Plant Extract Stabilization via Fatty Matrix Dehydration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preparing plant materials often result in significant loss and degradation of active molecules during drying and processing, leading to reduced biological activity and increased energy costs, making it challenging to preserve the chemical and biological properties of fresh plant materials.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the immediate integration of fresh plant material with a solid fatty material at room temperature, followed by grinding and dehydration, to create a stable totum or filtrate with minimal water content, thereby preserving the metabolic richness and biological activities of the plant material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If traditional drying and processing methods are used to prepare plant materials, then the plant material can be preserved and stored, but significant loss and degradation of active molecules occur, reducing biological activity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical-chemical parameters of the processing system by introducing a fatty material matrix and controlling water activity (aw) rather than simply reducing moisture content. This parameter change allows preservation of active molecules while achieving storage stability, as the fatty matrix protects thermolabile compounds from degradation that occurs in traditional drying methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system combining plant material with fatty material (oil or fat). This composite structure provides both protection for active molecules (reducing loss) and storage stability. The fatty matrix acts as a protective environment that prevents degradation while maintaining the biological activity of extracted compounds.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If traditional processing methods are used to preserve plant materials, then storage is enabled, but energy costs increase due to extensive drying and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the preservation parameter from moisture content reduction (energy-intensive drying) to water activity control through fatty material incorporation. This parameter change dramatically reduces energy requirements while achieving the same storage stability, as the fatty matrix prevents microbial growth and chemical degradation without requiring complete dehydration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the plant material from its aqueous environment and transfers it into a fatty material matrix. This extraction eliminates the need for extensive energy-consuming drying processes, as the fatty medium provides preservation functionality without requiring water removal. The active molecules are extracted into the fatty phase where they are protected and stable.
3Loss of substance
If fresh plant material is processed immediately, then biological activity is preserved, but handling and storage become more difficult due to high water content
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite material that combines fresh plant material with fatty material, resulting in a product that maintains biological activity while improving handling properties. The fatty matrix provides a stable, low-water-activity environment that prevents degradation, while the composite structure is easier to handle and store than high-moisture fresh plant material.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and water activity parameters of the plant material by incorporating it into a fatty matrix. This parameter change transforms the handling characteristics from difficult (high moisture, perishable) to easy (low water activity, stable), while preserving biological activity through the protective fatty environment.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple processing steps are used to prepare plant extracts, then purification is achieved, but the process complexity and time requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple processing functions (extraction, purification, and stabilization) into a single integrated step by incorporating plant material directly into fatty material. This merging eliminates the need for separate drying, extraction, and purification steps required by traditional methods, reducing process complexity while maintaining purification effectiveness through the selective solubility of active molecules in the fatty phase.
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 process effectively stabilizes the plant material, reduces energy costs, and maintains the biological potential of the plant's active compounds, while also simplifying handling and storage by producing a solid, stable product that is easier to transport and store.
Implementation Method 1
a fresh plant material comprising at least 10% water by mass of water in relation to its total mass (mass/mass) before or after loss to desiccation, alone or as a mixture, in whole or in part, is brought into contact, preferably under stirring, with the fatty material
Implementation Method 2
the plant material—fatty material mixture is then ground at a temperature of between 50° C. and 180° C.; the ground material obtained from step (b) is heated, preferably under stirring, to a temperature of between 50° C. and 180° C. to dehydrate the mixture
Data Source
AI summary
A process for preparing a total extract which is a mixture of a fresh plant matter with a fatty matter includes a. contacting the fresh plant matter which comprises at least 10% of water by weight relative to its total weight before or after desiccation loss, with the fatty matter chosen from hydrogenated oil or fat at a temperature between 50° C. and 180° C.; b. grinding the plant matter-fatty matter mixture at said temperature between 50° C. to 180° C.; and c. recovering a total extract that is solid or liquid at ambient temperature with a concentration of less than or equal to 4% of water by weight relative to the total weight of the total extract. Extracts recovered from such process and treatments using the extracts are also disclosed.