A Survey of Recent Patents in Engineering Technology for the Screening, Separation and Processing of Eggshell

Abstract

The chicken egg is a well-known complete food of human daily consumption which serves as a cost-effective, high-quality nutrient resource. About 30% of table eggs are directed to breaker plants in developed countries, leading to the generation of substantial eggshell (ES) waste, which is increasingly explored for potential value-added applications. The number of patents describing ES-based applications has increased dramatically in recent years. This review provides insight into the most recent patents published between 2015 and 2020, with focus on different engineering technologies for the screening, separation, and processing of ES. Screening technologies include detection of ES surface spots and glossiness, ES cracks, and mechanical properties, along with identification of chicken breed and enumeration of surface bacterial count. Collection and separation technologies describe separation strategies of ES from egg white (EW), egg yolk (EY), liquid egg, eggshell membrane (ESM), hatchlings, and cooked egg. Separation of ES from liquid eggs utilizes gravity, rotational forces, or air pressure. Processing of ES involves washing and sterilization along with cutting, crushing, and pulverization technologies that enable the collection of ES suitable for value-added applications. In addition, ES carving (mechanical and laser) opens up the realm of artwork and decoration. Furthermore, intact ES can be utilized for food serving. The exponential increase in innovative screening, separation, collection, and processing technologies reflects industrial interest to upscale low-value ES waste material, and is a first crucial step in the emergence of advanced technologies that exploit the biomedical, chemical, engineering, and environmental applications for ES.

Whole transcriptome sequencing reveals key genes and ceRNA regulatory networks associated with pimpled eggs in hens

“…Eggs are considered one of the best sources of dietary protein and have always been an important part of the human diet ( Ahmed et al, 2021 ). Pimpled eggs are susceptible to breakage during transport due to their poor shell quality, and losses caused by pimpled eggs usually account for 1% of total egg production each year ( Khogali et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Eggs are widely consumed worldwide for their rich nutrient content as well as their high digestibility, and are considered an important source of animal protein for humans ( Ahmed et al, 2021 ; Pan et al, 2021 ). Eggshells not only provide mechanical protection for egg contents but also influence consumer choice, and eggshell quality is an important economic indicator for the egg industry ( Hahn et al, 2017 ; Rondoni et al, 2020 ).…”

Characterization of eggshell as a bio-regeneration material

“…The authors agree that by processing, the eggshell membrane is degraded, and its properties and components are degraded. Furthermore, the sterilization protocols deteriorate all the active components [59]. Multipotent cells migration, proliferation, and differentiation sustain bone repair through a complex interaction of molecular mechanisms [60].…”

“…The authors agree that by processing, the eggshell membrane is degraded, and its properties and components are degraded. Furthermore, the sterilization protocols deteriorate all the active components [ 59 ].…”

Biotechnological Applications of Eggshell: Recent Advances

“…Around 40% (99 patents) of the patents published between 2015 and 2020 represent biotechnological applications of ES, while about 60% (158 patents) describe engineering technologies for the screening, separation and processing of ES. Recent advances in engineering technology patents are discussed in detail in the accompanying article (Ahmed et al, 2021). The main countries of origin of biotechnological patents were China (75.5%), Korea (9.3%), Taiwan (3.9), and the United States (3.1%; Figure 4).…”