Liquid Kelp Formulation Enzyme Inactivation Shelf Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current liquid kelp formulations have a short shelf life due to degradation of growth hormones when combined with water and additives, leading to reduced effectiveness over time.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an enzyme inactivating component such as sarcosine, manganese chloride, or sodium dodecyl sulfate, and a food-grade preservative like methyl paraben or diazolidinyl urea to slow down the breakdown of growth hormones and prevent bacterial growth, along with optional surfactants and fertilizers like ammonia, to extend the shelf life and maintain potency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If liquid kelp is combined with water and additives to create a usable formulation, then the kelp becomes applicable for agricultural use, but the growth hormones break down due to bacterial degradation, reducing shelf life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an enzyme inactivating component as an intermediary substance that binds to and inactivates enzymes responsible for breaking down growth hormones. This mediator prevents the harmful enzymatic degradation while allowing the kelp formulation to remain stable and effective throughout its shelf life, thus resolving the contradiction between usability and shelf life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful enzymatic activity from the system by adding specific enzyme inactivating components. This extraction of the harmful function (enzyme-mediated breakdown) allows the growth hormones to remain intact and effective, thereby extending shelf life while maintaining agricultural applicability.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If preservatives are added to prevent bacterial growth and extend shelf life, then microbial degradation is reduced, but the formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The enzyme inactivating component serves multiple functions simultaneously: it inactivates enzymes that would otherwise degrade growth hormones, acts as a protective agent against microbial degradation, and maintains the stability of the formulation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate additives, thereby extending shelf life without proportionally increasing formulation complexity.
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 formulation significantly extends the shelf life of liquid kelp, maintaining the effectiveness of growth hormones and preventing microbial growth, allowing for prolonged storage and application without significant potency loss.
Implementation Method 1
an enzyme inactivating component selected from the group consisting of sarcosine, manganese chloride, and sodium dodecyl sulfate to reduce the degradation of growth hormones
Implementation Method 2
A preservative is also included, the preservative amount effective to retard growth of bacteria, fungi, and/or mold in the liquid kelp formulation
Implementation Method 3
The formulation can also include an effective amount of a surfactant for wetting purposes, preferably a nonionic surfactant such as an alcohol ethoxylate
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid kelp formulation includes an enzyme inactivating component and a preservative to extend the shelf life of the formulation in terms of growth hormones. The formulation can also include a fertilizing additive, and a surfactant. A system is also provided whereby the kelp is maintained in solid form, and dissolved in water just prior to use. The solid form kelp and/or water can include additives, or additives in separate form, if used, can be added to either the kelp or the kelp solution.