Volatile Substance Particle with Non-Confluent Coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for incorporating volatile active ingredients into particles, such as granules or feed additives, often result in loss or degradation of these ingredients during processing and storage due to evaporation, especially during coating processes, leading to uncertainty in the final product's composition and inefficient loading.

Innovation Solution

A particle design featuring a core with a matrix material (fats, hydrogenated triglycerides, or waxes) and a non-confluent coating layer made from an inorganic carrier material with a porous structure, which minimizes volatile substance evaporation by covering only a portion of the core's surface, thereby maintaining the integrity and quantity of the volatile substance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a coating layer is applied by fluidized bed processing to protect volatile active ingredients, then the active ingredients are protected during storage and processing, but the volatile active ingredients are destroyed or escape during the coating preparation process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of volatile active ingredientsVSAvoidloss of volatile active ingredients during coating preparation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The volatile active ingredient is incorporated into the core granule before the coating process. The core granule is prepared first with the volatile substance embedded in the matrix material, then the coating is applied subsequently. This preliminary incorporation protects the volatile ingredient from escape during coating preparation since it is already enclosed within the core structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The volatile active ingredient is nested within the core granule structure, which itself is then coated with a protective coating layer. This creates a nested configuration where the volatile substance is trapped inside the core, which is further protected by the outer coating, preventing escape during processing and storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If a coating layer is applied to protect volatile active ingredients, then protection is provided, but the process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of volatile active ingredientsVSAvoidcomplexity of coating process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring complete encapsulation or multiple thick coating layers, the invention uses a core granule structure where the volatile ingredient is embedded in the matrix, providing protection through the core structure itself rather than relying solely on an external coating. This partial protection approach reduces process complexity while still achieving the desired protection effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Quantity of substance

If volatile active ingredients are incorporated into particles, then the desired functional effect is achieved, but loss during storage and processing results in uncertainty of the final product composition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of volatile active ingredient in productVSAvoidprecision of volatile active ingredient content

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The volatile active ingredient is incorporated into the core granule in a controlled preliminary step before the coating process. This allows precise control over the amount of volatile substance embedded in the core, and subsequent coating application does not alter this predetermined amount, ensuring precise final product composition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The core granule structure provides a feedback mechanism where the matrix material holds the volatile ingredient in a controlled environment. The structure itself regulates the retention and release of the volatile substance, providing consistent and predictable amounts in the final product across storage and processing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

This approach significantly reduces volatile substance loss during processing and storage, achieving recovery rates of over 10%, 20%, 30%, or 50% of the original content, resulting in a stable and durable particle suitable for various applications, including nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and toiletries.

Implementation Method 1

the carrier material is an inorganic material having a porous structure... the presence of the first non-confluent layer increases the recovery of the volatile substance in the core

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

the core comprising at least one matrix material and the at least one volatile substance... consisting of a core and a confluent coating layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentUS10933023B2Particle containing at least a volatile substance and process for its preparation

Publication Date: 2021.03.02 ERBER AG

AI summary

The invention is directed to a particle containing at least a volatile substance comprising a core comprising at least one matrix material and the at least one volatile substance and at least one coating layer, whereby a first coating layer is a non-confluent layer comprising at least a carrier material, whereby optionally the non-confluent layer contains at least one hydrophobic substance, and optionally the particle is surrounded by at least one confluent layer and/or further non-confluent layer(s) as well as to a process for producing the same.