Soybean Extract Production via Yeast Fermentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current techniques for obtaining soybean extracts are at an exploratory level, and there is a need for a simple and industrially exploitable method to produce active extracts with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-elastase properties.

Innovation Solution

A process involving soy juice extraction, ultrafiltration, concentration by reverse osmosis or evaporation, hydrolysis using baker's yeast (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to break down sugars, and subsequent dehydration and desalting to obtain a rich extract of manninotriose and melibiose, which are then combined with edible silica to enhance stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If current exploratory techniques are used to obtain soybean extracts, then research flexibility is maintained, but industrial scalability and simplicity are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of extraction methodVSAvoidindustrial scalability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The extraction process is divided into distinct sequential stages: extraction of soy juice, ultrafiltration to separate permeate, concentration of permeate, and controlled fermentation hydrolysis. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized independently for both simplicity and industrial scalability, transforming the exploratory technique into an industrially viable process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention specifies precise parameter ranges including ultrafiltration membrane cut-off (5,000-50,000 daltons), fermentation temperature (20-40°C), and pH control (4.0-6.0) to optimize both the simplicity of operation and productivity. By defining these parameters, the process transitions from exploratory to industrially scalable while maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If baker's yeast fermentation is used for hydrolysis, then selectivity for manninotriose and melibiose production is improved, but process time is extended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompositional purity of extractVSAvoidfermentation duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The fermentation process is conducted as a controlled periodic operation with defined stages: initial adaptation phase, active hydrolysis phase, and termination phase. By controlling the duration of each phase and monitoring sugar consumption patterns, the process achieves high compositional purity of manninotriose and melibiose while limiting excessive fermentation time that would lead to complete sugar depletion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The process utilizes feedback control by monitoring the consumption of raffinose and stacchyose during fermentation and adjusting conditions to terminate the process at the optimal point when manninotriose and melibiose concentrations are maximized. This feedback mechanism ensures high manufacturing precision while minimizing unnecessary fermentation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Quantity of substance

If multiple fermentation organisms are used for sugar hydrolysis, then complete sugar breakdown is achieved, but selectivity for specific oligosaccharides is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetotal sugar hydrolysis efficiencyVSAvoidselectivity of oligosaccharide composition
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts or selects only the essential fermentative properties of baker's yeast (invertase activity) while deliberately excluding organisms with melibiase activity. By using exclusively baker's yeast, the process achieves both sufficient sugar hydrolysis and high selectivity for manninotriose and melibiose production, as these yeasts lack the enzymes that would further degrade these valuable oligosaccharides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The fermentation system is designed with local quality by assigning specific enzymatic capabilities to the selected organism. Baker's yeast provides invertase activity for hydrolyzing the β1-2 glucose-fructose bond in raffinose and stacchyose, while deliberately lacking melibiase activity. This localized enzymatic property ensures selective production of the desired oligosaccharides without complete sugar breakdown.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 process effectively produces a nutraceutical composition with demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-elastase properties, significantly reducing reactive oxygen species, myeloperoxidase, and elastase activities, while inhibiting inflammatory cytokines.

Implementation Method 1

a step for obtaining a permeate by ultrafiltration of said soy juice, the permeate thus obtained being essentially free of lipids and proteins

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrafiltration: Semipermeable Membrane

Implementation Method 2

a step for concentrating said permeate, advantageously by reverse osmosis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReverse osmosis: Reverse Osmosis

Implementation Method 3

stage during which an enzymatic hydrolysis of the sugars resulting from the invertase activity of said baker's yeast is carried out

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzymatic hydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 4

at least one stage of hydrolysis of said permeate by the fermentation route carried out using at least one baker's yeast

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentEP1983844B1Method for production of active extracts from soya beans and corresponding uses of the produced extracts
Publication Date: 2010.12.15 SOJASUN TECH
  • EP1983844B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1983844B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1983844B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for production of at least one active extract rich in manninotriose and melibiose from soya beans comprising at least one soya juice extraction step, a step for production of a permeate by ultrafiltration of the soya juice, said permeate being essentially free of lipids and proteins and at least one hydrolysis step of said permeate by fermentation carried out by means of at least one baker's yeast in the absence of any lactic fermentation and during this step an enzymatic hydrolysis of the sugars produced by the invertase activity of said baker's yeast is carried out to give said active extract.