Reduced PQQ Production via Ascorbic Acid Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing reduced pyrroloquinoline quinone are costly, inconvenient, and require toxic reducing agents or expensive equipment, with reduced PQQ being prone to oxidation, making storage challenging.

Innovation Solution

A method involving mixing a solution of pyrroloquinoline quinone with an ascorbic acid analog at a pH of 3.5 or less to produce reduced pyrroloquinoline quinone, using ascorbic acid analogs such as ascorbic acid, rhamno-ascorbic acid, and their esters, which are safer, more cost-effective, and do not require special equipment, while stabilizing the reduced form through controlled pH and atmosphere.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If common reducing agents (sodium borohydride, sodium hyposulfite) are used to reduce PQQ, then reduced PQQ can be obtained, but toxic residues remain requiring additional removal steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiency of reduced PQQVSAvoidtoxicity of reducing agents

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses ascorbic acid and its derivatives as temporary reducing agents that can be easily removed. These substances are inexpensive, biocompatible, and can be decomposed or removed by simple heating or filtration, leaving no toxic residues in the final product

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

Ascorbic acid acts as an intermediary reducing agent between the toxic conventional reducing agents and the PQQ substrate. It performs the reduction function while being safe and easily removable, mediating between the need for reduction and the requirement for safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If hydrogen gas is used with platinum catalyst for reduction, then reduced PQQ is obtained, but special equipment is required due to hydrogen's explosiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiency of reduced PQQVSAvoidequipment requirements for hydrogen handling

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/equipment-intensive hydrogen gas system with a chemical solution system using ascorbic acid. This substitution eliminates the need for special hydrogen handling equipment, pressure vessels, and catalyst systems while achieving the same reduction goal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Ascorbic acid provides a simple, inexpensive reducing agent that can be added directly to the solution without requiring complex delivery systems, catalysts, or special equipment infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If glutathione is used as reducing agent, then reduced PQQ is obtained safely, but glutathione is costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety of reducing agentVSAvoidcost of reducing agent

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes expensive glutathione with inexpensive ascorbic acid and its derivatives. These ascorbic acid-based agents are significantly cheaper while maintaining safety and effectiveness, and can be easily removed from the final product

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Ease of operation

If reduced PQQ is stored in contact with molecular oxygen, then storage is simple, but reduced PQQ is readily oxidized back to oxidized PQQ

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of storageVSAvoidstability of reduced PQQ

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Ascorbic acid serves as a protective intermediary in the storage system. It acts as an antioxidant that preferentially reacts with oxygen, protecting the reduced PQQ from oxidation. This allows simpler storage conditions while maintaining product stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates ascorbic acid in advance into the storage formulation to create a protective buffer against oxidation. This preemptive measure ensures that reduced PQQ remains stable during storage without requiring complex inert atmosphere systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 enables the safe, convenient, and low-cost production of reduced pyrroloquinoline quinone with stable storage, avoiding the use of toxic agents and expensive equipment, and maintaining the compound's antioxidative activity.

Implementation Method 1

mixing an aqueous solution of pyrroloquinoline quinone or a salt thereof having a pH adjusted to 4 or less with an ascorbic acid analog to obtain a solution having a pH of 3.5 or less comprising reduced pyrroloquinoline quinone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReduction: Reduction

Data Source

PatentEP2537848B1Method for producing reduced pyrroloquinoline quinone

Publication Date: 2015.04.08 MITSUBISHI GAS CHEM CO INC

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for conveniently producing reduced pyrroloquinoline quinone from oxidized pyrroloquinoline quinone without needing expensive equipment, and a method for stabilizing reduced pyrroloquinoline quinone. According to the present invention, high-quality reduced pyrroloquinoline quinone can be obtained conveniently and efficiently in a manner suitable for industrial-scale production by mixing pyrroloquinoline quinone and ascorbic acid in a solvent.