Liquid Oat Base Processing for Higher Soluble Protein

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing oat drink production methods do not adequately increase protein content while maintaining organoleptic properties, and the use of proteases can degrade protein quality.

Innovation Solution

A process involving amylases and protein-deamidase is used to degrade oat material, specifically targeting high-molecular oat proteins, without substantial protease activity, and is stopped at a desired viscosity by heat treatment to preserve enzymatic activity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If protease is used to increase protein content in oat drinks, then soluble protein content increases, but organoleptic properties deteriorate due to formation of low-molecular peptides

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoluble protein contentVSAvoidorganoleptic properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful protease activity from the enzymatic system, retaining only the beneficial amylase activity. By using a protease-free enzyme preparation, the method increases soluble protein content through amylase-mediated starch degradation while avoiding the formation of low-molecular peptides that would compromise organoleptic properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary substance - a protease inhibitor or protease-free enzyme preparation - that mediates between the goal of increasing protein content and the need to preserve organoleptic properties. This intermediary allows starch degradation to proceed while blocking proteolytic activity that would create harmful low-molecular peptides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If heating is applied to stop enzymatic activity, then enzymatic activity is destroyed, but protein solubility and organoleptic properties may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenzymatic activity controlVSAvoidsoluble protein content
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by conducting the enzymatic degradation of starch to protein solubilization before final heat treatment. The enzymes are allowed to work optimally at lower temperatures to increase soluble protein content, and only after this preliminary enzymatic action is complete is heat applied to inactivate the enzymes and stabilize the product.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic temperature control, adjusting temperature parameters during different stages of the process. Enzymatic activity is maintained at optimal temperatures for protein solubilization, then temperature is dynamically increased to inactivate enzymes and preserve the enhanced protein content while preventing degradation of organoleptic properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional oat drink production methods are used, then process is simple, but protein content remains insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidprotein content
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the enzymatic parameters - specifically using a protease-free enzyme preparation with optimized amylase activity. This parameter change enables the system to achieve higher protein content through enhanced starch degradation while maintaining process simplicity, as no complex additional steps or multiple enzyme systems are required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 process increases soluble protein content by 10-20% without degrading protein quality, maintaining or improving taste and texture, and avoids lipid and β-glucan degradation.

Implementation Method 1

degrading an oats material with one or more amylases and protein-deamidase

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzymatic hydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

protein-deamidase is one capable of deamidating high-molecular oat protein

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeamidation: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 3

heating to a temperature and for a time sufficient to substantially prevent the development of endogenous enzymatic activity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal denaturation: Heat Treatment

Data Source

PatentUS12543764B2Liquid oat base
Publication Date: 2026.02.10 OATLY AB

AI summary

A process for preparing a liquid oat base or drink of improved soluble oat protein content from an oats material, in particular an oats material that has got been heat treated in a humid state, comprises solubilizing oat protein in an aqueous solvent by means protein-deamidase. Also disclosed is a corresponding liquid oat base and uses thereof.