Inert Atmosphere Syrup Production for Vitamin Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processes for producing syrupy vitamin products face challenges with vitamin instability due to oxygen, temperature, pH, and light, leading to degradation and the need for vitamin overdosing to maintain desired ratios, resulting in high costs and storage stability issues.
Innovation Solution
A process involving inerting equipment and introducing sugar syrup, vitamins, and dehydrated glucose under an inert atmosphere, followed by deoxygenation and packaging, to prevent vitamin degradation and maintain optimal vitamin ratios without initial overdosing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If vitamins are introduced in initial overdose quantity to compensate for degradation, then the final vitamin ratio can be close to 100%, but the manufacturing cost increases significantly and product profitability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inert atmosphere by replacing air with nitrogen or carbon dioxide throughout the entire manufacturing process and storage. The equipment is inerted before use, vitamins are introduced under inert atmosphere, the syrup is deoxygenated by sparging with inert gas, and packaging is performed under inert atmosphere. This eliminates oxygen contact that causes vitamin degradation, allowing precise vitamin dosing without overdose compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing inerting of equipment before vitamin introduction, deoxygenation of the syrup before vitamin addition, and maintaining inert atmosphere during storage. These preliminary protective actions prevent vitamin degradation from the outset, eliminating the need for subsequent vitamin supplementation or overdose compensation.
2Manufacturing precision
If vitamins are introduced in initial overdose quantity to compensate for degradation, then the final vitamin ratio can be close to 100%, but the product shelf life and stability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains inert atmosphere (nitrogen or carbon dioxide) throughout the entire product lifecycle - during manufacturing, storage, and even after first use by the consumer. This continuous protection from oxygen prevents vitamin degradation over time, ensuring both accurate vitamin ratios and extended shelf life without the need for initial vitamin overdosing.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional syrup manufacturing processes are used without inert atmosphere, then the manufacturing process is simple, but vitamin degradation occurs during preparation and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements inert atmosphere protection through equipment inerting before use, introducing vitamins under inert atmosphere, deoxygenating the syrup by sparging with inert gas, and packaging under inert atmosphere. While this adds some process steps, the overall methodology remains straightforward and industrially feasible, achieving both manufacturing simplicity and vitamin stability.
4Quantity of substance
If vitamins are exposed to oxygen during conventional manufacturing, then the manufacturing cost is lower, but significant vitamin losses occur during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates oxygen exposure by inerting equipment before vitamin introduction, performing all vitamin handling under inert atmosphere, deoxygenating the final syrup, and packaging under inert atmosphere. This prevents vitamin oxidation losses throughout the manufacturing process, ensuring quantitative vitamin recovery without significant cost increase.
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
This process ensures the stability and optimal retention of vitamins throughout production and storage, achieving individual and overall vitamin ratios greater than 98%, reducing costs and improving product quality.
Implementation Method 1
The inerting of all the equipment used in the process... the introduction into said equipment, of a sugar syrup and/or a sugar derivative... and the introduction of vitamins under an inert atmosphere... packaging the syrupy product under an inert atmosphere
Implementation Method 2
the syrupy product is completely deoxygenated before its packaging in order to have a level of dissolved oxygen in the syrupy product non-existent
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a syrupy product comprising vitamins, said method comprising the following steps: a) inerting all the apparatuses implemented in the method b) inserting sugar syrup into said apparatuses and adding vitamins under inert atmosphere; c) adding dehydrated and deoxygenated glucose under inert atmosphere; d) deoxygenating the syrupy product formed in this way; e) packaging the syrupy product under inert atmosphere.