Fog treatment method using a liquid composition for treating fruits and vegetables and implementing device

• US 6,723,364 B1
• Filed: 10/23/2000
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xeda International SA (Comyn et Associés SAS)
• Original Assignee: Xeda International SA (Comyn et Associés SAS)
• Inventors: Sardo, Alberto, Bompeix, Gilbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Leslie
• Application Number:
  US09/601,381
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 426/89, 426/102, 426/320, 426/321, 426/323, 426/331, 426/35, 426/506, 426/541, 426/615, 426/335
• US Class Current: 426/320
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 2300/00 Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/34 Shaped forms, e.g. sheets, not provided for in any other sub-group of this main group
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 31/16 with two or more oxygen or sulfur atoms directly attached to the same aromatic ring system
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 65/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing material from algae, lichens, bryophyta, multi-cellular fungi or plants, or extracts thereof containing compounds of determined constitution A01N27/00 - A01N59/00
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/144 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/154 Organic compounds; Microorganisms; Enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3409 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor

Abstract

The invention concerns a fog treatment method using a liquid composition for treating fruits and vegetables, characterised in that it consists in producing a fog treatment mist consisting of droplets having a temperature ranging between 200 and 280° C. and driven at a linear speed ranging between 110 and 140 m/s. More precisely, said method consists in forming said fog treatment mist in the outlet of the cylindrical channel by injecting, at the intake of said channel, said composition into a hot air jet sprayed at high speed into said channel intake, the hot air jet temperature before injection being between 550 and 750° C. and said hot air jet linear speed, before injection, ranging between 160 and 400 m/s. One particular preferred embodiment consists in using a treatment composition based on eugenol and/or isoeugenol.

Claims

1. Process for the thermal fogging of a non-aqueous liquid composition for the treatment of fruit and vegetables, using a liquid treatment composition which comprises:

from 80 to 100% by weight of an active principle selected from the group consisting of eugenol, an eugenol salt which is acceptable in foodstuffs, isoeugenol, an isoeugenol salt which is acceptable in foodstuffs and their mixtures;

from 0% to 10% by weight of non-ionic surfactant; and

from 0 to 10% by weight of solvent,

wherein a thermal fogging mist is produced, from the composition, composed of droplets exhibiting a temperature of 200 to 280°

C. which are driven with a linear velocity of between 110 and 140 m/s.

2. Process according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the droplets of the thermal fogging mist is between 220°

and 260°

C.

3. Process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the linear velocity of the droplets of the thermal fogging mist is between 115 and 135 m/s.

4. Process according to claim 3, wherein the linear velocity of the droplets is between 120 and 130 m/s.

5. Process according to claim 1 or 2, comprising the formation of the thermal fogging mist at the outlet of a cylindrical channel by injection, at the inlet of the channel, of the composition into a hot air jet projected at high speed into the cylindrical channel via the inlet, wherein the hot air jet exhibits, before injection, a temperature of between 550°

and 750°

C. and is driven, before injection, with a linear velocity of 160 to 400 m/s.

6. Process according to claim 3, comprising the formation of the thermal fogging mist at the outlet of a cylindrical channel by injection, at the inlet of the channel, of the composition into a hot air jet projected at high speed into the cylindrical channel via the inlet, wherein the hot air jet exhibits, before injection, a temperature of between 550°

and 750°

C. and is driven, before injection, with a linear velocity of 160 to 400 m/s.

7. Process according to claim 5, wherein the linear velocity before injection is between 200 and 280 m/s.

8. Process according to claim 6, wherein the linear velocity before injection is between 200 and 280 m/s.

9. Process according to claim 5, wherein the temperature of the hot air jet, before injection, is between 600°

and 700°

C.

10. Process according to claim 6, wherein the temperature of the hot air jet, before injection, is between 600°

and 700°

C.

11. Process according to claim 7, wherein the temperature of the hot air jet, before injection, is between 600°

and 700°

C.

12. Process according to claim 8, wherein the temperature of the hot air jet, before injection, is between 600°

and 700°

C.

13. Process according to claim 5, wherein the diameter of the channel is between 12 and 25 mm.

14. Process according to claim 13, wherein the diameter of the channel is between 16 and 20 mm.

15. Process according to claim 6, wherein the diameter of the channel is between 12 and 25 mm.

16. Process according to claim 9, wherein the diameter of the channel is between 12 and 25 mm.

17. Process according to claim 10, wherein the diameter of the channel is between 12 and 25 mm.

18. Process according to claim 11, wherein the diameter of the channel is between 12 and 25 mm.

19. Process according to claim 12, wherein the diameter of the channel is between 12 and 25 mm.

20. Process according to claim 1, wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic alcohol, an aliphatic ketone and an alkyl ester of an aliphatic carboxylic acid.

21. Process according to claim 20, wherein the solvent is ethyl alcohol or butyl acetate.

22. Process according to claim 1, wherein the active principle is eugenol.

23. Process according to claim 1, for the sprouting-inhibiting treatment of bulbs and tubers.

24. Process according to claim 1, for bactericidal and/or fungicidal treatment.