Probiotics have become increasingly important for human health, but their sensitive nature makes them challenging to deliver effectively. In a groundbreaking study, researchers have found a novel way to encapsulate probiotics using a material derived from an abundant waste product: oyster shells. By integrating indirect carbonation and probiotic encapsulation technologies, the team has developed a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution that boosts the survival and intestinal reach of probiotics. This innovative approach not only addresses the problem of oyster shell waste but also opens new avenues for the environmental and healthcare sectors.
Unlocking the Potential of Oyster Shells
Global oyster farming has surged in recent years, leading to a significant increase in the amount of oyster shell waste. These shells, which make up over 90% of the total oyster weight, are often disposed of improperly, causing substantial environmental pollution. While some efforts have been made to recycle oyster shells, such as using them in cement production or creating artificial reefs, the lack of appropriate recycling facilities and technical limitations have hindered effective waste management.
Indirect Carbonation: A Promising but Costly Solution
One innovative approach to addressing the oyster shell waste problem is neutrality’>carbon-neutral system by capturing and utilizing the CO2 generated during the calcination of the oyster shells.
Unlocking New Possibilities in the Environmental and Healthcare Sectors
This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize both the environmental and healthcare sectors. By repurposing oyster shell waste, the technology provides a sustainable solution to a pressing environmental challenge. Furthermore, the enhanced probiotic survivability and intestinal reach achieved through CaCO3 encapsulation could lead to more effective probiotic-based healthcare products, benefiting human well-being.
The researchers believe that this technology can pave the way for the commercial production of probiotic capsules, as it addresses the issues of cost, scalability, and probiotic stability. As the global demand for probiotics continues to grow, this novel integration of indirect carbonation and probiotic encapsulation could unlock new frontiers in the environmental and healthcare sectors.
Author credit: This article is based on research by Seonmi Shin, Youjeong Lee, Myoung-Jin Kim.
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 to form stable carbonate minerals. Although indirect carbonation is a valuable tool for CO2 sequestration, it has remained economically unviable, limiting its widespread adoption.</p>
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<p><h3>Merging Indirect Carbonation and Probiotic Encapsulation</h3>
<p>To make indirect carbonation more cost-effective and address the challenges associated with oyster shell waste, the research team developed a novel approach: integrating indirect carbonation and probiotic encapsulation technologies. The researchers used the calcium oxide (CaO) obtained by calcining oyster shells as a source of calcium for the indirect carbonation process. The resulting calcium carbonate (CaCO3) was then used to encapsulate a mixture of five probiotic strains, including <b>Lactobacillus acidophilus</b>, <b>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</b>, and <b>Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus</b>.</p>
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<p><h3>Enhancing Probiotic Survival and Intestinal Reach</h3>
<p>The encapsulation of probiotics in the CaCO3 produced through indirect carbonation offered several key advantages. Firstly, the CaCO3 shell provided an effective barrier, protecting the probiotics from the harsh conditions of the stomach and bile. Remarkably, the majority of the encapsulated probiotics maintained their viability even after passing through simulated gastrointestinal and bile fluids, a significant improvement over conventional encapsulation methods.</p>
<p>Secondly, the CaCO3 encapsulation process did not compromise the probiotic’s survivability during the freeze-drying process, a common challenge in the industry. The researchers found that the encapsulated probiotics maintained a high viable cell count of 10.16 Log CFU/g (colony-forming units per gram) after freeze-drying, without the need for additional protective agents.</p>
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<p><h3>A Sustainable and Cost-Effective Solution</h3>
<p>The integration of indirect carbonation and probiotic encapsulation technologies offers several benefits. By using oyster shells as the calcium source, the process becomes more cost-effective and addresses the issue of industrial waste. Additionally, the researchers implemented a <a href=){kind=link}