Chlorine generator for preservation of fruits and vegetables

• US 5,711,211 A
• Filed: 01/31/1997
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Embalajes Proem Limitada
• Original Assignee: Embalajes Proem Limitada
• Inventors: Ide, Paulina Aldunce, Guerra, Juan Pablo Zoffoli, Farias, Jessica Rodriguez, Latorre, Bernardo
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Application Number:
  US08/792,250
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 99/467-476, 99/481, 99/485, 53/432-434, 206/0.6, 206/205, 206/219-222, 422/29, 422/32, 422/40, 422/236, 422/305, 426/124, 426/118, 426/316, 426/319, 426/323, 426/418, 426/419, 428/74, 428/76
• US Class Current: 99/467
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/144 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/157 Inorganic compounds

Abstract

A chlorine generator for preserving fruits and vegetables includes a first layer of paper or polyethylene and a second layer of polyethylene. The first layer has a weight of from about 20 to about 70 g/m² and is preferably made from a laja-type paper. It is preferred that at least one surface of the first layer is coated with a plastic permeable film, such as polyethylene, having a weight of from about 5 to about 25 g/m². The two layers are joined together, preferably by thermal seal, to define one or more pockets. A hypochlorite material, such as calcium hypochlorite, is placed in the pockets. This material releases active chlorine gas upon reaction with moisture from said fruits and vegetables. Alternatively, the first layer can be impregnated with a mixture containing the hypochlorite (such as a mixture of hypochlorite and sodium chloride) and is preferably coated with a resin material.

Claims

1. A chlorine generator for preserving produce comprising:

(a) a first layer consisting of paper or polyethylene which is permeable to moisture and gas and which has a weight of from about 20 to about 70 g/m² ;

(b) a second layer consisting of polyethylene having a weight of from about 25 to about 70 g/m² and a thickness of from about 10 to about 17 microns, one or more bonds joining together said layers such that at least one pocket is formed between them; and

(c) a chlorine-generating composition comprising a hypochlorite material being disposed in said pocket, said hypochlorite material releasing active chlorine gas upon reaction with moisture from said produce.

2. The chlorine generator according to claim 1 wherein said first layer is made from paper.

3. The chlorine generator according to claim 2 wherein said second layer is made from a micropunctured polyethylene film.

4. The chlorine generator according to claim 2 wherein said hypochlorite material is an alkaline earth or alkalai metal hypochlorite.

5. The chlorine generator according to claim 4 wherein said hypochlorite material is calcium hypochlorite.

6. The chlorine generator according to claim 2 wherein the first layer is made from a laja-type paper.

7. The chlorine generator according to claim 2 wherein at least one surface of said first layer is coated with a permeable film, said film having a weight of from about 5 to about 25 g/m².

8. The chlorine generator according to claim 7 wherein said permeable film is polyethylene.

9. The chlorine generator according to claim 2 wherein the weight of said first layer is from about 20 to about 40 g/m².

10. The chlorine generator according to claim 2 wherein said second layer has a weight of from about 30 to about 55 g/m² and a thickness of from about 12 to about 15 microns.

11. The chlorine generator according to claim 2 wherein the chlorine-generating composition comprises from about 30% to about 100% calcium hypochlorite and sodium chloride wherein the ratio of calcium hypochlorite to sodium chloride is from about 1:

1 to about 1.5;

1.

12. The chlorine generator according to claim 11 wherein the hypochlorite mixture further comprises from about 10% to about 60% citric acid and from about 0.5% to about 10% calcium chloride.

13. The chlorine generator according to claim 2 which contains from about 1 to about 20 grams of said chlorine-generating composition.

14. The chlorine generator according to claim 11 wherein said first layer is impregnated with a mixture comprising calcium hypochlorite and sodium chloride.

15. The chlorine generator according to claim 14 wherein said first layer is further coated with a resin selected from the group consisting of vinyl resinous substances, elastomers, waxes, gelatin and starch, such coating permitting the release of chlorine upon reaction of the hypochlorite material with moisture from said produce.

16. The chlorine generator according to claim 15 wherein the resin is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, natural rubber, butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer, paraffin, gelatin, starch and mixtures thereof.

17. A chlorine generator for preserving produce comprising:

(a) a first layer consisting of laja-type paper which is permeable to moisture and gas and which has a weight of from about 20 to about 70 g/m² ;

(b) a second layer consisting of micropunctured polyethylene having a weight of from about 25 to about 70 g/m² and a thickness of from about 10 to about 17 microns, one or more bonds joining together said layers such that at least one pocket is formed between them; and

(c) a chlorine-generating composition comprising an alkaline earth or alkalai metal hypochlorite and sodium chloride, wherein the weight ratio of hypochlorite to sodium chloride is from about 1;

1 to about 1.5;

1, said mixture being disposed in said pocket, and said hypochlorite material releasing active chlorine gas upon reaction with moisture from said produce.

18. The chlorine generator according to claim 17 wherein said hypochlorite is calcium hypochlorite.

19. The chlorine generator according to claim 18 wherein at least one surface of said first layer is coated with a permeable polyethylene film, said film having a weight of from about 5 to about 25 g/m².

20. The chlorine generator according to claim 19 wherein said first layer has a weight of from about 20 to about 40 g/m², and said second layer has a weight of from about 30 to about 55 g/m² and a thickness of from about 12 to about 15 microns.