Shrimp Shell Astaxanthin Extraction via Enzymatic Hydrolysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for extracting astaxanthin and other useful substances from shrimp shells are inefficient, environmentally harmful, and require high costs and complex processes, including the use of alkalies, acids, and organic solvents.
Innovation Solution
A biological enzyme method involving the steps of crushing shrimp shells, mixing with water and alkaline protease, enzymatic hydrolysis, centrifugal separation, emulsification with vegetable oil, and centrifugation to separate astaxanthin-containing oil and shrimp protein, without the use of organic solvents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If alkaline extraction method is used to extract astaxanthin from shrimp shells, then extraction efficiency is improved, but environmental pollution increases due to consumption of acid and alkali and difficulty in eliminating processing wastewater
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the extraction system by using biological enzymes (proteases and lipases) instead of strong alkaline solutions, transforming the extraction mechanism from chemical dissolution to enzymatic hydrolysis. This parameter change maintains high extraction efficiency while eliminating the harmful environmental effects of acid and alkali consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical extraction system (alkaline boiling) with a biological system (enzymatic hydrolysis). The enzymatic method uses biological catalysts to break down proteins and release astaxanthin, substituting the harsh chemical mechanism with a gentler biological process that avoids environmental pollution
2Productivity
If organic solvent method is used to extract and concentrate astaxanthin, then extraction efficiency and product concentration are improved, but safety and health problems arise during processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive and hazardous organic solvents with water as the extraction medium. Water is safe, non-toxic, and easily removable by evaporation or centrifugation, eliminating the safety and health risks associated with organic solvents while maintaining extraction effectiveness through enzymatic pre-treatment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the traditionally harmful role of water (which cannot extract astaxanthin directly due to astaxanthin's hydrophobicity) into a beneficial extraction medium by combining it with enzymatic hydrolysis. The enzymes break down the protein matrix releasing astaxanthin, which then becomes accessible to water-soluble extraction, turning water from an ineffective solvent into an effective and safe extraction medium
3Manufacturing precision
If supercritical CO2 extraction method is used to obtain high purity astaxanthin, then product purity is improved, but equipment investment and production technology requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the extraction process into two distinct stages: (1) enzymatic hydrolysis stage where proteases and lipases break down proteins and lipids to release astaxanthin, and (2) separation stage where centrifugation and filtration isolate the astaxanthin. This segmentation achieves high purity without requiring complex supercritical equipment by dividing the process into simple, sequential steps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces enzymes as intermediary substances that facilitate the extraction process. The proteases and lipases act as intermediaries between the shrimp shell matrix and the astaxanthin, breaking down the structural barriers and enabling easy separation. This intermediary approach replaces the need for complex high-pressure equipment with simple biological catalysts
4Object-affected harmful factors
If biological enzyme method is used for extraction, then environmental friendliness is improved, but extraction efficiency decreases due to complex procedures and use of organic reagents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single enzymatic treatment step. Both proteases (for protein breakdown) and lipases (for lipid breakdown) are applied simultaneously in one hydrolysis stage, which releases astaxanthin from the shrimp shell matrix. This combined enzymatic approach maintains environmental friendliness while achieving high extraction efficiency through multi-functional catalysis
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous enzymatic hydrolysis followed by continuous separation processes. The enzymatic reaction proceeds continuously under optimized conditions (pH 7-8, temperature 37-50°C), and the released astaxanthin is continuously separated through centrifugation and filtration. This continuous action maintains high extraction efficiency without requiring harsh chemicals or complex batch processing
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 high extraction rates (>85%) of astaxanthin and shrimp protein with good quality and stability, is environmentally friendly, and reduces equipment and operational costs, allowing for large-scale continuous production.
Implementation Method 1
adding an alkaline protease and mixing, heating to 42-48° C., performing constant-temperature enzymolysis
Implementation Method 2
enzymatic hydrolysis, and sieving to obtain enzymatic hydrolysate
Implementation Method 3
performing centrifugal separation on the enzymatic hydrolysate obtained in S3 to obtain an astaxanthin-containing shrimp protein deposit
Implementation Method 4
mixing the astaxanthin-containing shrimp protein deposit obtained in S4 with vegetable oil, heating to 57-60° C. while stirring, adding water, and emulsifying for 50-70 min
Implementation Method 5
centrifuging the emulsion in S5, and delaminating to obtain astaxanthin-containing oil in an upper layer, water in a middle layer, and a shrimp protein in a lower layer
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for extracting useful substances from shrimp shells. The method comprises: crushing the shrimp shells, mixing the crushed shrimp shells and water, then heating same to 28° C.-35° C., adjusting the pH value to 6.8-7.5, preferably 6.8-7, then adding an alkaline protease and mixing same, heating same to 42° C.-48° C., performing constant-temperature enzymolysis for 50-70 min, and performing sieving to obtain an enzymatic hydrolysate and solid residues; performing centrifugal separation treatment on the enzymatic hydrolysate to obtain a shrimp protein deposit containing astaxanthin; mixing the shrimp protein deposit and water, performing heating while stirring, adjusting the pH value to 6.8-7.0, performing heating to 58° C.-60° C., adding vegetable oil, and performing emulsification for 50-70 min under stirring to obtain an emulsion; and performing centrifugation on the emulsion, and performing delamination to obtain astaxanthin-containing oil in an upper layer, water in a middle layer, and a shrimp protein in a lower layer. The method of the present invention uses waste biomass obtained after shrimps processed as a raw material, and can simultaneously extract several high-value substances, thereby not only improving the utilization rate of the raw material, but also shortening the production cycle; and no organic solvent is added, such that the method is clean, green and environmentally friendly.