Vitamin B9 Extrudates Stabilized by pH Buffer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vitamin B9 extrudates have a short shelf-life, especially when combined with riboflavin and/or thiamin, and existing manufacturing methods like spray-drying are costly and require organic solvents, while traditional extrusion methods result in unstable products.
Innovation Solution
Extruding a composition comprising vitamin B9, a pH buffer, a filler, and water, with a solid pH buffer like ascorbic acid and its edible salt, to reduce decomposition and enhance storage stability, using a low-water process that maintains product flowability and reduces energy costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spray-drying method is used to manufacture instant powder, then shelf-life of vitamin B9 extrudates is improved, but capital expense and production cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the manufacturing parameters by using extrusion with controlled water content (10-40 wt%) and specific temperature/pressure conditions, rather than spray-drying. This parameter change achieves acceptable shelf-life while dramatically reducing capital expense and production cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simpler, more economical extrusion process instead of expensive spray-drying equipment. The extrusion method uses readily available equipment and materials, making the manufacturing process cheaper while still producing stable vitamin B9 extrudates.
2Reliability
If extensive drying is applied to reduce water content, then storage stability is improved, but energy cost increases and output per working hour decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by controlling the water content during extrusion itself (using 10-40 wt% water in the composition) and optimizing the extrusion parameters to produce extrudates with adequate storage stability without requiring extensive post-drying. The stability is built into the extrusion process rather than added afterward through energy-intensive drying.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the water content parameter to an optimal range (10-40 wt%) during extrusion, which provides sufficient storage stability without requiring extensive drying. This parameter optimization balances storage stability with energy efficiency and production throughput.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional extrusion is used without pH buffer, then manufacturing cost is low, but decomposition of vitamin B9 occurs rapidly especially in presence of riboflavin and thiamin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pH buffer (such as citric acid, lactic acid, or their salts) as an intermediary substance that mediates between the vitamin B9 and the other B vitamins (riboflavin, thiamin). The pH buffer prevents harmful interactions and decomposition while being inexpensive and easy to incorporate into the extrusion process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system consisting of vitamin B9, other B vitamins, filler, lubricant, and pH buffer in specific proportions. This composite formulation provides enhanced stability against decomposition while maintaining low manufacturing costs through simple extrusion processing.
4Reliability
If solid pH buffer is used with little water, then decomposition of vitamin B9 is reduced, but the process becomes slower due to solid-state reactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the water content parameter (10-40 wt%) to provide sufficient moisture for the solid pH buffer to function effectively in reducing decomposition, while not so much water that extensive drying is required. This parameter optimization maintains process speed while achieving decomposition reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by having the pH buffer distributed throughout the extrusion composition, creating localized protective environments around vitamin B9 particles. This localized protection is effective even with limited water content, maintaining both decomposition reduction and process efficiency.
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 solution significantly extends the shelf-life of vitamin B9 extrudates, maintaining at least 70% of the initial vitamin content after 3 months, even in the presence of riboflavin and thiamin, while being cost-effective and solvent-free, and ensures stability in a closed aluminum bag at elevated temperatures and humidity.
Implementation Method 1
The addition of a pH buffer significantly reduces the decomposition of vitamin B9 during storage of the extrudates
Implementation Method 2
extruding a composition which comprises vitamin B9, at least one pH buffer, at least one filler, optionally at least one lubricant and water
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to extrudates which comprise folic acid. To increase storage stability a solid pH buffer is added. Such extrudates have a long shelf-life even if the extrudates comprise in addition to folic acid vitamin B1 and/or vitamin B2.