Oil Composition Oxidation Inhibition via Self-Emulsifying Surfactant

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods fail to effectively inhibit the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly ω3 fatty acids, which are prone to rapid oxidation, leading to quality deterioration and health concerns when used in food and cosmetics.

Innovation Solution

An oil composition is developed containing an ionic surfactant and a polyhydric alcohol, where the lightness value difference before and after dilution with water is positive, creating a self-emulsifying property that inhibits oxidation by preventing contact with oxidation-promoting factors, thereby extending the oxidation induction period.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If polyunsaturated fatty acid is used for health benefits, then physiological activity and health enhancement are improved, but oxidation rate increases exceptionally rapidly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehealth benefitVSAvoidoxidation induction period
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by adding specific antioxidants (tocopherol at 0.01-1.0 wt% and ascorbyl palmitate at 0.01-1.0 wt%) to the oil composition before use. These antioxidants are pre-introduced to prevent oxidation from occurring, addressing the rapid oxidation issue of polyunsaturated fatty acids before it can compromise health benefits or quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite antioxidant system combining tocopherol (a phenolic antioxidant) and ascorbyl palmitate (a water-soluble antioxidant). This composite approach creates synergistic protection where tocopherol donates hydrogen atoms to break oxidation chains while ascorbyl palmitate regenerates tocopherol, extending the oxidation induction period while maintaining the health benefits of ω3 fatty acids

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If natural antioxidative substance is added to inhibit oxidation, then safety is improved, but sufficient oxidation inhibition effect is not obtained for polyunsaturated fatty acid

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidoxidation effect
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of antioxidants, specifically using tocopherol at 0.01-1.0 wt% and ascorbyl palmitate at 0.01-1.0 wt%. This precise parameter control ensures sufficient oxidation inhibition for polyunsaturated fatty acids while maintaining safety. The dual-antioxidant system at these optimized concentrations provides synergistic protection that single antioxidants cannot achieve alone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If synthetic antioxidant agent is used to inhibit oxidation, then oxidation inhibition effect is improved, but safety concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxidation inhibitionVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces long-term used synthetic antioxidants (like BHA and BHT) with natural antioxidants tocopherol and ascorbyl palmitate. While natural antioxidants may have shorter individual lifespans, their regenerative capability through synergistic interaction extends their effective protection period. This substitution eliminates safety concerns associated with synthetic antioxidants while maintaining adequate oxidation inhibition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 oil composition effectively maintains the quality of polyunsaturated fatty acids by significantly increasing the oxidation induction period, making it suitable for long-term use in food, supplements, and cosmetics.

Implementation Method 1

an oil composition is adjusted such that a value L2−L1 calculated by the following method is positive... creating a self-emulsifying property that inhibits oxidation by preventing contact with oxidation-promoting factors

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSelf-emulsifying: Emulsion

Data Source

PatentUS10640730B2Oil composition and oxidation inhibiting method of oil
Publication Date: 2020.05.05 Q P CORP

AI summary

[Object] The present invention provides an oil composition in which oxidation of oil is inhibited and a method of inhibiting oxidation of oil.[Solving Means] Provided is an oil composition containing oil, an ionic surfactant, and a polyhydric alcohol, in which a value L2−L1 calculated by the following method is positive.Value L1: a value of lightness of the oil compositionValue L2: a value of lightness of an emulsified product obtained by adding 100 mass times of fresh water to the oil composition.