Trichoderma Penicillium Enzyme Complex Mash Filterability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current enzyme complexes used in beer and whiskey production do not effectively improve mash filterability and extract yield, leading to inefficiencies in the mashing and filtration steps.

Innovation Solution

Combining the fermentation products of Trichoderma reesei and Penicillium funiculosum to create an enzyme complex with specific enzyme activities, including beta-1,4-endoglucan hydrolase, xylanase, cellulase, and beta-glucanase, which are recovered and combined in a specific ratio to enhance mash processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If current enzyme complexes are used in beer production, then the mashing and filtration steps can be performed, but mash filterability is not effectively improved and extract yield is not increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextract yieldVSAvoidmash filterability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines enzymes from two different fungal sources (Trichoderma reesei and Penicillium funiculosum) into a single enzyme complex. This merging of different enzyme systems creates synergistic effects that simultaneously improve both mash filterability and extract yield, resolving the technical contradiction between these two parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The enzyme complex represents a composite biological material comprising multiple enzyme types with different functions. By creating this composite enzyme system with specific activity ratios, the patent achieves enhanced performance in both filtration and extraction processes compared to single-source enzyme preparations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If current enzyme complexes are used, then the brewing process can continue, but lautering and filtration efficiency remain insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrew cycles/dayVSAvoidmashing and filtration time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the enzyme complex by controlling the ratio of beta-1,4-endoglucan hydrolase activities from the two fungal sources to be between 0.3:0.7 and 0.7:0.3. This parameter optimization enables the enzyme complex to effectively reduce wort viscosity and improve filterability, thereby increasing brew cycles per day while reducing processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If higher enzyme activity is used to improve filterability, then wort residual β-glucan decreases, but the complexity of enzyme complex formulation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemash filterabilityVSAvoidenzyme complex formulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes specific parameter ranges for the enzyme complex, including the beta-1,4-endoglucan hydrolase activity ratio from P. funiculosum and T. reesei (0.3:0.7 to 0.7:0.3) and total activity levels (3,000-10,000 U/g). These defined parameters simplify the formulation process while ensuring effective filterability improvement and wort clarification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enzyme complex improves mash filterability, reduces wort residual β-glucan, decreases viscosity, and increases brew cycles/day, leading to more efficient lautering and beer filtration processes.

Implementation Method 1

The enzyme complex has beta-1,4-endoglucan hydrolase activity comprising: a fermentation product of Trichoderma reesei; and a fermentation product of Penicillium funiculosum comprising one or more enzymes selected from a xylanase, a cellulase, and a beta-glucanase

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzymatic hydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

a fermentation product of Trichoderma reesei; and b. a fermentation product of Penicillium funiculosum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentEP2427550B1Enzyme complex from trichoderma reesei and p. funiculosum enzymes
Publication Date: 2018.12.26 INT N&H DENMARK APS
  • EP2427550B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2427550B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2427550B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an improved enzyme complex having a plurality of enzyme activities of an expression product obtained by fermentation of the genus Trichoderma in combination with one or more enzymes of a different fungus strain.