Phospholipid Bleaching via Ultraviolet Light Irradiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for bleaching phospholipid compositions to reduce color often rely on hydrogen peroxide, which is hazardous and difficult to handle, limiting their use in white or light-colored products.

Innovation Solution

Exposing a phospholipid composition comprising lecithin to ultraviolet light at specific wavelengths and durations to bleach the composition without the use of hydrogen peroxide, thereby reducing its color.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If hydrogen peroxide is used to bleach phospholipid compositions, then the color of the composition is reduced, but safety risks and handling difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety and ease of handlingVSAvoidcoloration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the bleaching process by using ultraviolet light irradiation instead of chemical oxidation with hydrogen peroxide. This parameter change eliminates safety risks associated with handling concentrated hydrogen peroxide while achieving effective color reduction of phospholipid compositions through photochemical degradation of chromophoric impurities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the chemical mechanism (oxidation by hydrogen peroxide) with a physical mechanism (ultraviolet light irradiation). This substitution eliminates the need to handle hazardous chemical reagents while achieving the same bleaching effect through photochemical reactions that degrade colored impurities in the phospholipid composition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Quantity of substance

If drying is applied to produce phospholipid composition, then the composition is concentrated, but color darkening occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcentration of phospholipid compositionVSAvoidcolor darkening

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies ultraviolet light irradiation as a preliminary bleaching action before or during the drying process. This preliminary action prevents color darkening from occurring during concentration, as the chromophoric impurities are degraded by UV light before they can undergo oxidation and polymerization reactions that cause darkening during drying.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of concentration (which can lead to color darkening through oxidation) into a benefit by applying UV irradiation. The UV light transforms the drying process from a color-degrading operation into a color-stabilizing or even color-improving operation by continuously degrading chromophoric impurities throughout the concentration process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 reduces the color of phospholipid compositions, as measured by the Gardner color scale, without the safety risks associated with hydrogen peroxide, making them suitable for use in lighter products.

Implementation Method 1

The phospholipid composition is exposed to ultraviolet light to reduce the color of the phospholipid composition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotodegradation: Photodissociation

Data Source

PatentUS11466229B2Methods for bleaching phospholipid compositions

Publication Date: 2022.10.11 BUNGE GLOBAL INNOVATION LLC

AI summary

Methods for reducing the color of phospholipid compositions comprising lecithin are disclosed. The phospholipid composition is exposed to ultraviolet light to reduce the color of the composition. The phospholipid composition may be diluted and/or heated prior to exposure to ultraviolet light to improve the flow properties of the composition. The phospholipid composition may be cooled and/or concentrated after color reduction.