Processing of filter residues of the beer - brewing process for the production of an innovative pharmaceutical substance

The latest technology for the filtration of beer is the use of ion exchangers. The reclaim contains high-potent substances (vitamins and minerals from the yeast, hops and other proteins) in concentrated form which should be processed and characterised. In a further step this substance should be the main ingredient of a food supplement. After a technical adaptation this concept can be used within other ranges of the food and natural substance industry.

Short Description

Status

completed

Summary

Beer contains a set of pharmacological interesting substances, which appear only in low concentrations. These are in particular polycyclic connections. Their effects are based on the transactation of the steroid-hormone-receptors and interaction with enzymes of the steroid metabolism.

With a new procedure of the filtering from beer these substances are strongly enriched. The purpose behind is to avoid the appearance of "cold-trub". Under normal conditions, these liquids have to be disposed.

The objective of this project was the development of a procedure for the production of a pharmacological active product out of residues of ion-exchangers.

The developed concept of this project and the technology for the utilization and processing of valuable waste products has been applied after certain technical adaptations, screening of the contents of the starting material and tests of their pharmacological activity for other enterprises of the food or natural substance industry.

By an selective enrichment and concentration of this residues, we were able to win a substance with a high antioxidative activity. Different other natural substances have been processed in the same way. Afterwards their activity has been compared with the activity of the residues.

The analysis of ingredients of the concentrate has shown, that a special food allergen, the lipid transfer protein, has been enriched in high amounts. It was possible to eliminate this allergen, but it was time-consuming and cost-intensive. The existence of this allergen is the reason, why that the substance is not qualified for being used as a food supplement.

The procedure has been adopted for other natural substances with very good results concerning their biological activity.

This work established the basis for the foundation of the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Receptor Biotechnology.

This laboratory investigates the isolation, dedection and structure function relationship of natural substances.

Project Partners

Project management

Dipl.-Ing. Claus Zeppelzauer
Life Science Project Management

Project or cooperation partner

  • Univ. Prof. Dr. Alois Jungbauer
    Institut für Angewandte Mikrobiologie
    Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
  • Einreicher:
    Klaus Kühne
    Melbrosin International Produktions und Vertriebs GmbH & Co KG
    Alserbachstrasse 16, A-1090 Wien

Contact

Dipl.-Ing. Claus Zeppelzauer
Life Science Project Management
Tel.: +43 (699) 14219419
Fax: +43 (1) 4405393
E-Mail: claus.zeppelzauer@lspm