Keratin Hydrolysis Peptide Solution for Lettuce Freshness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lettuce has a short shelf life due to issues with water content, browning, and nutritional degradation during storage and transportation, which affects its quality and commercial value.
Innovation Solution
A keratin hydrolysis peptide (KHP) solution is developed through a high-temperature and high-pressure hydrolysis process using feathers and water, which is applied to lettuce plants to enhance their nutritional content, water retention, and reduce browning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional storage methods are used for lettuce, then storage cost is reduced, but shelf life is short and quality deteriorates rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies keratin hydrolysis peptide solution to lettuce plants during the growth stage before harvesting. This preliminary application enhances the plant's internal composition (increasing soluble sugar, carotene, and antioxidant enzymes) so that the lettuce maintains better quality and longer shelf life after harvest, without requiring complex post-harvest treatment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the lettuce by applying KHP solution, which increases soluble sugar content, carotene content, and antioxidant enzyme activities. These parameter changes in the plant's biochemical composition directly extend shelf life and maintain quality during storage and transportation.
2Productivity
If lettuce is transported over long distances, then market reach is expanded, but water content is lost and browning occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The keratin hydrolysis peptide solution is applied to the plants during growth, preliminarily building up protective substances (soluble sugar, carotene, antioxidant enzymes) that prevent water loss and browning during subsequent transportation, allowing expanded market reach without quality degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The KHP solution acts as an intermediary substance that transfers beneficial effects to the lettuce plant. It enhances the plant's natural defense mechanisms and water retention capabilities, serving as a mediator that protects against water loss and browning during transportation without requiring direct intervention during the transport process itself.
3Quantity of substance
If chemical fertilizers are used to enhance nutrition, then growth is boosted, but environmental pollution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses keratin hydrolysis peptide solution, derived from feather waste through hydrolysis, as a natural fertilizer alternative to conventional chemical fertilizers. This bio-based solution provides necessary nutrients (nitrogen, sulfur, and other amino acids) without the environmental pollution associated with synthetic chemicals, offering a sustainable way to enhance plant nutrition and growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers and utilizes feather waste (a byproduct of the poultry industry) by converting it into keratin hydrolysis peptide solution through hydrolysis process. This transforms waste material into a valuable natural fertilizer, both reducing environmental pollution from waste disposal and avoiding the need for harmful chemical fertilizers.
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 KHP solution significantly increases the soluble sugar and carotene content, boosts antioxidant enzyme activities, maintains higher water content, and reduces browning in lettuce, thereby extending its shelf life in a cost-effective manner.
Implementation Method 1
The KHP solution is made by a hydrolysis process using feathers and water, via a high-temperature and high-pressure process
Implementation Method 2
boosts antioxidant enzyme activities in lettuce leaves
Implementation Method 3
The water content in the lettuce leaves are easier to maintain with the application of the KHP solution
Data Source
AI summary
Present invention teaches the method of using a keratin hydrolysis peptide (“KHP”) solution to improve the quality and extend the freshness of lettuce plants/leaves. By selectively choosing specific weights of feathers and water, and treating the mixture to a high-temperature high-pressure hydrolysis process, the resulting solution is confirmed to contain at least 253 peptides and then infused to the soil in which the lettuces are planted; the solution can also be sprayed to the leaf surface of lettuce plants. Optionally, the KHP solution can be diluted by water, as disclosed in the specification, for infusing to the soil and for spraying to leaf surface of lettuce plants.