Nucleation-Site Container for Rapid Decarbonation of Beverage Samples
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting spoilage organisms in carbonated beverages are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and difficult to perform aseptically, and existing decarbonation techniques are inefficient for large-scale laboratory use, limiting the application of rapid microbiological methods.
Innovation Solution
A novel decarbonation method using a container with a large surface area of nucleation sites, created through sandblasting or other surface treatments, to rapidly release carbon dioxide from carbonated beverage samples, allowing for efficient processing with membrane filters like the Concentrating Pipette instrument.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional decarbonation methods (shaking, pouring, filtration) are used, then carbon dioxide can be removed from carbonated beverages, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive requiring 25 minutes to prepare 10 samples
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a filter holder with membrane filters that have specific pore sizes (0.22 µm or 0.45 µm) to enable rapid decarbonation. The porous structure of the membrane filter allows carbon dioxide to be removed from carbonated beverages quickly while simultaneously concentrating microorganisms, reducing preparation time from 25 minutes to just 2-5 minutes per sample.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts carbon dioxide from the carbonated beverage sample by passing it through the membrane filter under vacuum. This extraction process removes the gas phase component (CO2) while retaining the liquid and microorganisms on the filter, achieving rapid decarbonation and sample concentration in a single operation.
2Reliability
If conventional decarbonation methods are used, then carbon dioxide removal is achieved, but the methods are difficult to perform in an aseptic manner increasing potential for introduced contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane filter method creates a controlled environment where the filter membrane acts as a barrier to external contaminants. By performing decarbonation and concentration through the filter under vacuum in a controlled setting, the method maintains aseptic conditions and prevents introduction of extraneous microorganisms that would occur with open pouring or shaking methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane filter serves as an intermediary barrier between the sample and the external environment. It allows selective passage of carbon dioxide while retaining microorganisms on the filter surface, enabling aseptic processing by preventing contact between the sample and potential contaminants in the laboratory environment.
3Productivity
If small volume processing (5-1000 microliters) is used with rapid microbiological methods, then analysis speed is improved, but the volume is not adequately representative of the beverage container volume (200-1000 milliliters)
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the volume parameter by processing the entire beverage sample (200-1000 mL) through the membrane filter rather than using small aliquots. This parameter change ensures that all microorganisms present in the entire container are captured on the filter, making the sample fully representative while still enabling rapid analysis through subsequent concentration and detection methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The method segments the analysis process into two stages: first, rapid decarbonation and concentration of the entire sample volume on the membrane filter; second, subsequent analysis of the concentrated sample. This segmentation allows the full sample volume to be processed rapidly while maintaining representativeness, as all microorganisms are captured on the filter for downstream analysis.
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 enables rapid and aseptic decarbonation of carbonated beverages, reducing analysis time and enhancing the utility of rapid microbiological methods by preparing samples for concentration and detection, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of spoilage organism identification.
Implementation Method 1
A novel decarbonation method using a container with a large surface area of nucleation sites, created through sandblasting or other surface treatments, to rapidly release carbon dioxide from carbonated beverage samples
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed which relate to using containers with a multitude of nucleation sites covering a major portion of the inside wall of the container to enable rapid and nearly complete removal of soluble gases from fluid samples, including carbonated beverages and other carbonated fluid samples. A fluid sample is rapidly poured into the described container initiating a catastrophic release of the soluble gas from the sample.