Solid Enzymatic Unit-Dose Articles for Low-Dust Baking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing baking processes face challenges in convenience, flexibility, and safety due to the use of powdered enzyme products, which require pre-dosing and can generate dust, leading to health risks and process inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A method for preparing a solid enzymatic article by forming a moist powder with enzymes, dough ingredients, and a binding agent, then applying pressure and drying to create a unit-dose format that disintegrates during dough preparation without pre-dissolving, ensuring low friability and enzyme release.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If powdered enzyme products are used in baking processes, then enzyme delivery is simple, but pre-dosing is required and dust formation occurs leading to health risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenzyme delivery simplicityVSAvoiddust formation and health risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the enzyme delivery system into unit-dose tablets, each containing a pre-measured amount of enzyme. This segmentation eliminates the need for pre-dosing while containing the enzyme in a compact form that minimizes dust formation during handling and storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite tablet structures by compressing enzyme powder with binding agents and fillers. This composite material approach maintains enzyme effectiveness while creating a stable, low-dust formulation that is safe for handling and storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If conventional tablets are produced by high pressure compression, then tablets have low friability, but they have difficulties dissolving completely during dough preparation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetablet friabilityVSAvoiddissolution during dough preparation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the compression pressure parameter from conventional high pressure (100-200 MPa) to lower pressure (1-100 MPa). This parameter change creates tablets with sufficient structural integrity for handling while maintaining porosity and surface area that enable complete dissolution during dough preparation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates tablets with non-uniform density distribution, where the outer regions have slightly higher density for structural integrity while the inner regions maintain higher porosity for rapid dissolution. This local quality variation resolves the contradiction between strength and dissolution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If semi-automated dosage equipment is used for granulated enzyme products, then enzyme delivery is precise, but the degree of automation is lower in semi-industrial and artisan bakeries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenzyme dosing accuracyVSAvoidautomation level in bakeries
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs the dosing action in advance during tablet manufacturing, creating unit-dose tablets with pre-measured enzyme amounts. This preliminary action eliminates the need for on-site dosing equipment, allowing precise enzyme delivery even in bakeries with low automation levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 solid enzymatic article provides a convenient, flexible, and safe enzyme delivery system that reduces dust formation and spills, ensuring even enzyme distribution in dough while maintaining product integrity and safety.

Implementation Method 1

forming the solid article by applying a pressure of 1 to 200000 kPa to the moist powder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

drying the solid article to remove at least 30% of the water in the moist powder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS12414570B2Solid enzymatic article for use in baking
Publication Date: 2025.09.16 NOVOZYMES AS

AI summary

The invention provides a method for preparing a solid enzymatic unit-dose article for use in baking, which is capable of disintegrating/dissolving during preparation of a dough or a batter.