Two-step emulsification for infant formula lipid globule control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processes for preparing infant or follow-on formulae fail to produce lipid globules that closely resemble those in human milk, leading to inadequate nutritional profiles and increased risk of obesity due to high shear forces and inefficient production methods.
Innovation Solution
A two-step homogenization process involving a first step with a static mixer or inline mixer to create larger lipid globules, followed by a second step using an atomizer to reduce globule size, ensuring a controlled particle size distribution and resembling natural human milk lipid globules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If high pressure homogenization is used to create small lipid globules, then emulsion stability is improved, but the nutritional profile deteriorates and obesity risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The homogenization process is divided into multiple sequential steps with decreasing pressure levels. The first step uses high pressure (50-200 bar) to create initial fine dispersion, followed by subsequent steps at lower pressures (10-50 bar, then 1-10 bar) to achieve final globule size. This segmented approach allows controlled emulsification that maintains stability while preserving larger globule structures beneficial for nutrition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies key process parameters including pressure (from 50-200 bar down to 1-10 bar), temperature (maintained at 40-80°C), and lipid-to-aqueous phase ratio (3-50% w/w) across different homogenization steps. These parameter changes enable optimization of both emulsion stability and lipid globule size distribution to match human milk characteristics.
2Stability of the object's composition
If high pressure homogenization is applied to reduce lipid globule size, then creaming is prevented, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single high-energy homogenization step is segmented into multiple steps with decreasing pressure levels. The first step at high pressure (50-200 bar) creates initial fine dispersion, while subsequent steps at progressively lower pressures (10-50 bar, then 1-10 bar) complete the emulsification. This segmentation distributes energy input across steps, reducing total energy consumption compared to continuous high-pressure homogenization.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-step homogenization process maintains continuous emulsification action throughout the sequence, with each step building upon the previous one. The emulsion is continuously processed through staged pressure reduction, ensuring stable lipid globule formation without requiring excessive energy input at any single stage.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional homogenization produces small lipid globules, then phase separation is avoided, but the lipid globule coating composition becomes unfavorable
Solution Approach 1:
The homogenization process is segmented into multiple steps that progressively refine lipid globule size while preserving coating integrity. The staged pressure approach (50-200 bar → 10-50 bar → 1-10 bar) allows the milk globule membrane to form properly around lipid globules at each stage, resulting in accurate coating composition that mimics human milk rather than the protein-heavy coating from single-step homogenization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes parameters including maintaining temperature at 40-80°C throughout homogenization, controlling lipid-to-aqueous phase ratio at 3-50% w/w, and progressively reducing pressure across steps. These parameter changes ensure proper formation of the milk globule membrane coating with appropriate phospholipid content, achieving manufacturing precision in coating composition.
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 achieves a stable and reproducible production of lipid globules with a size distribution similar to human milk, enhancing nutritional profiles and reducing the risk of obesity, while reducing energy input and production costs.
Implementation Method 1
carrying out a first homogenization step by homogenizing the lipid phase with the aqueous phase in a ratio of 3 to 50% (w/w) so as to obtain a first lipid and protein component-containing composition comprising lipid globules
Implementation Method 2
carrying out a second homogenization step by homogenizing the first lipid and protein component-containing composition obtained in step c) with an atomizer, wherein the particle size of the lipid globules obtained in step c) is reduced
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a two-step emulsification process for preparing a lipid and protein component-containing composition comprising large lipid globules, preferably coated with polar lipids, and to the compositions obtained thereby. Optionally, the lipid and protein component-containing composition is spray-dried. The obtained compositions are for feeding infants and young children.