Glucosamine Production from Plant Materials Using Nitrogen Fertilizer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing glucosamine from plants result in low concentrations, requiring large amounts of raw material to achieve effective doses, making them less viable for industrial-scale applications.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the use of a nitrogen-based fertilizer during plant cultivation, followed by a controlled heating process between 70-110°C for over 10 hours, significantly increases glucosamine content in plant materials to above 0.5% dry weight, allowing for higher yields and reduced material requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional plant-based glucosamine production methods are used, then glucosamine can be obtained from plants, but the concentration is low requiring large amounts of raw material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by treating plant materials with nitrogen-based fertilizers (such as ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, or urea) before the heating process. This pre-treatment allows the plants to accumulate glucosamine precursors, which are then converted to glucosamine during the controlled heating process (70-110°C for 10-48 hours), significantly increasing the final glucosamine concentration in the plant material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by optimizing the heating conditions (temperature range of 70-110°C, duration of 10-48 hours) and nitrogen fertilizer application (timing, concentration, and type) to maximize glucosamine production. These controlled parameter changes transform the chemical composition of plant materials, converting precursors into glucosamine while maintaining stability and avoiding degradation.
2Quantity of substance
If large amounts of raw plant material are processed, then effective doses of glucosamine can be achieved, but the process becomes less viable for industrial-scale applications
Solution Approach 1:
By applying nitrogen fertilizers before harvesting and processing, the patent ensures that plants accumulate sufficient glucosamine precursors in advance. This preliminary enrichment means that subsequent processing yields much higher glucosamine concentrations (up to 5g/kg dry weight), making industrial-scale production economically viable without requiring excessive raw material volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The optimized heating parameters (70-110°C for 10-48 hours) and fertilizer application protocols enable consistent high-yield glucosamine production. These controlled parameter changes ensure reproducible results at industrial scale, transforming a previously low-yield process into a productive, scalable manufacturing method.
3Quantity of substance
If glucosamine is produced in polymerized form, then it can be obtained from plant materials, but additional hydrolysis steps are required for extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes controlled parameter changes during heating (temperature and time optimization) to favor the formation of free, non-polymerized glucosamine over polymerized forms. By adjusting these parameters within the specified ranges, the process directs chemical reactions toward producing glucosamine in its monomeric, extractable form, eliminating the need for additional hydrolysis steps and simplifying the overall extraction process.
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 achieves glucosamine concentrations of up to 5g/kg dry weight, making the production more economically viable and scalable, with a higher proportion of glucosamine produced in a free, non-polymerized form, simplifying extraction and reducing the need for additional hydrolysis steps.
Implementation Method 1
The nitrogen-based fertilizer acts as a precursor of glucosamine, in order to obtain plant raw materials containing level of glucosamine higher than 0.5% (wt) of the dry matter
Implementation Method 2
a heating process between 70-110°C for over 10 hours, significantly increases glucosamine content in plant materials
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for generating glucosamine from plants wherein fresh plant materials, or re-hydrated dried plant materials or plant extracts, are heated at a temperature comprised between 70 and 110°C for more than 10 hours, characterized in that a fertilizer acting as glucosamine precursor is added during the cultivation of the plants, before the harvest.