Yeast Cell Wall Hydrolysate Processing With Recyclable Organic Acids

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing yeast cell wall extracts for cosmetics are inefficient, leading to products that are colored, odorous, and contain harmful salts, while also being difficult to dissolve and environmentally harmful due to the use of non-recyclable chemicals.

Innovation Solution

A process using organic acids like acetic and formic acid to hydrolyze yeast cell walls, followed by separation, drying, and distillation steps to produce a colorless, odorless, salt-free, and soluble yeast cell wall extract, with the acids being recycled for reuse.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional methods (alkali, enzyme, mineral acids) are used to produce yeast cell wall extracts, then the extraction process can proceed, but the product becomes colored, odorous, and contains harmful salts that are difficult to remove

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextraction processVSAvoidcolor, odor, and harmful salts in product
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameter from conventional alkali/mineral acid to organic acid (acetic acid, formic acid, lactic acid), which fundamentally alters the extraction chemistry. Organic acids produce soluble salts that can be easily removed by filtration and do not cause the same discoloration or odor problems as conventional methods, directly resolving the harmful factors in the product

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of acid treatment into a benefit by using organic acids that, when they react with yeast cell wall components, form soluble salts that are easily removable. The acid treatment that could potentially damage the product instead becomes a beneficial decolorization and purification step when using organic acids

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Quantity of substance

If macromolecular polysaccharides are used directly from yeast cell walls, then the extract contains beneficial components, but the product is difficult to dissolve in water

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeneficial polysaccharide contentVSAvoidwater solubility
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the molecular weight parameter of the polysaccharides through controlled acid hydrolysis. The organic acid treatment breaks down the large macromolecular polysaccharides into smaller oligosaccharides and monosaccharides, which maintain the beneficial biological activities while dramatically improving water solubility and ease of application in cosmetics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If conventional extraction methods are used, then the process can be completed, but the chemicals (alkalis, salts, enzymes) cannot be recycled and cause environmental pollution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextraction efficiencyVSAvoidchemicals and environmental pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a chemical recovery system where the organic acid used in extraction is regenerated from the spent liquor through distillation or other separation techniques. The recovered acid is then reused in subsequent extraction cycles, eliminating chemical waste and environmental pollution while maintaining continuous production efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The system is designed to be self-sufficient regarding chemical inputs. The organic acid consumed in the extraction process is recovered and regenerated within the system itself, making the process self-serviceable and eliminating the need for continuous external chemical input and waste disposal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Quantity of substance

If yeast cell walls are used as cosmetic raw materials, then beneficial substances are available, but the yellow/brownish color and special smell from fermentation affect product quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeneficial skin-care substancesVSAvoidcolor and odor affecting cosmetic quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical environment from neutral or alkaline (conventional) to acidic (organic acid), which alters the solubility and stability of pigment and odor-causing compounds. The acidic conditions prevent the formation of colored complexes and facilitate the removal of fermentation byproducts through soluble salt formation, thereby eliminating color and odor issues while preserving beneficial components

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 process retains beneficial skin-care components, improves product yield and reduces costs by recycling organic acids, thus producing an environmentally friendly and cost-effective cosmetic ingredient.

Implementation Method 1

adding the clean crude yeast cell walls and acetic acid to an acetic acid hydrolysis tank to obtain a clean crude yeast cell wall and acetic acid mixture; and hydrolyzing the clean crude yeast cell wall and acetic acid mixture

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

using a separator to separate the yeast wall-breaking liquid, separating and removing the liquid part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Implementation Method 3

distilling the acetic acid mixture, the acetic acid drying condensate and the acetic acid desolventizing condensate to obtain a distilled acetic acid liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDistillation: Distillation

Implementation Method 4

evaporating the distilled acetic acid liquid to obtain recycled acetic acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP4666997A1Production process for producing yeast cell wall extract hydrolysate using organic acids
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 BEIJING ACTIVE BLUE CRYSTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP4666997A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4666997A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4666997A1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The present invention discloses a process for producing yeast cell wall extract hydrolysate using organic acid. The process removes color and odor substances and inorganic salts carried by yeast after fermentation and cultivation through preliminary hydrolysis with acetic acid and purifies the yeast cell wall extract at the same time. Then, the yeast cell wall extract from which color and odor substances and inorganic salts have been removed is hydrolyzed with formic acid to make the produced yeast cell wall extract hydrolysate more easily soluble in water. Through the above organic acid hydrolysis process, the present invention provides a production process for a colorless, odorless, salt-free and easily soluble product containing substances in yeast cell walls that are beneficial to skin protection, repair and treatment. The present invention also provides a method for removing and recycling the organic acids added in the process, thereby reducing production costs and reducing pollution.