Microalgae Protein Extraction via Thermal Permeabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for extracting proteins from microalgae often result in denaturation and contamination, making it difficult to preserve the molecular integrity and quality of the proteins, especially when scaling up from laboratory to industrial production.
Innovation Solution
A process combining thermal permeabilization of microalgae biomass with centrifugation and membrane separation techniques, including microfiltration and ultrafiltration, to release soluble proteins without disrupting the cell structure, allowing for the recovery of high-quality protein isolates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If harsh physical or chemical conditions are used to break down the microalgae wall, then cell disintegration efficiency is improved, but protein denaturation and molecular structure integrity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces harsh mechanical disintegration methods (ball milling, homogenization) and chemical treatments (alkaline dissolution, organic solvents) with a gentle thermal treatment process. The thermal process permeabilizes the cell wall without causing protein denaturation, achieving both high extraction efficiency and protein integrity preservation through temperature-controlled heating rather than mechanical force or chemical aggression.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes controlled changes in temperature parameters to achieve cell wall permeabilization. By optimizing the thermal treatment parameters (temperature range, treatment time), the process achieves effective cell disintegration while maintaining protein structural integrity, avoiding the extreme conditions that cause denaturation.
2Reliability
If ball milling technology is used to release intracellular proteins, then protein solubility is improved, but extraction process complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical ball milling system with a simpler thermal treatment process. Instead of using spherical beads, mechanical stirring, and high-energy collisions, the invention uses controlled heating to permeabilize cell walls and release proteins, significantly reducing device complexity and energy consumption while maintaining protein solubility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts intracellular proteins through thermal permeabilization followed by simple filtration or centrifugation, eliminating the need for complex ball milling equipment and multiple mechanical processing steps. The thermal treatment selectively permeabilizes cell walls while leaving protein structures intact, allowing for straightforward separation.
3Reliability
If thermal treatment is applied to permeabilize microalgae cells, then cell wall integrity is improved, but protein denaturation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves the balance between cell wall permeabilization and protein integrity by optimizing thermal parameters. The specific temperature range and treatment duration are carefully controlled to provide sufficient energy for cell wall disruption while remaining below the denaturation threshold of proteins, demonstrating precise parameter management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial thermal action - enough heat to permeabilize cell walls but not excessive heat that would denature proteins. The treatment is calibrated to achieve just sufficient permeabilization for protein release while maintaining structural integrity, avoiding both under-treatment and over-treatment.
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 preserves the integrity and solubility of proteins, enabling the production of high-quality protein isolates with a protein content greater than 90% by weight, suitable for large-scale industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
thermal permeabilization of the biomass at a temperature between 50 and 150 °C, preferably 100 and 150 °C, for a period of between 10 seconds and 5 minutes
Implementation Method 2
elimination of the biomass thus permeabilized by a solid-liquid separation technique chosen from the group consisting of frontal filtration or tangential, flocculation and centrifugation
Implementation Method 3
recovery and clarification of the soluble fraction thus obtained by microfiltration so as to rid it of residual insolubles
Implementation Method 4
ultrafiltration of the fraction soluble on membrane with a cutoff threshold less than 5 kDa, and greater than 1 kDa
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for preparing a protein isolate of the biomass of microalgae of the genus Chlorella, characterised in that it comprises the following steps: supplying a microalgal biomass produced by fermentation; optionally washing the biomass so as to eliminate the soluble interstitial compounds, thermal permeabilisation of the biomass at a temperature of between 50 and 150°C, preferably between 100 and 150°C, for between 10 seconds and 5 minutes, preferably between 10 seconds and 1 minute; elimination of the biomass permeabilised in this way by means of a solid-liquid separation technique selected from the group consisting of frontal or tangential filtration, flocculation and centrifuging, more specifically multi-stage centrifuging, in order to obtain a soluble fraction; optionally recovering and clarifying the soluble fraction thus obtained by microfiltration in such a way as to remove the residual insoluble elements therefrom; ultrafiltration of the soluble fraction on a membrane with a cut-off threshold lower than 5 kDa, preferably between 1 and 5 kDa, in order to produce a soluble protein isolate; then evaporation, pasteurisation and atomisation of said protein isolate.