Protein function solvency: adaptive egg hydrolysis and fractionation
Adaptive hydrolysis and fractionation architecture that converts egg protein feedstock into multiple function-specific protein and peptide streams, preventing loss of key functional properties while optimizing yield per application.
Overview
Protein Function Solvency™ is a concept-stage process architecture for converting a single egg-derived feedstock into multiple protein and peptide streams, each optimized for a specific food functionality. Traditional egg-protein hydrolysis drives the entire feedstock toward a single endpoint, forcing a compromise between beneficial changes—such as improved solubility and reduced viscosity—and the loss of other valuable properties like gelation, foaming, emulsification, and acceptable taste. This architecture instead treats each desired function as a changing solvency envelope, allowing fractions to be withdrawn from the process at the point where their intended functionality is strongest.
The system continuously monitors hydrolysis state, viscosity, solubility, turbidity, and thermal response during controlled enzymatic cleavage. It compares these measured attributes against application-specific performance envelopes and decides in real time whether to continue hydrolysis, stop, quench, or divert a stream into food-compatible fractionation. This adaptive control prevents silent degradation of functional properties while maximizing the yield of multiple usable fractions from one feedstock. The result is a flexible, evidence-based approach to producing customized protein ingredients for applications ranging from beverages and dairy alternatives to baked goods and processed meats.
Technical specifications
Core features of the architecture:
- Time-resolved hydrolysis control: At defined intervals, the system measures viscosity, solubility, turbidity, thermal behavior, and hydrolysis state, enabling dynamic process decisions.
- Multi-objective optimization: Fractions are withdrawn at points that preserve target functions (gelation, foaming, emulsification) while controlling bitterness risk.
- Food-compatible fractionation: Uses methods suitable for food production, preserving mass balance, process history, and operating conditions.
- Performance envelope modeling: A model, Protein Function Solvency, identifies useful withdrawal and fractionation windows and rejects unsupported functional classifications.
- Yield and variability assessment: Planned validation includes quantifying yield, variability, enzyme use, membrane flux, fouling, cleaning energy, and cycle time by stream.
The technology is designed to work with standard food-grade enzymes and equipment, making it adaptable to existing hydrolysis and fractionation infrastructure.
Technology readiness level
The concept is at an early stage, with a defined proof-of-concept plan. The proposed development pathway includes: (1) selecting a feedstock, enzyme conditions, and controls; (2) running time-resolved hydrolysis with quench and fractionation at selected states; (3) testing fractions for retained functionality and bitterness; (4) building the Protein Function Solvency model; and (5) repeating best conditions to quantify yield and variability, ending with a go/no-go report and modular pilot plan. The architecture is currently seeking co-development and experimental validation partners to advance toward commercial readiness.
About Valor Infrastructure Holdings, LLC
Valor Infrastructure Holdings, LLC is a patent licensing firm that focuses on developing and licensing intellectual property for critical infrastructure. The company specializes in four core architectural clusters: AI data center thermal infrastructure, acoustic medical platform technology, atmospheric filtration, and infrastructure safety systems. Operating under a pure-licensing model, Valor designs and files foundational US patents, allowing industrial partners to manage the manufacturing, distribution, and deployment of the resulting technologies. Their approach centers on the creation of robust patent architectures that address technical challenges in efficiency, safety, and environmental control.
By licensing these architectures, Valor enables industry leaders to implement advanced systems such as phononic-crystal atmospheric filtration for hospitals, self-stabilizing infrastructure control surfaces, and acoustic-based water purification. These solutions are designed to integrate with modern networks, such as smart-hospital management systems, offering alternatives to traditional filter media or chemical-heavy processes. The company emphasizes a commitment to long-term intellectual property foundations as a means to foster innovation in complex infrastructure environments.
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