Liquid processing aid for foam suppression and enhanced dispersion
Luna Labs introduces a novel PPG-salt additive that suppresses foam and enhances the dispersion of powdered natural colors like blue spirulina. This solution integrates seamlessly into existing processes, using low-cost, commercially available materials without altering product quality.
Overview
Luna Labs presents an innovative liquid processing aid based on polypropylene glycol (PPG) and salt, designed to address common issues in the food industry related to foam stabilization and poor dispersion of powdered natural colors, such as blue spirulina. This solution effectively integrates into existing immersion mixing processes without requiring changes to equipment or procedures. By targeting the mechanisms that cause persistent foaming and poor dispersibility, the PPG-salt additive ensures enhanced incorporation of natural colors while maintaining the taste, texture, and appearance of the final product.
Technical specifications
- Mechanism of Action: The PPG competes with proteins at the air-water interface, disrupting the bubble surface elasticity and weakening foam stability. The salt component reduces solvent strength, preventing protein clumping and promoting rapid film rupture.
- Integration: Seamlessly added to the batch post-powder addition, proportional to the concentration of the powdered color.
- Materials: Composed of low-cost, commercially available materials that conform to processing-aid standards, ensuring no impact on the final product's sensory attributes.
Technology readiness level
Currently at TRL-4, Luna Labs' PPG-salt system is undergoing further validation. Phase 1 confirmation tests are in progress to verify performance in realistic formulations and conditions. Future phases aim to optimize operational parameters and demonstrate compatibility with manufacturing workflows, ensuring FDA-compliant deployment.
About Luna Labs
Luna Labs is a product development company based in Charlottesville, Virginia, that creates specialized solutions for the defense, industrial, and healthcare sectors. The company leverages a multidisciplinary approach combining materials science, biotechnology, and systems engineering to solve complex technical challenges. By repurposing advanced technologies—such as adapting sol-gel chemistry for corrosion prevention or mimicking viral structures for drug delivery—Luna Labs develops breakthrough innovations. Their diverse portfolio includes advanced protective coatings, real-time asset monitoring systems, medical simulation training tools, and drug delivery platforms designed to improve human performance and safeguard critical infrastructure.
These technologies address significant real-world problems, such as enhancing the durability of military and aerospace assets through non-chromate corrosion control and providing medical professionals with realistic training ecosystems for hemorrhage control. By partnering with government agencies, defense contractors, and leading industrial organizations, the company focuses on advancing research from initial discovery through to commercial-scale implementation. Their commitment to innovation is evidenced by the successful deployment of their technologies in high-stakes environments and their ongoing development of platforms intended to address complex conditions like PTSD and traumatic brain injury.
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