Ulva Gel Extraction Under Pressure for Sustainable Nutraceuticals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional terrestrial agriculture systems contribute to climate change and malnutrition, and there is a need for sustainable, environmentally friendly food sources that do not deplete resources or harm the environment.

Innovation Solution

The production of Ulva gel compositions through a process involving mixing Ulva with water, heating under pressure, and optionally filtering and centrifuging to create a gel that includes Ulva polysaccharides and other nutrients, which can be used in nutraceuticals or cosmeceuticals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If traditional terrestrial agriculture systems are used to produce food, then food production is achieved, but environmental degradation and resource depletion occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood productionVSAvoidenvironmental degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and utilizes seaweed polysaccharides and proteins as alternative food sources, removing the need for resource-intensive terrestrial agriculture. This extraction approach provides nutritionally valuable compounds without the environmental costs of traditional farming systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Seaweed serves as an intermediary substance that bridges the gap between sustainable production and nutritional output. By cultivating seaweed in marine environments rather than terrestrial soils, the system mediates food production in a way that avoids land degradation, water consumption, and chemical pollution associated with conventional agriculture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If seaweed is cultivated as a sustainable food source, then environmental benefits are achieved, but extraction and processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidextraction process

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The extraction process is segmented into distinct stages: polysaccharide extraction, protein extraction, and gel formation. Each stage targets specific components separately, simplifying the overall process by breaking down the complex task of extracting multiple nutrients into manageable, sequential operations with optimized conditions for each.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs parameter changes including temperature variation (heating to 80-100°C for polysaccharide extraction, then cooling to 4-25°C for gel formation), pH adjustment (adding acid or base to reach pH 2-3 or 9-11), and pressure control during extraction. These parameter modifications enable selective extraction of different seaweed components while maintaining process simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If Ulva is processed through heating and filtering to create gel, then product purity and consistency are improved, but processing time and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegel consistencyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary homogenization of Ulva before extraction, breaking down the material structure in advance to facilitate faster and more efficient subsequent extraction and gel formation. This preliminary mechanical preparation reduces the time required for heating and filtering while ensuring consistent gel quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The extraction and gel formation processes are designed to proceed continuously without interruption. The heated aqueous composition is directly filtered and then cooled to form gel in a continuous workflow, minimizing idle time between operations and reducing total processing time while maintaining product consistency through uninterrupted processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful 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 Ulva gel compositions are biodegradable, eco-friendly, and rich in vitamins and antioxidants, providing a sustainable food source that supports health and wellness while reducing environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

heating the aqueous Ulva composition at a temperature of about 100° C. to about 135° C., and at a pressure of about 5 pounds per square inch gauge (PSIG) to about 30 PSIG

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure-assisted extraction: Supercritical Fluid Extraction