Rotor-Stator Cell Disruption for PUFA Bioavailability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in the instability of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) against oxidative degradation when isolated from cells, and the harsh conditions required for cell disruption often damage these valuable materials during the production of feed or food, leading to inadequate bioavailability and material damage.

Innovation Solution

A rotor-stator system is used for cell disruption with controlled energy input, maintaining a solids content of 30-70% and energy input up to 50 kWh/t, along with antioxidants and optional enzymes to stabilize and release PUFAs gently, ensuring effective cell disruption and minimizing damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If harsh cell disruption conditions with high mechanical energy input are used to achieve satisfactory cell disruption, then cell disruption rate is improved, but valuable substances (PUFAs) are damaged due to oxidative degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell disruption rateVSAvoidoxidative degradation of PUFAs
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the key parameter of mechanical energy input from high levels (harsh conditions) to low levels (maximum 50 kWh/t, preferably 5-20 kWh/t), combined with specific solids content control (30-70 wt.%), to achieve effective cell disruption while minimizing oxidative degradation of PUFAs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces antioxidants as intermediary substances that mediate between the cell disruption process and the PUFAs, protecting the PUFAs from oxidative degradation caused by mechanical energy input during the disruption process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If cell disruption is insufficient to maintain PUFAs stable, then oxidative degradation is reduced, but bioavailability of PUFAs is reduced because cell wall cannot be broken down

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxidative degradation of PUFAsVSAvoidbioavailability of PUFAs
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes parameters including solids content (30-70 wt.%, preferably 45-65 wt.%) and mechanical energy input (5-20 kWh/t) to achieve the optimal balance between cell disruption effectiveness and PUFA stability, ensuring both bioavailability and protection from degradation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If high mechanical energy input is applied to achieve cell disruption, then cell disruption is improved, but valuable substances are damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell disruption efficiencyVSAvoidstability of valuable substances
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally changes the energy input parameter from high to low (maximum 50 kWh/t, preferably 5-20 kWh/t), combined with high solids content (30-70 wt.%), to achieve effective cell disruption while maintaining the stability and integrity of valuable substances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Antioxidants are introduced as intermediary substances that protect valuable substances from the harmful effects of mechanical energy input, allowing effective cell disruption to occur without damaging the valuable substances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 achieves significant reduction in mechanical energy input while maintaining high cell disruption rates and stabilizing PUFAs, ensuring their bioavailability and minimizing oxidative degradation, resulting in a more efficient and gentle process for producing feed or food containing valuable lipids.

Implementation Method 1

In this gap, the cells are subjected to shear stress, and turbulence is also generated. These two factors cause cell disruption.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShear stress: Shear Stress

Implementation Method 2

In this gap, the cells are subjected to shear stress, and turbulence is also generated. These two factors cause cell disruption.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Implementation Method 3

A problem with the use and processing of numerous valuable substances, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids, is their susceptibility to oxidative degradation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP2953479B1Improving bioavailability of valuable materials from microorganisms by use of a rotor-stator system for cell disruption
Publication Date: 2019.04.03 EVONIK OPERATIONS GMBH

AI summary

According to the invention, a rotor-stator system allows cells containing useful materials to be disrupted in a very gentle manner.