Oil-Encapsulated Microbial Granules for Room-Temperature Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microbiological formulations face challenges in maintaining microorganism viability at room temperature, especially in solid formulations, which limits their practical application in agriculture due to physicochemical limitations and sensitivity to shear, water, and surfactants, leading to reduced shelf life and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The development of water-dispersible granule formulations where microorganisms are encapsulated in oil to protect them from adverse conditions, combined with the use of biocompatible surfactants and inert agents, ensuring better physicochemical stability and viability during storage and application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If microorganisms are formulated in solid formulations at room temperature, then ease of storage and logistics is improved, but microorganism viability is lost within a few days
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an oil phase as an intermediary medium to encapsulate and protect microorganisms from direct contact with water and harmful environmental factors. The oil acts as a barrier that maintains microorganism viability while allowing storage at room temperature, resolving the contradiction between ease of storage and viability maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The formulation creates an inert oil-based environment that protects microorganisms from water, oxygen, and other harmful factors. This inert environment allows long-term storage at room temperature without refrigeration while maintaining microorganism viability, addressing the storage convenience versus viability contradiction.
2Ease of operation
If microorganisms are micronized as powder for wettable powder formulation, then application as suspended particles is improved, but cell viability is lost due to shear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent encapsulates microorganisms in an oil-based matrix that acts as a protective shell, preventing shear damage during formulation processing. This encapsulation allows the microorganisms to be formulated without micronization while maintaining viability, and still enables proper application through dispersion in water during use.
3Reliability
If polysaccharides are used to protect microorganisms in water-dispersible granules, then protection from external interfering is improved, but shelf life at room temperature is still limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the formulation medium from water-based to oil-based. This parameter change creates a hydrophobic environment that significantly extends shelf life at room temperature while maintaining microorganism protection, overcoming the limitations of polysaccharide-based water-dispersible granules.
4Ease of operation
If water-dispersible granule formulation is used to improve physicochemical characteristics, then wetting and suspensibility are improved, but microorganism viability maintenance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the formulation into two distinct phases: an oil-based encapsulation phase that protects microorganisms during storage, and a water-based dispersion phase that provides good wetting and suspensibility during application. This segmentation allows both requirements to be met simultaneously without compromise.
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 approach significantly enhances the shelf life and viability of microorganisms, allowing for effective agricultural use at room temperature, with improved dispersibility and stability, maintaining colony-forming unit (CFU) counts and ensuring biological effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
microorganisms are encapsulated in oil to protect them from adverse conditions
Implementation Method 2
encapsulation of the microorganism in oil prior to the addition of the other formulation components
Implementation Method 3
use of biocompatible surfactants and inert agents, ensuring better physicochemical stability
Implementation Method 4
better wetting and suspensibility
Implementation Method 5
Water-dispersible granules-type solid formulations are characterized by quick disintegration and dispersion in water
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention describes water-dispersible granule formulations containing at least one microbiological active, at least one oil, at least one anionic surfactant and at least one dispersed or water-soluble inert agent, as well as production method thereof. The formulations obtained by the described method have a longer shelf life, less contamination and allow for storage at room temperature.