Low-Temperature Protease Extraction for Fibrous Plant Yield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional protease extraction techniques for plant-based nutrients, particularly from fibrous plant material, often result in protein degradation, altered functionality, and undesirable side effects due to high temperatures and prolonged incubation times, which negatively impact the quality and yield of plant-based products.
Innovation Solution
A protease treatment process utilizing low temperatures (0-5°C) and minimal protease activity to extract nutrients from fibrous plant material, preserving the native structure and functionality of proteins and other nutrients, such as beta glucan, by reducing viscosity and enabling efficient filtration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional protease extraction techniques are used with high temperatures and prolonged incubation times, then protein extraction efficiency is improved, but protein structure and functionality are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the temperature parameter from conventional high temperatures (30-65°C) to low temperatures (0-5°C), and adjusts incubation time parameters to achieve optimal extraction efficiency while preserving protein structure. This parameter inversion resolves the contradiction by demonstrating that lower temperatures can maintain both productivity and structural stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies minimal protease activity (suboptimal conditions) rather than full enzymatic activity, using just enough protease to achieve sufficient extraction without excessive degradation. This partial action approach maintains protein functionality while still improving extraction efficiency
2Ease of operation
If protease treatment is used to reduce viscosity of fibrous plant material, then filtration efficiency is improved, but nutrient yield is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter to low temperatures (0-5°C) during protease treatment, which reduces viscosity sufficiently for filtration while minimizing nutrient degradation and maximizing nutrient yield in the filtrate
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a secondary protease treatment on the fibrous retentate that replicates the viscosity-reduction effect without the harmful nutrient degradation, allowing efficient filtration while preserving nutrient content
3Speed
If high temperatures are used during protease extraction, then processing speed is improved, but microbial growth is promoted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional temperature approach by using low temperatures (0-5°C) instead of high temperatures, which surprisingly achieves both fast processing speed and microbial inhibition, resolving the contradiction through opposite action
4Reliability
If additional enzymes like amylase are used to improve processing, then processing completeness is improved, but product complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes protease a multi-functional enzyme that performs extraction, viscosity reduction, and filtration facilitation without requiring additional enzymes like amylase, thereby simplifying the system while maintaining processing completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the need for additional enzymes by using protease alone to achieve all necessary processing functions, extracting the essential function from a complex multi-enzyme system to a single-enzyme system
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 nutrient yield by 5-10% from grains and up to 80% for beta glucan, while maintaining nutritional and functional qualities, reducing microbial growth, and eliminating the need for additional enzymes like amylase, thus improving product quality and processing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
protease treatment for increasing yield from plant material by extracting nutrients from the fibrous waste portion
Implementation Method 2
treatment using enzymes that degrade and separate cell wall material
Implementation Method 3
utilizing low temperatures and minimal protease activity and digestion time during extraction
Implementation Method 4
enabling efficient filtration
Data Source
AI summary
A process for using bacterial or fungal metalloprotease and trypsin to solve problems associated with conventional protease extraction techniques by dramatically reducing temperature, incubation time and proteolysis during protease extraction. The present disclosure relates to a protease treatment for increasing yield from plant or other material by extracting nutrients from the fibrous waste portion of milled plant material while preserving the nutritional and functional qualities of the extracted material for use as a food product. The process preserves the quality of the extracted material, including beta glucan and protein, by utilizing low temperatures and minimal protease activity and digestion time during extraction.