Gas-Phase Natural Product Extraction for Thermolabile Molecules

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for extracting natural products lack innovation due to a focus on minimizing variance and ensuring reproducibility, stifling the development of diverse and functionally optimized natural products.

Innovation Solution

The use of gas-phase suspensions to enhance energy transfer by increasing surface area, allowing for improved extraction efficiency and protection of thermolabile molecules, while enabling automation through pneumatic conveyance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional liquid-phase extraction methods are used, then extraction process is simple to implement, but extraction efficiency is limited due to poor energy transfer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextraction efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the extraction medium from liquid to gas phase. This parameter change fundamentally improves energy transfer characteristics and extraction efficiency while enabling new operational modes such as pneumatic conveyance that were not possible in liquid phase extraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from liquid-phase to gas-phase extraction, representing a dimensional change in the physical state of the extraction medium. This dimensional change enables superior heat and mass transfer properties, allowing for more efficient energy utilization and improved extraction performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If extended time-at-temperature is used to improve extraction efficiency, then more natural products are extracted, but thermolabile molecules are degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextraction efficiencyVSAvoidthermal degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the phase parameter of the extraction medium from liquid to gas, which fundamentally alters the heat transfer characteristics. Gas phase extraction enables more rapid and uniform heat distribution, achieving high extraction efficiency with reduced time-at-temperature, thereby protecting thermolabile natural products from thermal degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If gas-phase suspensions are used to improve energy transfer, then extraction efficiency increases, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextraction efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies pneumatic principles by using gas flow to suspend and convey solid plant material particles through the extraction system. This pneumatic conveyance approach simplifies the overall system design compared to mechanical agitation methods, while achieving excellent energy transfer and extraction efficiency through the gas-phase suspension medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

4Extent of automation

If manual processing methods are used, then automation is not required, but labor intensity is high and reproducibility is difficult to ensure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation capabilityVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs pneumatic conveyance systems to automatically feed, transport, and process plant material through the extraction apparatus. This automation eliminates manual handling operations, ensures consistent processing conditions for reproducible results, and reduces labor intensity while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized gas-phase processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

Enhances extraction efficiency, reduces time-at-temperature, and preserves the molecular fingerprints of plant oils, improving flavor, fragrance, or medicinal properties, and facilitates automated processing.

Implementation Method 1

Gas-phase suspensions improve energy transfer by increasing surface area

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface area enhancement:

Implementation Method 2

Gas-phase suspensions improve energy transfer by increasing surface area

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnergy transfer: Convection

Implementation Method 3

transferred energy to vaporize the molecules

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Implementation Method 4

separate the vaporized molecules from the impurities

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSeparation: Distillation

Implementation Method 5

contacted the vaporized molecules with a heat sink to produce condensed molecules

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentUS12606535B2Gas phase methods to extract natural products

Publication Date: 2026.04.21 NATURAL EXTRACTION SYSTEMS LLC

AI summary

This disclosure generally relates to gas-phase methods to distill molecules from a composition that is suspended in a gas.