Functional Ingredient Dewatering Without Thermal Energy for Tablets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for removing water from functional ingredient compositions using thermal energy result in loss of functionality or product, making it difficult to incorporate these compositions into compressed tablets due to issues like storage stability and tablet hardness.
Innovation Solution
A method involving mixing a solid base and a polyester solvent with the functional ingredient composition at room temperature to produce a dewatered product with minimal water content, retaining functionality and suitable for tablet formulation, without thermal energy input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If thermal energy is used to remove water from functional ingredient compositions, then water content is reduced, but ingredient functionality is lost and product loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts water from the functional ingredient composition using a desiccant material that selectively binds water molecules through adsorption, separating water from the functional ingredients without thermal degradation. The desiccant acts as an intermediary that captures water while leaving the functional ingredients intact.
Solution Approach 2:
A desiccant material serves as an intermediary substance between the functional ingredient composition and the water removal process. The desiccant mediates water removal through physical adsorption rather than thermal energy transfer, protecting the functional ingredients from degradation while achieving the desired water content reduction.
2Quantity of substance
If thermal energy is used to remove water from functional ingredient compositions, then water content is reduced, but energy consumption increases and production costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal energy-based water removal system (evaporation, distillation) with a chemical adsorption system using desiccant materials. This substitution eliminates the need for continuous thermal energy input, reducing energy consumption and associated production costs while achieving effective water removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operating parameters from high-temperature thermal processes to ambient or controlled low-temperature conditions where desiccant adsorption occurs. This parameter change from thermal to chemical control enables water removal without the energy-intensive heating requirements of conventional methods.
3Quantity of substance
If water is removed from functional ingredient compositions using conventional methods, then water content is reduced, but ingredient loss occurs during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The desiccant material selectively extracts only water from the functional ingredient composition through adsorption, leaving the functional ingredients completely intact and recoverable. This selective extraction mechanism prevents ingredient loss that occurs in thermal methods where volatilization or degradation can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of water presence (which causes stability issues and processing difficulties) into a beneficial separation process where water is selectively captured by the desiccant. This approach transforms water from a problematic component into a easily removable substance that can be separated without affecting the functional ingredients.
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 method effectively reduces water content to 33% or less of the original, maintaining ingredient functionality and allowing conversion into a form suitable for compressed tablets, while avoiding energy-intensive processes and product loss.
Implementation Method 1
mixing in a mixer a solid base, a polyester solvent, and the aqueous functional ingredient composition at room temperature to produce a dewatered product
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a process for removing water from a functional ingredient composition that contains 10 wt % or more water, the process requiring no input of thermal energy. The amount of water in the resulting dewatered product is no more than 33% of the starting amount of the water in the functional ingredient, and the method yields a dewatered product that has a weight loss of 2% or less based on the total weight of the starting ingredients.