Solid Fructose Powder via Spray Drying and Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processes for producing solid fructose are inefficient, costly, and result in low yield with significant by-products, making it difficult to handle and store, especially in the form of syrups which are prone to crystallization and have short shelf life.
Innovation Solution
A method involving an aqueous fructose solution with a high dry substance content, mixed with a carbohydrate powder to create a slurry, then cooled to induce solidification, followed by optional milling and coating, to produce a stable and easily handled solid fructose powder with high purity and flowability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If fructose is produced in syrup form, then it maintains high sweetness and solubility, but it has short shelf life and is prone to crystallization during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of fructose from liquid syrup to solid powder form. This fundamental parameter change eliminates the crystallization issues associated with syrup storage while maintaining the desired sweetness and functional properties. The solid powder form achieves long-term stability without the harmful crystallization effects that plague syrup formulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transition from liquid to solid state through spray drying technology. The fructose solution is atomized and rapidly dried, transitioning from liquid droplets to solid powder particles. This phase transition locks the fructose in a stable amorphous or crystalline solid state that resists further phase changes and crystallization during storage.
2Ease of operation
If fructose is converted to solid powder form, then it becomes easier to handle, store and dose, but current processes are inefficient, costly and result in low yield
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex multi-step mechanical processing systems with a single integrated spray drying system. Instead of using traditional methods involving evaporation, centrifugation, filtration, and drying in separate stages, the invention uses spray drying to accomplish the entire liquid-to-powder conversion in one continuous operation, dramatically improving productivity and reducing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray drying process operates continuously, with fructose solution being constantly fed, atomized, dried, and collected as powder. This continuous operation eliminates the batch processing interruptions and inefficiencies of traditional methods, maintaining high productivity while ensuring consistent product quality and maximizing yield.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fructose syrup is used in food industry, then it provides high sweetness, but it requires higher transportation costs and has limited applications requiring solid form
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of fructose from liquid syrup to solid powder form. This fundamental parameter change eliminates the crystallization issues associated with syrup storage while maintaining the desired sweetness and functional properties. The solid powder form achieves long-term stability without the harmful crystallization effects that plague syrup formulations.
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 enables the production of solid fructose in a cost- and time-efficient manner with high yield, minimal waste, and improved stability, allowing for easier handling and storage, and can be tailored for specific properties by adding other carbohydrates.
Implementation Method 1
cooling the aqueous slurry to a temperature of at most the Tg of the slurry thereby obtaining a product containing solidified fructose
Data Source
AI summary
A fructose in solid form containing a matrix and a plurality of carbohydrate crystals within said matrix, the matrix containing amorphous fructose and water, wherein the carbohydrate crystals comprise fructose and optionally one or more other carbohydrate(s), and optionally wherein the fructose in solid form is coated with a dry powder coating.