Human Milk Powderization via Controlled Spray Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for processing human milk into a powderized form, such as spray drying, often result in a product that is unviable, clumpy, and loses valuable immunoglobulins and growth factors, with a short shelf life and the need for additives, which compromises its authenticity and nutritional value.
Innovation Solution
A customized human milk processing system using a modified spray drying machine and nonreactive materials, operating at specific temperatures and flow rates to transform liquid human milk into a high-quality, additive-free powderized product with extended shelf life, retaining immunoglobulins and other beneficial components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional spray drying methods are used for human milk, then the milk can be transformed into powder form, but the resulting product is unviable, clumpy, and loses valuable immunoglobulins and growth factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by operating the spray drying machine at a specific temperature range (163-167°C) and flow rate (2 mL/ms), which are optimized parameters that enable the transformation of liquid human milk into powder while preserving immunoglobulins and growth factors, avoiding the clumping and viability loss associated with conventional methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses nonreactive materials as intermediaries in the processing system, which prevent chemical reactions that would degrade the valuable components of human milk. This intermediary approach allows the spray drying process to occur without compromising the integrity of immunoglobulins and other beneficial substances
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional powderization processes are applied to human milk, then the milk can be dried into powder, but the product requires additives and has a short shelf life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes water from liquid human milk through spray drying, concentrating the valuable components into a powder form. This extraction process, when performed at the optimized temperature of 163-167°C and flow rate of 2 mL/ms, produces a stable powder with extended shelf life of at least 180 days without requiring additives
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pasteurizing the human milk before spray drying, which prepares the milk by eliminating pathogens while preserving the valuable components. This preliminary step ensures that the subsequent powder drying process produces a stable, long-shelf-life product without requiring preservatives or additives
3Productivity
If homogenization and additives are introduced during cow milk processing, then the milk can be powderized, but the authenticity of the milk is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses nonreactive materials as intermediaries in the spray drying system, which allow the process to proceed efficiently without introducing additives. These intermediaries facilitate the transformation of liquid milk to powder while maintaining milk authenticity, as they do not chemically react with or contaminate the milk composition
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only water from the milk through spray drying at optimized parameters (163-167°C, 2 mL/ms), leaving all valuable milk components intact. This selective extraction approach produces authentic milk powder without the need for homogenization or addition of starches, dextrins, gums, casein, or other additives
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 system achieves a yield of up to 97% of the original milk's valuable components, producing a stable powder with a shelf life of at least 180 days, maintaining the authenticity and nutritional benefits of human milk without the need for additives.
Implementation Method 1
spray dry the human milk at a temperature of about 163 to 167 degrees C. to transform the liquid human milk into a powderized human milk product
Data Source
AI summary
A human milk powderization system can include a spray drying machine, a receptacle, and a container. The spray drying machine can be configured to receive liquid human milk through an inlet at a rate of about 2 milliliters per minute and to spray dry the human milk at a temperature of about 163 to 167 degrees C. to transform the liquid human milk into a powderized human milk product. The receptacle can be coupled to and configured to receive the powderized human milk product from the spray drying machine. The receptacle can be formed from one or more nonreactive materials, such as crystal. The container can be removably coupled to and configured to receive the powderized human milk product from the receptacle. The container can be configured to transport the powderized human milk product away from the system, and can be formed from one or more nonreactive materials, such as aluminum.