Eutectic Extraction Solvent for Stable Plant Bioactive Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solvents used for plant material extraction in cosmetics are volatile, flammable, and require microbiological preservatives, and they often destabilize sensitive molecules, limiting their use in water-based formulations and industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
A solvent system comprising a eutectic solvent (ES) of trimethylglycine and 1,3-propanediol with water and cellulase, which stabilizes and extracts cosmetically active ingredients while providing antimicrobial preservation, allowing for industrial-scale use without additional preservatives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If organic solvents (alcohols, acetone, hexane) are used for extraction, then extracting ability is improved, but safety and environmental friendliness deteriorate due to volatility and flammability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the extraction solvent by using deep eutectic solvents (DES) composed of trimethylglycine and 1,3-propanediol in specific molar ratios (1:2, 1:3, or 1:4). This parameter change transforms the solvent properties to achieve high extracting ability while eliminating volatility and flammability, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If water or biobased glycerol/ethanol mixtures are used as extraction solvents, then safety and environmental friendliness are improved, but extraction efficiency deteriorates and microbiological preservation becomes necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite extraction solvent system combining trimethylglycine (a hydrogen bond donor) and 1,3-propanediol (a hydrogen bond acceptor) in specific molar ratios to form a deep eutectic solvent. This composite material achieves both high extraction efficiency for bioactive compounds and inherent antimicrobial properties, eliminating the need for additional preservatives while maintaining safety and environmental friendliness.
3Device complexity
If conventional extraction solvents are used, then extraction process is simple, but the extracted molecules lose stability due to sensitivity to air, oxygen and heat
Solution Approach 1:
The deep eutectic solvent creates a protective extraction environment that acts as an inert medium against oxidative degradation. The solvent system protects sensitive bioactive molecules (phenolic compounds, flavonoids, terpenes) from air and oxygen during extraction and storage, maintaining their stability and shelf-life without requiring complex protective measures, thus resolving the contradiction between process simplicity and molecule stability.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If water-based extraction is used, then safety is improved, but solubility of extracted molecules deteriorates due to low aqueous solubility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent parameters by using a deep eutectic solvent system with specific hydrogen bond donor and acceptor components in optimized molar ratios. This parameter change enhances the solubility of poorly water-soluble bioactive compounds while maintaining the safety benefits of water-based extraction, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and solubility.
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 solvent system effectively extracts and stabilizes sensitive molecules, enabling long-term storage and industrial-scale production of cosmetic formulations without the need for extra preservatives, while maintaining microbial stability.
Implementation Method 1
the use of enzymes capable of disrupting these complexes and release the bioactive molecules has emerged as a promising, greener alternative to conventional extraction methods
Implementation Method 2
Eutectic Solvents (such as Deep Eutectic Solvents, DES) are mixtures comprising two or more components, at least one Hydrogen Bond Donor and one Hydrogen Bond Acceptor, which interact via hydrogen and Van der Waals bonds formation to produce a eutectic mixture which possesses a melting point much lower than the melting point of each component
Implementation Method 3
Eutectic Solvents (such as Deep Eutectic Solvents, DES) are mixtures comprising two or more components, at least one Hydrogen Bond Donor and one Hydrogen Bond Acceptor, which interact via hydrogen and Van der Waals bonds formation
Implementation Method 4
The extended hydrogen bond array formed among the molecules of a NADES creates a unique medium, ideal for the extraction of bioactive compounds
Data Source
AI summary
A solvent for the extraction of cosmetically active ingredients from plant material comprising a eutectic solvent of trimethylglycine and 1 ,3-propanediol in a molar ratio 7:1; water; and a cellulase.