Oat Bran Beta-Glucan Extraction Avoiding Cytokine Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing beta-glucan, insoluble food fibre, and oat proteins from oats are inefficient and may induce undesirable side effects due to the stimulation of cytokine production, limiting their therapeutic and prophylactic applications in humans and animals.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of water and ethanol to extract beta-glucan and oat proteins from oat bran, utilizing a series of steps including mixing, filtration, acidification, centrifugation, and precipitation, while maintaining controlled temperatures and using inert equipment to avoid contamination and ensure safety, specifically avoiding the induction of IL-10 and TNFα production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional methods are used to produce beta-glucan from oats, then beta-glucan can be obtained, but it induces undesirable side effects due to stimulation of cytokine production (IL-10 and TNFα)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the beneficial beta-glucan component from oat bran through a multi-step process involving ethanol extraction, filtration, and precipitation. This separates the desired immunomodulatory effects from the harmful cytokine-stimulating properties present in whole oat materials, producing a purified beta-glucan preparation that enhances immune response without inducing fever or inflammation.
2Reliability
If beta-glucan is produced to enhance immune response, then therapeutic and prophylactic applications are achieved, but side effects like fever and inflammation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs precise control of physical and chemical parameters throughout the production process, including maintaining temperatures between 20-40°C during extraction, controlling ethanol concentration at 60-80%, and adjusting pH levels during precipitation. These parameter optimizations ensure the beta-glucan retains its immunomodulatory properties while eliminating the harmful side effects associated with conventional preparations.
3Productivity
If a simple extraction method is used, then production efficiency is improved, but purification quality and safety are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the beta-glucan production process into five distinct sequential stages: (1) ethanol extraction and filtration, (2) concentration and precipitation, (3) centrifugation and washing, (4) drying, and (5) quality control. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized independently for both efficiency and purity, with intermediate purification steps ensuring removal of contaminants while maintaining high productivity through continuous processing.
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 produces safe and effective preparations of beta-glucan and insoluble food fibre that enhance immune response without causing side effects like fever or inflammation, suitable for therapeutic and prophylactic use in both humans and animals.
Implementation Method 1
the raw material is transferred into receiver ZM1, where water and ethanol are added from tank V1 using pump P1, where after the resulting suspension is mixed
Implementation Method 2
After cooling with water from the cooling device CH1, the suspension is directed onto vibrating sieve SS1
Implementation Method 3
the suspension is directed onto the vibrating sieve (SS1); the ethanol-containing filtrate from the sieve is sent to the ethanol recovery station (SW1)
Implementation Method 4
whereafter such a suspension is mixed at a temperature from 50°C to 100°C, preferably from 70°C to 80°C
Implementation Method 5
cooling is performed using water from the cooling device (CH1)
Implementation Method 6
the liquid from container (ZM4) is directed by pump (P6) to the centrifuge (WO1), where the protein fraction is separated
Implementation Method 7
the broth from ethanol recovery is concentrated by evaporating off excess water
Implementation Method 8
where the ethanol is distilled off, is then returned via pump (P2) to container (V1)
Implementation Method 9
where it is acidified using HCl, and the protein fraction is subsequently precipitated out
Data Source
AI summary
The subject of the present invention is a kit and a method for producing beta-glucan, insoluble food fibre as well as a preparation of oat proteins from bran, characterised in that is encompasses the addition of ethanol, acidification using HCl to precipitate the protein fraction, addition of NaOH solution, neutralisation, and addition of ethanol to precipitate beta-glucan. The present invention is useful in the food industry, particularly in the area of food supplements.