The present invention relates to a natural plant extract based ethylene absorber and a
process for preparing the same for inhibiting the ripening process of fruits, vegetables and
flowers in cold storages, warehouses and household refrigerators.
Background of the invention:
10 [0002] The ripening/ageing of vegetables, fruits and flowers show the distinctive co-ordination
of organically synthesized and developmental pathways leading to changes in colour,
appearance and nutritional qualities.
[0003] The plant hormone ethylene contributes a specific and regulatory role in ripening of
many fruits, vegetables and flowers. The warehouse, cold storage industries and household
15 refrigerators are severely affected by ethylene gas in handling and storage of fruits, vegetables
and flowers.
[0004] Some conventional methods (adopted by cold storages and warehouses) of lowering
temperature and humidity and using different types of gases like nitrogen, sulphur and ozone
extend the storage life, maintains the quality and reduce the fungal decay and have various
20 disadvantages like changing the natural properties of fruits, vegetables and flowers to enhanced
the ethylene production.
[0005] Most of the existing processes employ hazardous chemicals like potassium
permanganate, palladium etc. which is not safe to use. The existing units do not have the
properties of deodorization, odour/free ammonia absorption, anti-oxidant and antibacterial.
25 [0006] Accordingly, there remains a need to develop a natural plant extract based ethylene
absorber and a process for preparing the same for inhibiting the ripening process of fruits,
vegetables and flowers in cold storages, warehouses and household refrigerators.
3
Objects of the invention:
[0007] The principal object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the
prior art.
[008] An object of the present invention to provide a natural plant extract based ethylene
5 absorber and a process for preparing the same for inhibiting the ripening process of fruits,
vegetables and flowers in cold storages, warehouses and household refrigerators.
[009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a process that uses natural mineral
(molecular sieve)/activated charcoal based composition following herbal organic approach as
a removal of ethylene gas, bad odour, free-radicals and microbial outgrowth.
10 [0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method that absorbs ethylene gas
which plays a regulatory role in the ripening of fruits, vegetables and flowers.
[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a process that helps to remove
bad odour, ammonia, free-radicals and act as an antibacterial to kill harmful air-borne
microorganisms present in the environment.
15 [0012] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will
become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Summary of the invention:
[0013] The present invention relates to natural plant extract based ethylene absorber and a
20 process for preparing the same for inhibiting the ripening process of fruits, vegetables and
flowers in cold storages, warehouses and household refrigerators. According to an embodiment
of the present invention, natural plant extract based ethylene absorber comprises of emulsifier,
herbal oil extract, water and anti-oxidant agent combined together in a synergistic ratio
[0014] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the process for preparing
25 natural plant extract based ethylene absorber composition, comprises the steps of ;
a. preparing a solution by mixing 15 gm of distilled herbal oil extract , 10 gm of emulsifier
in a beaker;
b. stirring the solution of step a for 20 minutes @ RT with 500-600 rpm to form a
homogenous mixture is prepared;
4
c. preparing a solution by mixing 65 gm of D.I water, 10 gm of anti-oxidant agent in a
beaker;
d. stirring the solution of step c for 10 minutes @ RT with 500-600 rpm till it completely
dissolved;
5 e. combining the mixture of step b and solution of step d to form a new solution;
f. dipping molecular sieves in the solution of step e at RT till the material gets completely
dispersed;
g. adding the mixture of step b into solution of step d to form an improved solution;
h. soaking/exhausting the material in the solution for next 60 minutes; and
10 i. pulling out the material from solution and drying it in air oven at 80˚ C for 2 hours.
Brief Description of Drawings:
[0015] Embodiments of the disclosure will be described by way of example only with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates the flow diagram of the present process.
15 Brief description of invention:
[0016] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the
present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not
limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of
modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore the present description should be seen as
20 illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and
alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the
invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all
modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of
the invention as defined in the claims.
25 [0017] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising," "comprises,”
and the like (which are synonymous with "including," "having” and "characterized by") may
be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of," consists
essentially of," and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of," "consists of, the
like.
30 [0018] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” designate both the singular and
the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
5
[0019] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide
a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those or ordinary
skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other
instances, well known methods, procedures and/or components have not been described in
5 detail so as not to obscure the present embodiment.
[0020] The present invention relates to natural plant extract based ethylene absorber and a
process for preparing the same for inhibiting the ripening process of fruits, vegetables and
flowers in cold storages, warehouses and household refrigerator. The natural plant extract based
ethylene absorber comprises of emulsifier, herbal oil extract, water and anti-oxidant agent
10 combined together in a synergistic ratio
[0021] A growth of mold and bacterial colonies from biological deposits on the surfaces which
generally break down the protein and producing bad odours. It has functionalities to remove
bad odour from the environment and also has very good adsorptive property to remove ethylene
gas which is the major concern in specified areas. Apart from that it also has tendency for
15 catching elements of ammonia, free-radicals and VOCs. The method remove ethylene gas, bad
odour, free-radicals and microbial-outgrowth.
[0022] The process for preparing natural plant extract based ethylene absorber composition,
comprises the steps of ; preparing a solution by mixing 15 gm of distilled herbal oil extract ,
10 gm of emulsifier in a beaker; stirring the solution of step a for 20 minutes @ RT with 500-
20 600 rpm to form a homogenous mixture is prepared; preparing a solution by mixing 65 gm of
D.I water, 10 gm of anti-oxidant agent in a beaker; stirring the solution of step c for 10 minutes
@ RT with 500-600 rpm till it completely dissolved; combining the mixture of step b and
solution of step d to form a new solution; dipping molecular sieves in the solution of step e at
RT till the material gets completely dispersed; adding the mixture of step b into solution of step
25 d to form an improved solution; soaking/exhausting the material in the solution for next 60
minutes; and pulling out the material from solution and drying it in air oven at 80˚ C for 2
hours. (Figure 1).
[0023] The method is using natural mineral (molecular sieve)/activated charcoal based
composition by following herbal organic approach which claims as a removal of ethylene gas,
30 bad odour, free-radicals and microbial outgrowth. The final composition is a sachet form and
placed inside the refrigerator, warehouses, cold storages and many more places.
6
[0024] The method absorbs ethylene gas which plays a regulatory role in the ripening of fruits,
vegetables and flowers. It also helps to remove bad odour, ammonia, free-radicals and act as
an antibacterial to kill harmful air-borne microorganisms present in the environment.
[0025] As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the present embodiment may easily
5 be produced in other specific forms without departing from its essential characteristics. The
present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered as merely illustrative and not restrictive,
the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description,
and all changes which come within therefore intended to be embraced therein.

We claim:
1. An ethylene absorber comprising of emulsifier, herbal oil extract, water and anti-oxidant
agent combined together in a synergistic ratio.
5 2. A process for preparing natural plant extract based ethylene absorber as claimed in Claim
1 , comprising the steps of ;
a. preparing a solution by mixing 15 gms of distilled herbal oil extract and 10 gms of
emulsifier in a beaker;
b. stirring the solution of step a for 20 minutes @ RT with 500-600 rpm to form a
10 homogenous mixture;
c. preparing a solution by mixing 65 gm of D.I water, 10 gm of anti-oxidant agent in a
beaker;
d. stirring the solution of step c for 10 minutes @ RT with 500-600 rpm till it is
completely dissolved;
15 e. combining the mixture of step b and solution of step d to form a new solution;
f. dipping molecular sieves in the solution of step e at RT, till the material gets
completely dispersed;
g. adding the mixture of step b into solution of step d to form an improved solution;
h. soaking/exhausting the material in the solution for next 60 minutes; and
20 i. pulling out the material from solution and drying it in air oven at 80˚ C for 2 hours.
3. The process as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the process that absorbs ethylene gas which
plays a regulatory role in the ripening of fruits, vegetables and flowers.
8
4. The process as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the process helps to remove bad odour,
ammonia, free-radicals and act as an antibacterial to kill harmful air-borne microorganisms
present in the environment.
5. The process as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the final composition is a sachet form and placed
5 inside the refrigerator, warehouses, cold storages and many more places.