Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Process disinfecting – preserving – deodorizing – or sterilizing – Using disinfecting or sterilizing substance
Patent
1994-08-22
1996-07-30
Warden, Robert J.
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Process disinfecting, preserving, deodorizing, or sterilizing
Using disinfecting or sterilizing substance
53426, 422 1, 422 32, 422 37, 422 40, 426399, A61L 200
Patent
active
055408850
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of sterilization of packaging materials in connection with the use of said materials for the packaging of substances which must not be contaminated with microorganisms, for instance food stuffs and beverages, More specifically the invention is within the field of sterilization of such materials by means of hydrogen peroxide as the sterilization agent.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For certain packaging material grades, especially such materials which are intended to be used for food stuffs, beverages, etc., a sterilization of the surface thereof is required in order to minimize the contribution of microorganisms from the packaging material to the product duct to be contained therein. One of said sterilization methods involves the use of hydrogen peroxide as the sterilization agent, There are different methods of applying said hydrogen peroxide to the packaging material, such as by passing the packaging material through the hydrogen peroxide, immersing said material in said hydrogen peroxide, applying a film of hydrogen peroxide to the surface of the packaging material, etc., but generally the hydrogen peroxide is utilized in the form of a solution thereof, especially an aqueous solution.
Although the packaging material has generally been made hydrofobic during the manufacture thereof, in order to make it resistant to the penetration of aqueous liquids including a hydrogen peroxide solution, the hydrogen peroxide is usually utilized in such a concentration and at such a temperature that a penetration thereof into the packaging material is not easily avoided. The hot aquecus hydrogen peroxide solution especially penetrates the edges of the packaging material, but also in a case where for some reason the packaging machine has to be stopped, there will be a great risk of having a penetration of the hot hydrogen peroxide into the packaging material to loosen up the same. When restarting the machine part of the packaging material has to be discarded or else there will be a risk of having a bursting of any package inside the machine which means a cleaning operation for several hours.
Thus, in summary, there is no available system today which will impart to the packaging material such a degree of hydrofobicity that a penetration of a concentrated and hot hydrogen peroxide solution is avoided.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to modify the previously known sterilization process where a solution of hydrogen peroxide is utilized to manufacture an aseptic packaging material so as to greatly reduce the penetration, especially the edge penetration, of the hydrogen peroxide solution into the packaging material. Other objects of the invention will be apperent to a person skilled in the art when reading the description of the present invention.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention it has been shown that the above-mentioned object can be achieved by the addition of a salt to the hydrogen peroxide solution, which salt counteracts the penetration of the hydrogen peroxide into the packaging material. Thus, in accordance with the present invention it has been found that said penetration may be decreased or reduced with at least 50%, which means a very significant improvement within the art of manufacturing aseptic packages, as said manufacturing takes place at very high rates and quantities.
More specifically the invention relates to a process for the sterilization of the surface of a packaging material by contacting said material with a hydrogen peroxide solution, characterized by modifying the hydrogen peroxide solution by the addition thereto of a penetration-reducing amount of a penetration-reducing salt.
The invention also relates to a composition which is useful for the sterilization of the surfaces of a packaging material of the type referred to, which comprises a hydrogen peroxide solution, characterized in that it comprises a penetration-reducing amount of a penetrati
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Chemical Abstracts, vol. 98, No. 7, Feb. 14, 1983, Abstract No. 52223t, "Preservative-coated Food Packaging Materials," p. 538, JP, A2 57153873, (Kokai Tokkyo Koho), 22 Sep. 1982.
Pahlmark Kristian
Persson Git
Thornton Krisanne M.
W.R. Grace & Co. - Conn.
Warden Robert J.
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