Pollen Freezing for Allergen Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pollen harvesting machines face issues with pollen agglomeration and fermentation due to high temperatures, leading to reduced allergen extraction efficiency and increased microbiological contamination, which limits the usable pollen to about 5% of the total collected.
Innovation Solution
Instant freezing of pollen within 10 minutes of harvest followed by sublimation drying to maintain a water activity of less than 0.35 Aw, preventing agglomeration and fermentation, and preserving allergenic activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pollen is collected and stored at high temperatures during harvest, then the harvesting process can be completed efficiently, but the pollen begins to agglomerate and ferment, reducing the usable pollen to only about 5% of the total volume collected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by rapidly lowering the temperature of collected pollen from high harvest temperatures to freezing temperatures (below -20°C) within 10 minutes of collection. This drastic temperature parameter change prevents the thermal agitation that causes pollen agglomeration and fermentation, thereby maintaining pollen quality while preserving harvesting efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by immediately freezing the pollen right after collection, before any agglomeration or fermentation can occur. This preliminary freezing action creates a stable state that prevents subsequent degradation, ensuring that the pollen remains in a usable form for allergen extraction.
2Duration of action of moving object
If pollen is exposed to high temperatures during harvest, then the harvesting operation can proceed without interruption, but the pollen undergoes fermentation and increased microbiological growth, compromising the allergenic activity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by transitioning the pollen temperature from high harvest conditions to sub-zero freezing temperatures within 10 minutes. This parameter change fundamentally alters the microbial environment, inhibiting fermentation and microbiological growth while allowing the harvesting operation to maintain its duration and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by preemptively freezing the pollen to prevent fermentation and microbiological contamination before these harmful processes can significantly develop. This preliminary protective action counteracts the harmful effects of high temperature exposure during harvesting.
3Device complexity
If pollen is not frozen immediately after collection, then the harvesting process is simpler and faster, but the pollen agglomerates making retrieval extremely difficult and reducing usable pollen to about 5%
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by implementing rapid freezing of pollen within 10 minutes of collection. This temperature parameter change prevents agglomeration, maintaining pollen as a free-flowing material that is easy to retrieve and process, thereby minimizing pollen loss while adding a controlled freezing step to the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by freezing the pollen immediately after collection, before agglomeration can occur. This preliminary freezing action simplifies subsequent handling and retrieval operations, preventing the formation of difficult-to-manage clumps and maximizing the amount of usable pollen recovered.
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 increases the usable pollen for allergen extraction to 75% or 85% of the total collected, while maintaining the microbiological quality within European Pharmacopoeia standards.
Implementation Method 1
instant freezing of the pollen, within a period of time less than or equal to 10 minutes after harvest
Implementation Method 2
drying of the frozen pollen by sublimation until the pollen has a water activity of less than 0, 35 Aw
Data Source
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AI summary
Preparing crude pollen comprises: (a) collecting pollen; and (b) subjecting to instant freezing of the collected pollen, within a period of time following its collection as the pollen does not start to agglomerate to obtain frozen pollen powder.