Soluble Fiber Beverage Concentrate pH Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many individuals fail to consume adequate amounts of dietary fiber, which is essential for digestive health, weight management, and blood sugar control, leading to issues like constipation, diarrhea, and increased risk of weight gain and metabolic disorders.
Innovation Solution
A flavored, fiber-enriched liquid beverage concentrate containing 20-60% soluble corn fiber by weight, with a preservative, acidulant, and high-intensity sweetener, designed to be diluted with water to provide a convenient and palatable source of dietary fiber, offering 2.5-4 grams of soluble fiber per serving.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If soluble fiber content is increased to meet dietary recommendations, then fiber intake effectiveness is improved, but beverage viscosity increases and palatability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the pH parameter to a specific range (3.5-5.0) to optimize both fiber stability and beverage palatability. This parameter change allows high fiber content (1-10% w/v) to be maintained while preventing excessive viscosity and maintaining consumer acceptability through controlled acidification.
Solution Approach 2:
The beverage employs a composite formulation combining soluble fiber with multiple functional components including acidulants (citric acid, malic acid), sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfame potassium), and preservatives (sodium benzoate). This composite approach creates a balanced system where each component contributes to overall stability, taste, and fiber delivery effectiveness.
2Quantity of substance
If soluble fiber content is increased to provide adequate nutritional supplement, then fiber delivery effectiveness is improved, but beverage stability deteriorates due to precipitation and separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls pH within the range of 3.5-5.0 to maintain fiber solubility and prevent precipitation. This parameter optimization ensures that soluble fiber remains dispersed and stable in the beverage matrix, preventing separation and maintaining consistent nutritional delivery throughout the product shelf life.
Solution Approach 2:
The acidulant components (citric acid, malic acid) act as intermediaries that modify the chemical environment to enhance fiber stability. These acidulants create an optimized pH environment that prevents fiber aggregation and precipitation, thereby maintaining beverage homogeneity and stability.
3Quantity of substance
If soluble fiber content is increased to meet dietary recommendations, then health benefit effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise formulation ratios and pH targets that should be established during the mixing stage. By pre-determining the optimal acidulant-to-fiber ratio and target pH range, the manufacturing process becomes more straightforward and less prone to variability, reducing the need for complex post-processing adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes specific parameter ranges (pH 3.5-5.0, fiber content 1-10% w/v, viscosity 10-100 cP) that simplify quality control during manufacturing. These defined parameters provide clear targets for production processes, making it easier to maintain consistency and reduce manufacturing complexity despite high fiber content requirements.
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 concentrate effectively increases dietary fiber intake, promoting digestive health, weight management, and improving blood sugar and cholesterol levels, while being stable, palatable, and convenient for consumption.
Implementation Method 1
Soluble fibers absorb water while passing through a person's gastrointestinal tract including the stomach and intestines
Implementation Method 2
a pH in a range of 1.2 to 4.0
Implementation Method 3
a preservative present in an amount of from 0.01% w/w to 0.30% w/w
Data Source
AI summary
A flavored, fiber-enriched liquid beverage concentrate of an acidulant, a flavor, a high-intensity sweetener, a soluble fiber, and water, the soluble fiber comprising about 20 to 60 percent by weight of the concentrate volume with a pH in a range of about 1.2 to about 4.0. A method of delivering soluble fiber from a liquid beverage concentrate is disclosed.