanically stable, resistant to moisture, and maintain high enzyme activity even in aqueous media without the need for hazardous crosslinking agents, reducing contamination and disposal costs while ensuring stability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
by using a mixture of an inorganic carrier material with a preferably hydrophilic surface such as e.g. precipitated silicas
Implementation Method 2
at least one polymer selected from C1-C10-alkyl acrylate polymer, C1-C10-alkyl methacrylate polymer and C1-C10-alkyl acrylate-C1-C10-alkyl methacrylate copolymer
Implementation Method 3
at least one enzyme selected from at least one of the groups selected from transferases of EC 2, hydrolases of EC 3, lyases of EC 4 and isomerases of EC 5
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides granules comprisingA) at least one enzyme selected from at least one of the groups selected from transferases of EC 2, hydrolases of EC 3, lyases of EC 4 and isomerases of EC 5,B) at least one polymer selected from C1-C10-alkyl acrylate polymer, C1-C10-alkyl methacrylate polymer and C1-C10-alkyl acrylate-C1-C10-alkyl methacrylate copolymer, preferably C1-C10-alkyl acrylate-C1-C10-alkyl methacrylate copolymer andC) at least one inorganic carrier material.