Ethylene Adsorbent Packaging Or Barrier Material And Method Of Making The Same
Abstract:
An ethylene adsorbent packaging or barrier material and method of making the same. The packaging or barrier comprises a textile substrate impregnated with a solution of zeolite, cross-linker and binder. The method of making the ethylene adsorbent packaging or barrier material comprises impregnating a textile substrate with a solution of zeolite powder with crosslinker and binder in a solvent at a PH of 5.0 to 7.0 adjusted with an organic acid followed by removing the excess solution from the substrate and drying and curing the substrate at 50-250°C. If desired the substrate is formed to the desired shape. The packaging can be used for packing ethylene susceptible and perishable articles. The barrier material can be used as a barrier or as a separator for ethylene gas.
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Notices, Deadlines & Correspondence
FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2005
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Ethylene adsorbent packaging or barrier material and method of making the same
APPLICANTS
Reliance Industries Limited, Reliance Technology Center, B-4 MIDC Industrial Area, Patalganga 410220, District Raigad, Maharashtra, India, an Indian company
INVENTORS
Krishnamurthy Gurudatt, No 12, Dattatreya Road, Basavanagudi, Bangalore 560 004, Karnataka, India, and Jagga Tarun and Aneja Arun Pal, both of Reliance Industries Ltd, Polyester Sector, Reliance Centre, 19, Watchand Hirachand Marg, Ballard Estate, Mumbai-400 001, Maharashtra, India and Rakshit Anup Kumar, Reliance Industries Ltd, Polyester Sector, Reliance House, 2nd Floor, 15, Walchand Hirachand Marg, Ballard Estate, Murnbai- 400 001, Maharashtra, India, all Indian nationals except Aneja Arun Pal who is an US national
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an ethylene adsorbent packaging or barrier material and method of making the same
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Deterioration or spoilage of ethylene susceptible and perishable articles like food articles like vegetables and fruits starts from the time they are harvested and gives rise to undesirable changes in the physical and chemical properties and characteristics of such articles. Due to deterioration or spoilage, the food articles start rotting and are deprived of their good and effective or nutritious qualities and values and will have to be ultimately disposed of as garbage. Ripening is a process in fruits that causes most of the fruits to become sweeter, less green and softer and more edible. An organic compound involved with ripening is ethylene, a gas created by plants from the amino acid methionine. Ethylene increases the intracellular levels of enzymes like Amylase in fruits and freshly cut fruits which hydrolyzes starch to produce simple sugars and pectinase, which in turn hydrolyzes pectin, a substance that keeps fruits hard. Continued and uncontrolled biochemical activity subsequent to ripening leads to rotting of fruits and vegetables and render them unfit for consumption. Therefore, prevention of deterioration or spoilage of fruits and vegetables by preservation aimed at increasing their shelf life is of paramount importance for their use in times of scarcity or non-availability or for transporting them to distant places where they are not normally available.
One method used in earlier times to preserve and improve storage life of ethylene susceptible and perishable articles like food items like fruits and vegetables comprises spraying of antibacterial and antifungal chemical agents like silver nitrate, sorbic acid anhydride, chlorinated hydrocarbon or potassium permanganate on the fruits and vegetables (Active packaging for food applications, A L Brody et al, 2001, CRC press, London). Spraying with antibacterial and antifungal agents leaves traces thereof on the fruits and vegetables, which will have serious health hazards on the consumers. WO02/069723A2 describes a package for prolonging the storage life of produce. The package comprises a gas permeable container and an atmosphere modifying device contained within the container. Produce is stored in the container containing the device. The device comprises a carbon dioxide emitter, an oxygen scavenger and an optional ethylene scavenger. The ethylene scavenger includes Ca02, modified aluminia, zeolite, zeolite impregnated with permanganate, activated carbon and combinations thereof. The ethylene scavenger modifies the atmosphere in the container by removing ethylene by chemical reaction or by physical absorption or adsorption. The package is suitable to use in a consumer's home, for example in the kitchen cabinet or refrigerator. The package comprises a large number of components and is expensive besides being complicated in construction. In case it is used in a refrigerator its use becomes energy intensive and further uneconomical. Patent application No 1635/DEL/2005A relates to a refrigerator system to extend storage life of perishable food items. The refrigerator system includes a preserving device comprising a hollow retainer provided with perforations or serrations and a hinged door and a first tyvek pouch containing zeolite and/or activated carbon coated with potassium permanganate fixed inside the retainer. The zeolite and/or activated carbon is additionally impregnated with a fragrance. Optionally the device includes a
second tyvek pouch containing activated carbon placed inside the retainer. The refrigeration system requires energy for its operation and is uneconomical. Further the refrigeration system comprises a large number of comp0nents and is expensive besides being complicated with construction.
JP 1031838A relates to a transparent film for keeping freshness. The film comprises polyolefin and a zeolite type inorganic porous absorbent containing specific amounts of silicon and aluminium oxides. The. film is made by compounding ie melt mixing polyolefin, for example low density polyethylene with zeolite in the molar ratio 3:15, preferaby 5.10 Because, zeolite gets embedded in the bulk of polymer during melt mixing. uneconomical. Besides, zeolite gets embedded in the bulk of polymer during melt mixing. As a result, the amount of zeolite on the surface of the fi]m js reduced correspondingly reducing the ethylene adsorption efficiency of the film., jp 2006112017A relates to a wrapping bag comprising cloth as a supporting material. The cloth is loaded with a titanium oxide based photocatalyst and a ceramic material having antimold or anti-bacterial function even under an environment without light. It is e$sentjally used as a wrapping bag during the growth of fruits and vegetables and for suppressing/preventing the putrefaction and trauma through maturation, preservation and distribution after the harvest. Photocatalytic activity of these catalysts under different Conditions would be different and result in inconsistent performance.. Besides Ti02 based pKotocatalyst and ceramic catalyst are also expensive. US 2004156918A1 relates to antimicr0bial packaging materials and methods for making the same. Zeolite containing disjpersj0ns are used to print the packaging materials and render them anti-microbial. After drying onto the packaging materials, the zeoiite releases antimicrobial metal ions sucn as silver ions on exposure to
moisture. The teaching in this patent is essentially to render the packing material antimicrobial. As the zeolite containing dispersions are applied on the packaging material by printing, presence of zeolite on the packaging material is localized and concentrated in isolated regions correspondingly reducing the microbial activity of the packaging material.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide an ethylene adsorbent packaging for ethylene susceptible and perishable articles, which packaging is soft and has excellent mechanical properties and air permeability and which packaging enhances the shelf life of the articles at ambient conditions so as to be energy saying and cost effective.
Another object of the invention is to provide an ethylene adsorbent packaging for ethylene susceptible and perishable articles, which packaging is washable and reusable.
Another object of the invention is to provide an ethylene adsorbent packaging for ethylene susceptible and perishable articles, which packaging is simple in construction and user friendly.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of making an ethylene adsorbent packaging for ethylene susceptible and perishable articles, which packaging is soft and has excellent mechanical properties and air permeability and which packaging enhances the shelf life of the articles at ambient conditions so as to be energy saving and cost effective.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of making an ethylene adsorbent packaging for ethylene susceptible and perishable articles which packaging is washable and reusable.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method ^f making an ethylene adsorbent packaging for ethylene susceptible and perishable article^ which packaging is simple in construction and user friendly.
Another object of invention is to provide an ethylene adSorrjent barrier material which is soft and has excellent mechanical properties and air permeability and which can be used at .amhtmt .mruiitinns „so as .to Jv .ertfiigv jia.vituJ.atid .cast .affe^y^
Another object of the invention is to provide an ethylene adsorbent barrier material which is washable and reusable.
Another object of the invention is to provide an ethylene adsorbent barrier material which is simple in construction and is user friendly.
Another object of invention is to provide a method of makmg an ethylene adsorbent barrier material which is soft and has excellent mechanical properties and air permeability and which can be used at ambient conditions so as to be energy saving and cost effective.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method c,f making an ethylene adsorbent barrier material which is washable and reusable.
Another object of invention is to provide a method of making an ethylene adsorbent barrier material which is simple in construction and is user friendly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided an ethylene adsorbent packaging for ethylene susceptible and perishable articles, the packaging comprising a textile substrate impregnated with a solution of zeolite, cross linker and binder.
According to the invention there is also provided a method of making an ethylene adsorbent packaging for ethylene susceptible and perishable articles, the method comprising impregnating a textile substrate with a solution of zeolite powder with crosslinker and binder in a solvent at a PH of 5.0 to 7.0 adjusted with an organic acid followed by removing the excess solution from the substrate and drying and curing the substrate at 50-250°C and if desired forming the substrate to the desired shape.
According to the invention there is also provided an ethylene adsorbent barrier material comprising a textile substrate impregnated with solution of zeolite, cross linker and binder.
According to the invention there is also provided a method of making an ethylene adsorbent barrier material, the method comprising impregnating a textile substrate with a soJutioJi of zeoJire powder with crossYmker and binder in a solvent at a PH of 5.0 to 7.0 adjusted with an organic acid followed by removing the excess solution from the substrate and drying and curing the substrate at 50-250°C and if desired forming the substrate to the desired shape.
The binder is either present in the textile substrate or separately added at the time of zeolite impregnation. Preferably the textile substrate is impregnated with a solution of zeolite of micron sizes of 1 to lOu, pore diameter 2-10A and pore volume 0.1 to 1.0 to a loading of 0.5 to 15% of the weight of the textile substrate, cross linker melamine formaldehyde in 1 to 10% by weight of the zeolite and binder acrylic polymer or copolymer in 5-25% be weight of the zeolite. Still preferably, the textile substrate is impregnated with a solution of zeolite of micron sizes of 2 to 6u, pore diameter 3-5A and pore volume 0.2 to 0.5 ml/g to a loading of 1-10% of the weight of the textile substrate, cross linker melamine formaldehyde in 1-10% by weight of the zeolite and binder acrylic polymer or copolymer in 5-25% by weight of the zeolite. The zeolite may be of class 3A, 4A, 5A, ZSM, X or Y of Sodium Aluminosilicate (Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 5th ed Vol 16, John Wiley and sons Inc, NJ, P 811 to 853) and may be ionized for instance with Ag or Zn ions so as to impart antibacterial / antifungal activity to the substrate or with NH4 ions to bring about polarity changes in the substrate. Because of polarity changes, the substrate can disperse better. The solution may include pigments or colourants in 0.1 to 1% by weight of the zeolite. The pigments or colourants include those listed in the IS: 9833 like 2:4 Dinitroanilene-2-naphthol, Phthalocyanine or Ferrous complex of alpha-nitoso-beta-naphthol. The textile substrate may comprise woven, non-woven or knitted textile substrate made with polyester fibres or blends thereof with viscose, cotton or acrylic fibres. The solvent is water or a mixture of water with an organic solvent like isopropyl alcohol. The organic acid is selected from acetic acid, formic acid or phosphoric acid. Preferably the pH of the solution is adjusted to 5.5 to 6.0 and the drying and curing of the substrate is carried out 110 - 190°C. The impregnation may be carried during or after making of the substrate. In order to use the zeolite impregnated or modified substrate as a packaging it
may be optionally and if desired, formed into the required shape like bag, box, cover or the like. It can also be used as sheet or film to wrap around the perishable articles. It can also be used as a liner inside or outside the packaging or on a support member. In order to use the zeolite treated or modified substrate as a barrier material it may be optionally and if desired formed into the required shapes or used as a separator membrane or film optionally supported on a stand. According to the invention because of the impregnation of the textile substrate with zeolite in the presence of cross linker and binder the textile substrate is modified so as to distribute the zeolite ions on the entire surface area of the substrate and improve ethylene adsorption over the entire surface area of the substrate. The ethylene adsorbent packaging or barrier material of the invention has optimum levels of softness, mechanical properties and air permeability and low extraction levels of zeolite during washing. Therefore, it is also washable and reusable. The packaging can be advantageously used to enhance the shelf life of ethylene susceptible and perishable articles at ambient conditions and is therefore, energy saving and cost effective. The barrier material can be advantageously used as a barrier or as a separator for ethylene gas at ambient conditions in an energy saving and cost effective manner. Besides being cost effective and energy saving, both the ethylene adsorbent packaging or barrier material are also simple in construction and user friendly.
The following experimental examples are illustrative of the invention but not limitative of the scope thereof.
Example 1 (a) Strips (lnT) of non-woven textile substrate made with polyester by hydro entanglement route were impregnated with an aqueous solution containing zeolite (class
4A) of micron size 5 u, pore diameter of 4 A, and pore v0iume 0.3 ml/g from M/s Zeotec Adsorbents, New Delhi (16 gpl), acrylic polymer binder Pidysyn 3640 H from M/s Pidilite Industries Ltd, Mumbai (30 gpl) and melamine formaldehyde cross linker pidifix 361 M from Pidilite Industries Ltd, Mumbai (3 gpl). The solution was prepared under continuous stirring and pH of the solution was adjusted to 6.0 by the addition of acetic acid. The impregnated strips were passed between a pair of rotating squeeze rollers to remove excess solution. The strips were fixed on stenter frames and passed through a hot air chamber at 150 C for 90 sees. Dried and cured strips were evaluated for various mechanical and performance properties as against non-impregnated strips and the results were as shown in the following Table 1.
Table 1
Substrate Weight gm/cm" Thickness (mm) Ash
(Zeolite) content % Strength
(Nper5 cms) Air
permeability cc/ cm /