High Acyl Gellan Extraction via Enzymatic Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for extracting high acyl gellan in China result in poor product quality due to the introduction of impurities like calcium chloride, leading to low purity, low gel strength, and poor solubility, with a lack of a cost-effective and efficient production process.
Innovation Solution
A method involving enzyme treatment, acid flocculation, solid-liquid separation, washing with specific solvents, and drying to produce high acyl gellan, which omits high-temperature sterilization and uses organic acids for flocculation, reducing impurities and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If high-temperature sterilization is used to extract high acyl gellan, then the extraction process is simple, but the product has low purity and poor solubility due to introduced impurities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from high-temperature sterilization to low-temperature enzyme treatment (optimal 37-50°C), and changes the chemical environment from alkaline (pH 10-12) to slightly acidic or neutral (pH 4-7). This parameter transformation allows the use of proteolytic enzymes to selectively degrade protein impurities without introducing calcium chloride, thereby achieving both high purity and good solubility while maintaining process feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical sterilization method with an enzymatic biological method. Instead of using high-temperature sterilization followed by chemical precipitation with calcium chloride, the invention uses proteolytic enzymes to specifically hydrolyze protein impurities, leaving the gellan gum intact. This substitution eliminates the introduction of harmful impurities while maintaining extraction effectiveness
2Ease of manufacture
If calcium chloride is used for flocculation, then the extraction process is straightforward, but the product has low gel strength and poor appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the reusable but harmful calcium chloride flocculant with a single-use enzymatic treatment approach. The proteolytic enzymes are added in sufficient quantity to complete the protein degradation function, then removed with the liquid phase during filtration. This disposable approach eliminates the need for subsequent removal of calcium chloride and prevents gel strength degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces proteolytic enzymes as an intermediary substance that mediates between the fermentation broth and the final product. The enzymes temporarily interact with the broth to degrade protein impurities, then are themselves removed during filtration, leaving no harmful residues in the final gellan gum product. This intermediary approach replaces the direct calcium chloride-gellan interaction that causes gel strength loss
3Device complexity
If high-temperature sterilization is used, then the process requires less specialized treatment, but energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the temperature parameter from high-temperature sterilization (typically autoclaving at 121°C) to low-temperature enzyme treatment (optimally 37-50°C). This parameter change dramatically reduces energy consumption while maintaining effective impurity removal through the specificity of enzymatic action, which cannot operate at high temperatures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes thermal energy-based sterilization with biochemical enzyme-mediated degradation. Instead of using thermal energy to kill all microorganisms and denature proteins, the invention uses specific proteolytic enzymes that selectively degrade protein impurities at lower temperatures, thereby reducing energy consumption while achieving the same purification goal
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for extracting high acyl gellan from the fermentation broth containing gellan gum with a low production cost and high quality of products, comprising the following steps: (1) Treatment of the fermentation broth with an enzyme; (2) flocculation of the treated fermentation broth with acid; (3) wash of the fiber-like material; and (4) drying and milling.