Anhydrous Ergothioneine Crystallization for High Purity and Yield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing ergothioneine result in low crystallinity, low yield, and low purity, with amorphous forms being prevalent, and there is a need for methods that can produce ergothioneine crystals with high yield, purity, and uniform size distribution while minimizing energy and material consumption.
Innovation Solution
A controlled crystallization process is employed to produce anhydrous crystal forms of ergothioneine, utilizing specific monovalent cation salts and organic solvents, followed by cooling and drying to achieve high yield (>90%) and purity (>99.5%) with uniform crystal size distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional production methods (chemical synthesis, biological extraction, or biological fermentation) are used to produce ergothioneine, then the production process is simple and accessible, but the resulting product is mostly flaky and amorphous with low crystallinity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically adjusting crystallization parameters including temperature (0-10°C), pH value (6-8), solvent type (water-miscible organic solvents like ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, acetone), and concentration (120-300 g/L) to transform amorphous ergothioneine into crystalline form. This controlled parameter modification enables formation of uniform crystals with high crystallinity while maintaining a relatively simple production process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions by controlling the crystallization process where ergothioneine transitions from amorphous solid or solution phase to crystalline solid phase. Through controlled cooling and pH adjustment, the amorphous ergothioneine undergoes phase transition to form crystalline structure, achieving high crystallinity and uniform crystal morphology.
2Productivity
If conventional crystallization methods are used, then the process is straightforward, but the crystallization yield is low due to high solubility of ergothioneine in water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses water-miscible organic solvents (ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, acetone) as intermediaries to reduce the solubility of ergothioneine. These organic solvents act as mediators that form mixed solvent systems with water, creating conditions where ergothioneine precipitates out as crystals. This intermediary approach enables high crystallization yield (>90%) by preventing excessive dissolution of ergothioneine in the final product.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the solvent system parameter from pure water to water-miscible organic solvent mixtures, which fundamentally alters the solubility characteristics. This parameter change reduces the overall solubility of ergothioneine, enabling complete or near-complete crystallization and achieving crystallization yields exceeding 90% with minimal substance loss.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional crystallization methods are used, then the process is simple, but the crystal size distribution is non-uniform and purity is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs precise parameter changes including temperature control (0-10°C), pH adjustment (6-8), and solvent selection to achieve uniform crystal size distribution. By carefully controlling these parameters, the crystallization process produces crystals with consistent size and morphology, achieving uniform distribution without requiring complex equipment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific localized conditions in the crystallization system. Through controlled pH adjustment and solvent addition, specific regions of the solution are optimized to favor uniform crystal nucleation and growth. This localized optimization ensures uniform crystal size distribution and high purity (>99.5%) while maintaining relatively simple overall process equipment.
4Productivity
If conventional methods are used, then the production cost is low, but the energy and material consumption is high and crystallization time is long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes key parameters including temperature (0-10°C), pH (6-8), and solvent type to accelerate the crystallization process. These parameter modifications enable rapid crystal formation with reduced crystallization time while maintaining low energy consumption. The optimized conditions allow the crystallization to proceed quickly without requiring excessive energy input or complex material removal processes.
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 anhydrous crystal forms exhibit high purity, low moisture content, and stable fluidity, suitable for applications in dietary supplements, foods, and cosmetics.
Implementation Method 1
a controlled crystallization process is employed to produce anhydrous crystal forms of ergothioneine
Implementation Method 2
after concentration, adding one or more monovalent cation salts of formate, acetate, citrate
Implementation Method 3
cooling to obtain an ergothioneine crystal slurry
Implementation Method 4
suction filtering and drying the ergothioneine crystal slurry to obtain the anhydrous crystal form A
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses a crystal form of ergothioneine and a preparation method thereof. The method provided by the invention can efficiently and stably produce anhydrous crystal form of ergothioneine. Moreover, the ergothioneine crystal form of the invention has high purity, high mass fraction, low moisture content and high crystallization yield, so it can have a wide application prospect in the fields of dietary supplements, foods or cosmetics.