Marine Algae Extraction Process for Pharmacoactive Nutrients
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing pharmacoactive nutrients from marine algae are inefficient, particularly in terms of energy consumption and product loss during drying, and often rely on freshwater resources, whereas marine microalgae offer valuable bioactive compounds that can be underutilized.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a predetermined ratio of water and live marine algae is mixed to form an aqueous slurry, heated to 90-110 °C for 25-35 minutes, cooled, and then centrifuged at 4 °C to separate a supernatant containing pharmacoactive nutrients, which are concentrated to enhance their nutritional and pharmaceutical value.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If hot water treatment is carried out with dry biomass, then the extraction process is simpler, but energy consumption is high and oxidation loss occurs during drying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing hot water extraction directly on wet biomass before drying is required. This reverses the conventional sequence where biomass is dried first then extracted. By extracting while the biomass is still wet, the method eliminates the drying step entirely, thereby avoiding the energy consumption and oxidation losses associated with drying, while still achieving effective extraction of bioactive compounds
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional processing sequence by extracting bioactive compounds from wet biomass instead of from dried biomass. This inversion of the traditional dry-first-then-extract approach allows the extraction process to occur while moisture is still present, eliminating the need for energy-intensive drying and preventing oxidation losses that occur during the drying phase
2Reliability
If freshwater algae are used for CGF production, then the process is well-established, but large quantities of potable water and fertile farmland are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by demonstrating that the hot water extraction process, originally developed for freshwater algae, can be effectively applied to marine microalgae as well. This multi-functionality allows the same extraction methodology to work with different algal sources, enabling the substitution of freshwater systems with marine systems that utilize seawater and non-arable coastal lands, thereby reducing competition for potable water and fertile farmland
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by utilizing seawater as the extraction medium for marine microalgae. The seawater naturally present in the marine algal culture serves as the extraction solvent, eliminating the need to add freshwater for the extraction process. This self-service approach allows the system to use its own surrounding environment (seawater) for processing, thereby conserving potable water resources
3Quantity of substance
If heat treatment is applied to wet biomass, then heat shock proteins are induced with high biological importance, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining the heat treatment step with the extraction step into a single integrated process. Instead of treating biomass separately then extracting, the hot water extraction simultaneously performs both functions: the hot water induces heat shock proteins in the wet biomass while also serving as the extraction solvent for bioactive compounds. This merging of functions simplifies the overall process despite the biological complexity of heat shock protein induction
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
This method effectively extracts pharmacoactive nutrients from live marine algae, reducing energy consumption and product loss, while utilizing seawater and enhancing the nutritional and pharmaceutical value of the extracts, particularly evident in the hot water extracts prepared from wet biomass.
Implementation Method 1
heating to a temperature in the range of 90 to 110 °C for a time period in the range of 25 to 35 minutes
Implementation Method 2
centrifugation at a speed of 6000 to 10000 rpm in an environment maintained at 4 °C until the cooled mixture separates into a supernatant and a residue
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to the field of marine algal pharmacoactive nutrient. The present disclosure envisages a pharmacoactive nutrient medium and a process for preparation of the same. Initially, predetermined amounts of water and live marine algae are added in a reaction vessel followed by mixing to form an aqueous slurry. This slurry is then heated to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to form a first mixture and cooled till it attains a temperature of 25 to 30 °C to obtain a cooled mixture, which is then subjected to centrifugation until the cooled mixture separates into a supernatant and a residue. The supernatant is then separated from the residue and is concentrated to 1/4th of its volume to obtain the concentrate of pharmacoactive nutrient medium.