Solid Baking Additive with Encapsulated Enzyme Matrix

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Solution Overview

Problem

The baking industry faces challenges in convenience, flexibility, and safety due to the complexity of enzyme and yeast delivery in semi-industrial and artisan bakeries, with a need for a system that reduces dust formation and spills, and minimizes health risks associated with airborne dust from flour and enzyme handling.

Innovation Solution

A solid baking additive comprising 0.01 to 20% w/w active enzyme protein and at least 25% w/w baker's yeast, where the yeast forms a continuous matrix encapsulating the enzyme, reducing dust formation and providing a convenient, flexible, and safe delivery system through a co-formulation that maintains enzymatic activity and yeast viability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If powdered/granulated enzyme products are used as part of a powdered improver, then enzyme delivery is achieved, but pre-dosing complexity and dust formation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenzyme deliveryVSAvoidpre-dosing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines enzymes and yeast into a single co-formulated solid additive product. This merging eliminates the need for separate dosing of enzymes and yeast, as well as separate pre-dosing equipment, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining effective enzyme delivery to the baking process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The solid additive serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a yeast delivery system and an enzyme delivery system. This multi-functionality allows the product to replace both yeast and enzyme premixes, eliminating the need for separate dosing equipment and simplifying the manufacturing process.

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

2Ease of manufacture

If powdered/granulated enzyme products are used, then enzyme delivery is achieved, but dust formation and health risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenzyme deliveryVSAvoiddust formation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite material consisting of enzymes embedded within a yeast matrix in solid additive form. This composite structure prevents enzyme particles from becoming airborne dust, as the enzymes are bound within the yeast cells. The composite formulation maintains enzymatic activity while eliminating the health risks associated with inhaling fine enzyme dust particles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If pre-dosed solid items containing functional bakery ingredients are used, then dust formation is reduced, but product format complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust formation reductionVSAvoidproduct format complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges enzymes, yeast, and optional baking ingredients into a single integrated solid additive product. This combination creates a unified product format that is simple to handle and apply, eliminating the complexity of managing multiple separate pre-dosed components. The merged product reduces dust formation while maintaining ease of use through a single-product formulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 co-formulation of yeast and enzymes in a solid additive reduces dust formation, enhances storage stability, and ensures effective rehydration, providing a convenient and safe product that maintains enzymatic activity and yeast viability, improving baking processes while minimizing health risks.

Implementation Method 1

the yeast forms a continuous matrix encapsulating the enzyme

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEncapsulation: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 2

maintains enzymatic activity and yeast viability

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical stabilization:

Data Source

PatentUS20240099316A1Solid baking additive
Publication Date: 2024.03.28 NOVOZYMES AS

AI summary

The invention provides a solid baking additive both baking enzymes and baker's yeast in a homogenous co-formulated form, which exhibit excellent enzyme stability.