Low-Sugar Fruit Enzyme Production via Three-Stage Fermentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Enzyme products derived from fruits and vegetables typically have high sugar content, making them unsuitable for patients with metabolic syndrome, diabetes, fatty liver, and obesity, as well as increasing the risk of these conditions.

Innovation Solution

A method involving at least three microbial fermentation stages using yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), acetic acid bacteria (Acetobacter aceti), and lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus sporogenes) to reduce the sugar content of vegetable and fruit enzyme products, with specific inoculation amounts and fermentation conditions to achieve a low-sugar, high-fiber final product.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fruits and vegetables are used as raw materials for fermentation, then the enzyme products have beneficial properties for digestion and fat decomposition, but the sugar content of the enzyme products becomes high (more than 50%)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeneficial properties for digestion and fat decompositionVSAvoidsugar content
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The fermentation process is divided into three distinct stages with different microorganisms: first stage uses yeast for alcohol fermentation, second stage uses acetic acid bacteria for acetic acid fermentation, and third stage uses lactic acid bacteria for lactic acid fermentation. Each stage targets different components, progressively reducing sugar content while maintaining enzyme activity and beneficial properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fermentation parameters at each stage: temperature (30-35°C for yeast, 25-30°C for acetic acid bacteria, 35-40°C for lactic acid bacteria), oxygen conditions (aerobic for acetic acid and lactic acid bacteria, anaerobic for yeast), and pH levels. These parameter changes optimize sugar consumption while preserving enzyme benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If high-sugar enzyme products are produced, then the products are available for general consumption, but they increase risk of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, fatty liver, cancer, and obesity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveavailability for general consumptionVSAvoidrisk of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, fatty liver, cancer, and obesity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The high sugar content, which is initially harmful, is converted into a benefit by using it as substrate for microbial fermentation. The microorganisms consume the sugar to produce alcohol, acetic acid, and lactic acid, transforming the harmful sweet ingredient into beneficial organic acids that lower final sugar content to below 5% while providing health benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

Three types of microorganisms serve as intermediaries: yeast converts sugar to alcohol, acetic acid bacteria convert alcohol to acetic acid, and lactic acid bacteria convert remaining sugar to lactic acid. These microbial intermediaries progressively reduce sugar content while producing beneficial compounds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 method effectively reduces the sugar content of enzyme products to less than 5%, making them safer for consumption and providing a low-sugar, high-fiber enzyme product with varied acidity and flavor profiles.

Implementation Method 1

b. preparing an active yeast of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain at a first inoculated amount of 0.01 ̃1% w/v to mix with the starting material for anaerobic fermentation until the residual sugar content less than 2% and the alcohol content from 4.4 to 5.5%

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Implementation Method 2

c. preparing an acetic acid bacteria of Acetobacter aceti strain at a second inoculated amount of 1 ̃10% w/v to mix with the first fermented product for aerobic fermentation in 35 ̃40° C. until the acetic acid concentration from 1.8 to 2.5%

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Implementation Method 3

d. preparing a Lactobacillus sporogenes a third inoculated amount of 5 ̃20% w/v to mix with the second fermented product for aerobic fermentation until the lactic acid content greater than 600 ppm and the sugar content less than 5%

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentUS11149239B2Method for producing low-sugar vegetable and fruit enzyme product
Publication Date: 2021.10.19 GREENYN BIOTECH

AI summary

This invention disclosed a method for preparing low-sugar vegetable and fruit enzyme product comprising obtaining a fruit or/and vegetable as a material; fermenting the material for at least three times sequentially, and producing an enzyme product, wherein the first fermentation is yeast fermentation, the second fermentation is acetic acid bacteria fermentation and the third fermentation is lactic acid bacteria fermentation; and the sugar content of the enzyme product is less than 5 wt %, especially, in a predetermined fermentation condition, the sugar content of the enzyme product is less than 2.5 wt %.