Packaging material such as film, fiber, woven and nonwoven fabric with adsorbancy

• US 8,152,902 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verdant Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cellresin Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Wood, Willard E., Erickson, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAWRENCE JR, FRANK M
• Application Number:
  US12/570,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20110072967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 951/41, 951/44, 961/34, 961/35, 961/48, 961/53, 961/54, 502/402, 502/407, 252/184, 206/524.4
• US Class Current: 95/144
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 37/0012 Cyclodextrin [CD], e.g. cycle with 6 units (alpha), with 7 units (beta) and with 8 units (gamma), large-ring cyclodextrin or cycloamylose with 9 units or more; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/18 Polyesters or polycarbonates according to C08L67/00 - C08L69/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 5/16 Cyclodextrin; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 79/02 Polyamines
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 105/16 Cyclodextrin; Derivatives thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to compositions that can be used to adsorb low concentration, preferably, for example less than 15 ppm, of unwanted or target substances. Typically the absorbance can be from an enclosed vapor phase. Such absorbency is accomplished in a contained substantially enclosed gaseous volume or atmosphere using a composition comprising a cyclodextrin compound and a polyethylenimine that can have an absorbency capability for low concentrations of unwanted or target substances. Such absorbency can be obtained with thermoplastic materials used in the form of bulk polymer or a film, fiber, web, woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, sheet, packaging and other such structures including or surrounding the enclosed volume. The adsorbent of the invention is typically used in the context of an enclosed volume, also known as an enclosed ambient vapor phase that contains the adsorbent of the invention and the unwanted or target substances at a concentration that is not desirable. The concentration should be reduced to non-offensive sensed limits or a limit that does not produce a biological response.

Claims

1. An adsorbent capable of absorbing unwanted or target substances at a vapor phase concentration of less than 15 part per million, the adsorbent comprising structure having a surface area of at least 200 m²·

gm<sup>−

1</sup>;

the adsorbent comprising;

a. a substituted cyclodextrin or polyolefin-cyclodextrin grafted material at a concentration of about 0.1 to 50 wt % of the cyclodextrin on the adsorbent;

b. an effective amount of polyethylenimine to reduce the surface charge inherent in cyclodextrin compound to maximize adsorption.

2. The adsorbent of claim 1 wherein the cyclodextrin is a substituted cyclodextrin with a degree of substitution of about 0.30 to 0.95.

3. The adsorbent of claim 2 wherein the substituted cyclodextrin is a cyclodextrin C_1-5 alkyl ether.

4. The adsorbent of claim 2 wherein the substituted cyclodextrin is a cyclodextrin methyl ether.

5. The adsorbent of claim 4 wherein the methyl ether substituent is on the 2 hydroxyl position of the cyclodextrin.

6. The adsorbent of claim 1, wherein the polyethylenimine has a molecular weight of 800 to 1,000,000.

7. The adsorbent of claim 1, wherein the polyethylenimine is a substituted polyethylenimine.

8. The adsorbent of claim 1, wherein the polyethylenimine composition comprises an ethoxylated polyethylenimine.

9. The adsorbent of claim 1, wherein the adsorbent additionally comprises silica having a surface area that ranges from about 200 to 1000 m²·

gm<sup>−

1</sup>.

10. The adsorbent of claim 1, wherein there is about 0.5-5 wt % of polyethylenimine based on the content of the cyclodextrin.

11. The adsorbent of claim 1 wherein the adsorbent is used on a substrate.

12. The adsorbent of claim 11, wherein the substrate comprises a fiber.

13. The adsorbent of claim 11, wherein the substrate comprises a fabric.

14. The adsorbent of claim 13, wherein the fabric comprises a non woven fabric.

15. The adsorbent of claim 11, wherein the substrate comprises a web having a thickness of about 0.01 to 10 mm.

16. The adsorbent of claim 11, wherein the substrate comprises a paperboard web.

17. The adsorbent of claim 11, wherein the substrate comprises a polyolefin film.

18. An enclosed volume comprising a vapor phase comprising unwanted or target substances and an adsorbent capable of adsorbing unwanted or target substances at a concentration of less than 15 part per million, the adsorbent comprising a substrate having a surface area of at least 200 m²·

gm<sup>−

1</sup>; and

a coating comprising;

a. a cyclodextrin compound at a loading of about 0.5 to 50 wt % of the cyclodextrin on the adsorbent;

b. an effective amount of polyethylenimine to reduce the surface charge inherent in cyclodextrin compound to maximize adsorption.

19. The enclosed volume of claim 18 wherein the cyclodextrin is a substituted cyclodextrin with a degree of substitution of about 0.30 to 0.95.

20. The enclosed volume of claim 19 wherein the substituted cyclodextrin is a cyclodextrin C_1-5 alkyl ether.

21. The enclosed volume of claim 19 wherein the substituted cyclodextrin is a cyclodextrin methyl ether.

22. The enclosed volume of claim 21 wherein the methyl ether substituent is on the 2 hydroxyl position of the cyclodextrin.

23. The enclosed volume of claim 18, wherein the polyethylenimine has a molecular weight of 800 to 1,000,000.

24. The enclosed volume of claim 23, wherein the polyethylenimine is a substituted polyethylenimine.

25. The enclosed volume of claim 18, wherein the polyethylenimine composition comprises an ethoxylated polyethylenimine.

26. The enclosed volume of claim 19, wherein the enclosed volume additionally comprises silica having a surface area that ranges from about 200 to 1000 m²·

gm<sup>−

1</sup>.

27. The enclosed volume of claim 18, wherein there is about 0.5 to 5 wt % of polyethylenimine based on the content of the cyclodextrin.

28. The enclosed volume of claim 18 wherein the enclosed volume contains a substrate.

29. The enclosed volume of claim 18, wherein the substrate comprises a fabric.

30. The enclosed volume of claim 18, wherein the fabric comprises a non woven fabric.

31. The enclosed volume of claim 18, wherein the substrate comprises a web having a thickness of about 0.01 to 10 mm.

32. The enclosed volume of claim 19, wherein the substrate comprises a paperboard web.

33. The enclosed volume of claim 18, wherein the substrate comprises a polyolefin film.

34. A method of adsorbing ethylene from the interior of a container for postharvest produce or flowers, and extending the useful life thereof, the method comprising placing postharvest produce or flowers in a container with an ethylene adsorbing composition, the composition comprising;

a. a substituted cyclodextrin or polyolefin-cyclodextrin grafted material at a concentration of about 0.1 to 50 wt % of the cyclodextrin on the composition;

b. an effective amount of polyethylenimine to reduce the surface charge inherent in cyclodextrin compound to maximize adsorption.

35. The method of adsorbing of claim 34 wherein the cyclodextrin is a substituted cyclodextrin with a degree of substitution of about 0.30 to 0.95.

36. The method of adsorbing of claim 35 wherein the substituted cyclodextrin is a cyclodextrin C_1-5 alkyl ether.

37. The method of adsorbing of claim 35 wherein the substituted cyclodextrin is a cyclodextrin methyl ether.

38. The method of adsorbing of claim 37 wherein the methyl ether substituent is on the 2 hydroxyl position of the cyclodextrin.

39. The method of adsorbing of claim 34, wherein the polyethylenimine has a molecular weight of 800 to 1,000,000.

40. The method of adsorbing of claim 39, wherein the polyethylenimine is a substituted polyethylenimine.

41. The method of adsorbing of claim 39, wherein the polyethylenimine composition comprises an ethoxylated polyethylenimine.

42. The method of adsorbing of claim 34, wherein the enclosed volume additionally comprises silica having a surface area that ranges from about 200 to 1000 m²·

gm<sup>−

1</sup>.

43. The method of adsorbing of claim 34, wherein there is about 0.5 to 5 wt % of polyethylenimine based on the content of the cyclodextrin.

44. The method of adsorbing of claim 36 wherein the enclosed volume contains a substrate.

45. The method of adsorbing of claim 44, wherein the substrate comprises a fabric.

46. The method of adsorbing of claim 45, wherein the fabric comprises a non woven fabric.

47. The method of adsorbing of claim 45, wherein the substrate comprises a web having a thickness of about 0.01 to 10 mm.

48. The method of adsorbing of claim 45, wherein the substrate comprises a paperboard web.

49. The method of adsorbing of claim 45, wherein the substrate comprises a polyolefin film.

50. A sachet comprising an adsorbent capable of adsorbing unwanted or target substances at a concentration of less than 15 part per million, the adsorbent comprising a substrate having a surface area of at least 200 m²·

gm<sup>−

1</sup>;

the absorbent comprising;

a. a cyclodextrin compound at a loading of about 0.5 to 50 wt % of the cyclodextrin on the adsorbent;

b. an effective amount of polyethylenimine to reduce the surface charge inherent in cyclodextrin compound to maximize adsorption.

51. The sachet of claim 50 wherein the cyclodextrin is a substituted cyclodextrin with a degree of substitution of about 0.30 to 0.95.

52. The sachet of claim 51 wherein the substituted cyclodextrin is a cyclodextrin C_1-5 alkyl ether.

53. The sachet of claim 52 wherein the substituted cyclodextrin is a cyclodextrin methyl ether.

54. The sachet of claim 53 wherein the methyl ether substituent is on the 2 hydroxyl position of the cyclodextrin.

55. The sachet of claim 51, wherein the polyethylenimine has a molecular weight of 800 to 1,000,000.

56. The sachet of claim 51, wherein the polyethylenimine is a substituted polyethylenimine.

57. The sachet of claim 51, wherein the polyethylenimine composition comprises an ethoxylated polyethylenimine.

58. The sachet of claim 51, wherein the sachet additionally comprises silica having a surface area that ranges from about 200 to 1000 m²·

gm<sup>−

1</sup>.

59. The sachet of claim 51, wherein there is about 0.5 to 5 wt % of polyethylenimine based on the content of the cyclodextrin.

60. The sachet of claim 51, wherein the adsorbent comprises a sachet substrate.

61. The sachet of claim 51 wherein the sachet comprises a substrate and contains the adsorbent.

62. The sachet of claim 61, wherein the substrate comprises a fabric.

63. The sachet of claim 62, wherein the fabric comprises a non woven fabric.

64. The sachet of claim 62, wherein the substrate comprises a web having a thickness of about 0.01 to 10 mm.

65. The sachet of claim 62, wherein the substrate comprises a paperboard web.

66. The sachet of claim 62, wherein the substrate comprises a polyolefin film.