Propyl Gallate Vitamin Powder Composition for Oxidative Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vitamin-containing preparations are unstable during manufacturing and storage due to oxidative processes, UV radiation, and interactions with heavy metals, leading to degradation and loss of effectiveness, with existing antioxidants like ethoxyquin posing safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

A powdered vitamin preparation with a particle size of less than 0.7 µm and containing 3.5 to 9.5% propyl gallate by weight, along with optional tocopherol or butylhydroxytoluene, enhances stability by inhibiting oxidative processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If ethoxyquin is used as an antioxidant in vitamin preparations, then the stability of vitamins is improved, but safety concerns arise due to potential genotoxicity and mutagenicity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevitamin stabilityVSAvoidsafety concerns
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces ethoxyquin with propyl gallate, a safer antioxidant that decomposes into benign products. Propyl gallate serves as a temporary protective agent during storage and processing, eliminating the need for long-term safety monitoring associated with ethoxyquin's persistent molecular structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameter by substituting ethoxyquin with propyl gallate. This parameter change maintains antioxidant functionality while altering the safety profile, as propyl gallate lacks the genotoxic and mutagenic properties of ethoxyquin and its metabolites.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If antioxidants are added to vitamin preparations to prevent oxidative degradation, then vitamin effectiveness is maintained, but the complexity of the formulation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevitamin effectivenessVSAvoidformulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the problematic ethoxyquin component from the formulation, replacing it with propyl gallate. This extraction eliminates the need for complex safety assessment protocols and reduces formulation complexity by using a single, well-characterized antioxidant substance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Propyl gallate serves multiple functions: it acts as an antioxidant protecting vitamins from oxidative degradation, and its decomposition products are benign, providing both protective and safety advantages in a single substance, thereby reducing overall formulation complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If vitamin preparations are subjected to stress conditions for stability testing, then degradation is detected, but the time required for testing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability detectionVSAvoidtesting time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary stability testing during the formulation development stage, establishing the protective effect of propyl gallate before commercial production. This preliminary action allows for accelerated testing protocols that can predict long-term stability based on short-term stress condition results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 preparation maintains at least 20% vitamin content after 4 weeks under stress conditions, surpassing the stability of ethoxyquin-based formulations while addressing safety concerns.

Implementation Method 1

antioxidants are compounds that inhibit or prevent undesirable changes in the substances to be protected caused by oxygen exposure, including oxidative processes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAntioxidant action: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP3487319B1Vitamin compositions comprising propyl gallate
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 BASF SE

AI summary

The present invention relates to a powdery vitamin preparation, in which the vitamin has substantially a particle size of less than 0.7 µm and which contains an effective amount of propyl gallate. The invention also relates to methods for the production of said preparation, to preparations that can be obtained according to said methods and to their use as animal feed, food, food supplements, body care products or pharmaceutical agents. The preparations according to the invention have a stability that is improved compared to the prior art.