Food or edible material: processes – compositions – and products – Contacting food in liquid or solid state with exteriorly... – Applied material is biocidal or disinfecting
Reexamination Certificate
1996-12-20
2001-05-01
Wong, Leslie (Department: 1761)
Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products
Contacting food in liquid or solid state with exteriorly...
Applied material is biocidal or disinfecting
C426S335000, C426S532000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224930
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the treatment of a perishable material with a volatile substance via a carrier gas or gases.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hitherto, conventional gaseous processes aimed at extending the shelf life of perishable materials have relied on modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) procedures. In such procedures, the oxygen gas atmosphere surrounding the substance is replaced with a food grade carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen atmosphere, and high barrier colaminate packaging is used to maintain the exclusion of oxygen from the package. The slight acidity produced by the carbonic acid which results from the exposure of the substance to carbon dioxide produces a fungicidal effect.
MAP processes have disadvantages, however. While it has been found that such procedures do extend the shelf life in respect of treated substances, the extension is limited and considerable costs are involved including the cost of the specialized colaminate film packaging.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method and apparatus to effectively treat a perishable material with volatile substances by use of a carrier gas or gases to physically or chemically alter the material to preserve it against fungal or bacterial spoilage or other hazards thereby extending its shelf-life.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating a perishable material to preserve it comprising the steps of: placing the material in a vessel capable of evacuation; evacuating the vessel; and contacting the material with a volatile substance capable of physically or chemically altering the material, the substance being entrained in a carrier gas. Optionally, method steps (b) and (c) are repeated in sequence, as necessary, to achieve the desired aim.
According to a second aspect the invention provides an apparatus for treating a material comprising: a vessel for receiving the material; means for evacuating the vessel; means for entraining a volatile substance in a carrier gas; and means for contacting the material contained in the vessel with the volatile substance entrained in the carrier gas.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1703782 (1929-02-01), Schmidt
patent: 2131134 (1938-09-01), Baer et al.
patent: 2150827 (1939-03-01), Ginaca
patent: 2665217 (1954-01-01), Meuli
patent: 3506458 (1970-04-01), Martin
patent: 4834997 (1989-05-01), Howard
patent: 5445792 (1995-08-01), Rickloff et al.
patent: 33362-89 (1989-04-01), None
patent: 65769-90 (1990-05-01), None
patent: 26 38 355 (1976-08-01), None
patent: 2 002 247 (1988-03-01), None
patent: 2520592 (1983-08-01), None
patent: 245671 (1926-01-01), None
patent: 94 11035 (1994-05-01), None
Lueck, E., Antimicrobial food additives. Characteristics, Uses, Effects. ISBN: 3-540-10056-3, 81(02):T0053, FSTA, 1980.*
Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 06099051 dated Apr. 12, 1994, application No. 04221213 dated Aug. 20, 1992.
Inglis Andrew S.
Lark David J.
McDermott & Will & Emery
Vaporex PTY Ltd.
Wong Leslie
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for the application of volatile... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for the application of volatile..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for the application of volatile... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2459870