Low-Temperature Protease Extraction for Higher Plant-Nutrient Yield
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional protease extraction techniques for plant-based nutrients result in protein degradation, altered protein structure, and undesirable side effects such as bitterness and reduced functionality, while high temperatures and long incubation times promote microbial growth and oil oxidation, negatively impacting the quality of extracted nutrients.
Innovation Solution
A low-temperature and short-duration protease treatment process using Neutrase® endoprotease NOVOZYMES or microbial trypsin at temperatures between 0° C. and 5° C. for less than 30 minutes, minimizing proteolysis and maintaining nutrient quality, particularly for plant-based milk production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional protease extraction techniques are used to increase nutrient yield, then protein and beta glucan can be extracted from fibrous material, but protein degradation and altered protein structure occur resulting in bitterness and reduced functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by drastically reducing the temperature from conventional high temperatures to near-freezing temperatures (0-5°C) and shortening the treatment time from hours to minutes. This transformation of physical parameters allows protease extraction to proceed while preserving protein structure integrity, preventing degradation and maintaining functionality while still achieving increased nutrient yield.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the treatment time variable and extremely short (less than 30 minutes), and by using controlled temperature conditions that can be rapidly adjusted. This dynamic approach allows the process to be optimized for both extraction efficiency and protein structure preservation, enabling the system to adapt to maintain quality while increasing productivity.
2Productivity
If high temperature and long incubation time are used for protease treatment, then extraction efficiency increases, but microbial growth is promoted and oil oxidation occurs negatively impacting nutrient quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the temperature parameter from high to near-freezing (0-5°C) and reduces time from long incubation to less than 30 minutes. This parameter transformation eliminates the conditions that promote microbial growth and oxidation while maintaining extraction efficiency through the enhanced solubility and accessibility of nutrients at low temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the typically harmful effect of low temperature (reduced enzyme activity) into a benefit by preventing microbial growth and oxidation. The cold temperature that would normally slow extraction is instead used to protect nutrient quality, while the short treatment time compensates for the reduced enzymatic rate, achieving both preservation and extraction.
3Device complexity
If fibrous slurry is discarded to avoid processing complexity, then viscosity and filtration difficulties are avoided, but valuable nutrients including beta glucan, protein and antioxidants are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts valuable nutrients (beta glucan, protein, antioxidants) from the fibrous slurry that would otherwise be discarded. By applying protease treatment at low temperature, the process selectively extracts these nutrients while leaving the fibrous matrix behind, converting waste material into valuable products and preventing nutrient loss without requiring complex processing of the entire slurry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the fibrous slurry into two components: the fibrous matrix that is filtered out, and the extracted nutrients (beta glucan, protein, antioxidants) that are recovered in the filtrate. This segmentation allows the valuable nutrients to be separated and utilized while the problematic fibrous material is discarded, resolving the contradiction between avoiding processing complexity and preventing nutrient loss.
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%, preserves the native structure of proteins and beta glucan, reduces microbial growth, and eliminates the need for additional enzymes like amylase, enhancing the quality and commercial viability of plant-based products.
Implementation Method 1
enzymes including cellulase, hemicellulase, lipase, protease, amylase and xylanase have been used to promote separation of the grain material
Implementation Method 2
Xylanase breaks down xylan, a major component of cell wall material in grains. The protease Neutrase® endoprotease NOVOZYMES may be used in combination with xylanase in the brewing process to increase free amino nitrogen (FAN) that are released during hydrolysis of proteins
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.