Seaweed Extract Powder Process for Animal Feed Supplements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current food supplements for birds and animals do not effectively increase weight gain in animals or egg weight in birds, and existing processes for preparing supplements from seaweed extracts do not result in a stable, transport-friendly powder form that maintains nutritional integrity.

Innovation Solution

A process involving the selection and washing of seaweeds, grinding, acid treatment, alkaline treatment with agitation, addition of whey and hydrolyzed starch, filtration, and drying to produce a powder dietary supplement rich in seaweed extract, proteins, amino acids, minerals, fiber, and hormones, optimizing nutrient bioavailability and reducing volume and weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If seaweed extracts are used to prepare food supplements for animals, then nutritional value and bioavailability are improved, but the volume and weight of the supplement increase, making transport and storage less efficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenutritional integrityVSAvoidsupplement weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the physical state of seaweed extracts from liquid to powder form through controlled drying processes. This changes the concentration, density, and water content parameters, reducing volume and weight while maintaining nutritional integrity. The powder form achieves higher concentration of active ingredients per unit weight, resolving the contradiction between nutritional value and transport efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If seaweed extracts are processed into powder form, then transport and storage logistics are improved, but the biological properties and nutritional integrity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport efficiencyVSAvoidbiological properties
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing acid treatment and alkaline treatment on seaweed extracts before drying. These preliminary treatments stabilize the biological properties and nutritional components, protecting them from degradation during the subsequent drying and powder formation processes. This ensures that the final powder maintains its biological activity and nutritional integrity while achieving the desired powder form for efficient transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Duration of action of stationary object

If complex processing steps are applied to seaweed extracts, then the stability and shelf life of the powder supplement are improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshelf lifeVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes through a systematic sequence of treatments: acid treatment to extract and stabilize active ingredients, alkaline treatment to precipitate proteins and adjust pH, and controlled drying to achieve optimal moisture content. Each parameter change (pH, temperature, moisture) is carefully controlled to maximize stability and shelf life while maintaining a manageable process complexity. The multi-step approach creates a stable final product that resists degradation during storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 resulting supplement enhances animal nutrition, improves food conversion, advances slaughter time, and increases egg weight, offering improved logistics and storage benefits while maintaining biological properties of macronutrients.

Implementation Method 1

treating with HCl the sliced Macrocystis for about 30-40 minutes at a 50° C. temperature, producing alginic acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcid treatment: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

digesting with K2CO3, mixing it in this stage with Ulva ground in the previous stage, controlling pH to about 10 and temperature at about 65±5° C. for 2 hours

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 3

concentrating the liquid phase under vacuum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum concentration: Vacuum Distillation

Implementation Method 4

drying, until the powder product is obtained

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDrying: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS10905147B2Process for the preparation of an additive as a food supplement based on seaweeds for birds and animals; as well as the product obtained and its use in the food conversion and in the production of bird and animal meat
Publication Date: 2021.02.02 PATAGONIA BIOTECNOLOGIA SA

AI summary

The present invention relates to a process for preparing an additive as a food supplement based on algae for birds and animals. It also describes the food additive obtained, formulated with seaweed extract, whey, malto-dextrin, proteins, amino acids, minerals, fiber, fat, hormones, and has a final powder form. In addition, the use of the food additive to increase the weight gain in animals, the weight gain in eggs of birds, and for the production of meat in birds and animals is described.