Plant Meal Anti-Nutritional Substance Mitigation via Oxidation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for producing plant-based protein concentrates are inefficient in removing anti-nutritional substances (ANS) like trypsin inhibitors, antigens, and non-digestible oligosaccharides, which can impair growth in fish and lead to undesirable flavors in aquaculture feed, limiting the replacement of fish meal with plant-based alternatives.
Innovation Solution
A method involving partial oxidation and biochemical digestion of ANS in plant meals, combined with the use of specific enzymes to further digest these substances upon ingestion, reducing their content by at least 10 weight percent and mitigating their anti-nutritional effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional chemical methods are used to separate ANS polysaccharides from soybean meal, then some polysaccharides are removed, but only about half of the polysaccharides are removed and the process is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical structure of ANS through oxidation (changing their physical-chemical properties) and by adjusting process parameters such as enzyme selection, pH, temperature, and reaction conditions to optimize both removal efficiency and process productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical/chemical separation methods with a combined chemical oxidation and biochemical digestion approach, using enzymatic reactions to specifically target and degrade ANS polysaccharides more effectively than traditional separation techniques
2Quantity of substance
If biochemical processes such as microbial and enzymatic degradation are used to convert polysaccharides, then polysaccharides are converted to oligosaccharides or soluble sugars, but hydrolytic cleavage of proteins occurs resulting in degraded protein and lower nutritional value
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of enzymatic hydrolysis by using controlled oxidation first to modify ANS structures, then applying specific enzymes that preferentially digest the oxidized ANS while preserving protein integrity, thereby converting a risk into a benefit
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces oxidation as an intermediary step between the original polysaccharides and the enzymatic digestion process. This intermediary modification makes the ANS more susceptible to enzymatic breakdown while creating conditions that protect proteins from hydrolytic cleavage
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional soy protein concentrate is used in aquaculture feed to replace fish meal, then cost is reduced and environmental impact is improved, but ANS such as stachyose and raffinose remain which are poorly digested by fish leading to impaired growth and undesirable flavors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing chemical oxidation and biochemical digestion of ANS in the soy protein concentrate before it is used in aquaculture feed. This pre-treatment removes the harmful substances that would otherwise impair fish growth and cause undesirable flavors, allowing full utilization of the cost benefits
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 improved plant meal composition effectively reduces ANS content, enhancing nutritional value and palatability for fish, allowing for increased substitution of fish meal with plant-based ingredients in aquaculture feed without adverse effects.
Implementation Method 1
The mitigating may include at least partly oxidizing the one or more ANS or a biochemically digested portion of the one or more ANS
Implementation Method 2
The one or more enzymes may be selected to at least partially biochemically digest, in a subject upon ingestion of the improved meal, the one or more ANS
Implementation Method 3
Biochemical processes such as microbial and enzymatic degradation may convert polysaccharides to oligosaccharides or more soluble sugars
Data Source
AI summary
Improved meals, improved meal compositions, and improved aquaculture feed compositions are provided based on plant meal, wherein anti-nutritional effects of one or more anti-nutritional substances (ANS) are mitigated. Also provided are methods for making and using the improved meals, improved meal compositions, and improved aquaculture feed compositions. Also provided are kits using the improved meals, improved meal compositions, and improved aquaculture feed composition. The improved meals, improved meal compositions, and improved aquaculture feed compositions demonstrate that plant meal protein digestibility may be improved, for example, for replacing fish meal protein.