A sustained-release alcohol sheet

Abstract

This application provides a sustained-release alcohol tablet, comprising: a first plastic layer; a first paper layer on top of the first plastic layer; an adhesive layer on top of the first paper layer; a second paper layer on top of the adhesive layer; and a second plastic layer on top of the second paper layer; wherein the adhesive layer is formed by coating the first paper layer and the second paper layer with an adhesive formed by mixing ethanol, an adhesive and a foaming agent.

Description

Sustained-release alcohol tablets A SUSTAINED-RELEASE ALCOHOL SHEET Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to an alcohol tablet, and more particularly to a sustained-release alcohol tablet. Prior Technology

[0002] To inhibit the growth of microorganisms in food and simultaneously suppress oxidation reactions to extend its shelf life, food preservatives are typically added during food manufacturing. These preservatives can be categorized into chemical preservatives and physical / biological preservatives.

[0003] However, chemical preservatives are typically made from chemicals such as benzoic acid, adipic acid, propionic acid, dehydrated acetic acid, and parabens. While they can effectively delay food spoilage caused by microbial growth or chemical changes, some preservatives have been shown to trigger allergies or respiratory illnesses, and excessive consumption may also harm human health, thus raising consumer concerns about their safety. Therefore, physical / biological preservatives are gradually becoming another option for preventing food spoilage.

[0004] Given the excellent antibacterial effect of alcohol itself, existing technologies often adsorb ethanol into silica powder, then encapsulate the powder in a breathable bag to create alcohol packets, which are then packaged together with food. The ethanol diffuses within the packaging, inhibiting microbial growth, reducing oxidation, and thus extending the shelf life of the food. On the other hand, existing technologies also use alcohol tablets as food preservatives, but these are typically made with a paper fiber non-woven fabric base, where the ethanol is adsorbed onto the paper fibers through interlaced stacking. However, because ethanol easily escapes, both alcohol packets and tablets must be used immediately after opening. Therefore, to compensate for ethanol escape, existing alcohol packets or tablets often contain excessive ethanol, which can easily lead to deterioration of food flavor. Furthermore, powdered alcohol packets may leak out due to packaging damage, potentially contaminating food and increasing the risk of accidental ingestion. For these reasons, the aforementioned drawbacks limit the application of alcohol packets as food preservatives. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, this application aims to provide a sustained-release alcohol tablet that reduces ethanol leakage and thus achieves a sustained-release effect, comprising a first plastic layer; a first paper layer on top of the first plastic layer; an adhesive layer on top of the first paper layer; a second paper layer on top of the adhesive layer; and a second plastic layer on top of the second paper layer. The adhesive layer is formed by mixing ethanol, an adhesive, and a foaming agent to form an adhesive and then coating it between the first and second paper layers.

[0006] Preferably, the adhesive comprises polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), or starch. Preferably, the foaming agent comprises aluminum, zinc, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, or sodium percarbonate. Preferably, the adhesive further comprises alkaline or acidic additives.

[0007] Preferably, the alkaline additive includes sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, or potassium carbonate. Preferably, the acidic additive includes hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, or lactic acid.

[0008] Preferably, the adhesive layer comprises a first adhesive layer formed by coating a mixture of an adhesive and an alkaline or acidic additive onto a first paper layer; and a second adhesive layer formed by coating a mixture of ethanol, an adhesive, and a foaming agent onto the first adhesive layer.

[0009] Preferably, the next layer further comprises di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate, glycerin, polysorbate 80, or baking powder. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the composition of a sustained-release alcohol tablet according to an embodiment of this application.

[0011] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the composition of a sustained-release alcohol tablet according to another embodiment of this application.

[0012] Figure 3 is a flowchart of the method for preparing sustained-release alcohol tablets described in this application.

[0013] Figure 4 is a flowchart of the adhesive layer preparation method described in this application.

[0014] Figure 5 shows the ethanol release test results of this application. Implementation

[0015] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. In the event of any conflict, the definitions contained herein shall prevail.

[0016] As used in this application, the terms "produced from" and "comprising" are synonymous. As used herein, the terms "includes," "including," "comprises," "has," "having," "contains," or any other variation thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a composition, process, method, article, or apparatus containing a plurality of elements listed is not necessarily limited to those listed, but may include other elements not expressly listed but inherent to the composition, process, method, article, or apparatus. The term "comprising" is generally used in the sense of inclusion, that is, allowing the presence of one or more other features or components.

[0017] The materials, methods, and examples in this application are illustrative in nature and are not intended to limit this application unless otherwise stated. Although similar or equivalent methods or materials may be used to practice or test this application, those described herein are more suitable.

[0018] Example 1: Composition of sustained-release alcohol tablets

[0019] Therefore, this application provides an exemplary embodiment 1, and please refer to FIG1, which is the composition of the sustained-release alcohol tablet described in this application. It has a 5-layer structure, which includes, from bottom to top, the following: a first plastic layer 1, a first paper layer 2, an adhesive layer 3, a second paper layer 4, and a second plastic layer 5. In one embodiment, the adhesive layer 3 is formed by mixing ethanol, adhesive, and foaming agent to form an adhesive and then coating it between the first paper layer 2 and the second paper layer 4.

[0020] In one embodiment, two sheets of coated paper are used to replace the first plastic layer 1, the first paper layer 2, the second paper layer 4, and the second plastic layer 5. Since coated paper is a composite material in which synthetic polymers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and polylactic acid are coated on the surface of paper, applying the adhesive layer 3 between the two coated paper layers can also form the sustained-release alcohol tablet of this application. Therefore, this application does not limit the material, composition, or number of layers of the plastic layer and the paper layer. Any material similar to or equivalent to that described in this application can be considered to fall within the scope of the patent application of this application.

[0021] In one embodiment, the adhesive comprises polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), or starch; and the foaming agent comprises aluminum, zinc, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, or sodium percarbonate.

[0022] As mentioned above, in this Example 1, the adhesive further includes alkaline additives such as sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, or potassium carbonate. Furthermore, to improve the softness and elasticity of the adhesive layer 3, di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate, glycerin, polysorbate 80 (Tween 80), or baking powder are added to the adhesive. On the other hand, since the foaming agent and alkaline additives can react, air bubbles are generated in the adhesive layer 3, allowing ethanol to be released into the atmosphere through these air bubbles, thereby inhibiting microbial growth.

[0023] In another embodiment, the sustained-release alcohol tablet provided in this application has a six-layer structure, as shown in Figure 2, which sequentially includes a first plastic layer 1, a first paper layer 2, a first adhesive layer 31, a second adhesive layer 32, a second paper layer 4, and a second plastic layer 5. Following the adhesive composition described in Embodiment 1, the adhesive in Embodiment 2, in addition to alkaline additives, also includes acidic additives, such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, or lactic acid. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the adhesive layer comprises a first adhesive layer formed by mixing an adhesive and an alkaline or acidic additive and applying it to the first paper layer, and a second adhesive layer formed by mixing ethanol, an adhesive, and a foaming agent and applying it to the first adhesive layer.

[0024] Example 2: Preparation method of sustained-release alcohol tablets

[0025] Continuing with the adhesive, foaming agent, alkaline additive, or acidic additive composition provided in Example 1, this application provides an exemplary embodiment 2. Referring to Figure 3, which is a flowchart of the method for preparing the sustained-release alcohol tablet described in this application, the method includes: stacking a first paper layer on a first plastic layer (S10); mixing ethanol, adhesive, and foaming agent to form an adhesive, and then coating it onto the first paper layer to form an adhesive layer (S20); stacking a second paper layer on the adhesive layer (S30); and stacking a second plastic layer on the second paper layer (S40). In another embodiment, the method for preparing the sustained-release alcohol tablet further includes sealing and cutting it.

[0026] In one embodiment, steps S10, S30, and S40 can be replaced by coated paper. Coated paper is a composite material in which synthetic polymers such as polypropylene and polyethylene are coated onto the surface of paper. Therefore, providing coated paper is equivalent to stacking paper layers on a plastic layer or stacking paper layers and plastic layers on an adhesive layer respectively. This application does not limit the material, composition, or number of layers of the plastic layer and paper layer. Any material similar to or equivalent to that described in this application can be considered to fall within the scope of the claims of this application.

[0027] In one embodiment, the preparation of the adhesive layer in step S20 can be as shown in FIG4, comprising: mixing an adhesive and an alkaline additive, or mixing an adhesive and an acidic additive, coating the mixture onto a first paper layer and drying it to form a first adhesive layer (S21), and coating a second adhesive layer composed of a mixture of ethanol, adhesive and foaming agent onto the first adhesive layer (S22). In a preferred embodiment, the first adhesive layer or the second adhesive layer further comprises glycerol or di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate.

[0028] In one embodiment, the weight ratio of the adhesive to the alkaline additive is preferably 1:0.01 to 1:0.05, more preferably 1:0.04, more preferably 1:0.03, more preferably 1:0.02, and more preferably 1:0.01. The weight ratio of the adhesive to the acidic additive is preferably 1:0.1 to 1:0.5, more preferably 1:0.4, more preferably 1:0.3, and more preferably 1:0.2. The weight ratio of ethanol, adhesive, and foaming agent is preferably 1:1:0.1 to 1:1:0.4, more preferably 1:1:0.3, and more preferably 1:1:0.2.

[0029] In one embodiment a, the next layer was a mixture of 50 g of polyvinyl acetate solution, 50 g of ethanol, 10 g of di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate, 0.4 g of aluminum powder and 1.1 g of calcium oxide.

[0030] In one embodiment b, the adhesive layer is composed of adhesive B, which is a mixture of 50 g of polyvinyl acetate solution, 50 g of ethanol, 10 g of di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate, 0.8 g of aluminum powder, 2.2 g of calcium oxide and 1.6 g of polysorbate 80.

[0031] In one embodiment c, the adhesive layer is composed of adhesive C, which is a mixture of 50 g of polyvinylpyrrolidone, 50 g of ethanol, 0.4 g of aluminum powder and 1.1 g of calcium oxide.

[0032] In one embodiment d, the adhesive layer is composed of adhesive D, which is a mixture of 50 g of polyvinyl acetate solution, 50 g of ethanol, 10 g of di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate, 0.4 g of baking powder, 2.4 g of glycerin and 1.6 g of polysorbate 80.

[0033] In the aforementioned embodiments a to d, after the adhesive layer is coated on the first paper layer, the second paper layer is then stacked on top of the adhesive layer.

[0034] In one embodiment e, a sustained-release alcohol tablet with a six-layer structure was prepared, comprising, in sequence, a first plastic layer, a first paper layer, a first adhesive layer, a second adhesive layer, a second paper layer, and a second plastic layer. The first adhesive layer contains adhesive E1, which is a mixture of 50 grams of polyvinyl acetate solution and 10 grams of lactic acid; while the second adhesive layer contains adhesive E2, which is a mixture of 50 grams of polyvinyl acetate solution, 50 grams of ethanol, 10 grams of di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate, and 10 grams of sodium bicarbonate. In this embodiment e, the first adhesive layer containing adhesive E1 is coated onto the first paper layer and then dried at a temperature of 50 to 70°C for 2 to 10 minutes. The drying temperature is preferably 50 to 70°C, preferably 55 to 70°C, and preferably 55 to 60°C; the drying time is preferably 2 to 10 minutes, preferably 3 to 8 minutes, and preferably 3 to 5 minutes. In this embodiment e, drying is performed at a temperature of 60°C for 5 minutes.

[0035] In this embodiment e, after the aforementioned drying, a second adhesive layer containing adhesive E2 is coated on the first adhesive layer, and then the second paper layer is stacked on the second adhesive layer.

[0036] Example 3: Ethanol Release Test

[0037] This application provides an exemplary embodiment 3. To analyze whether the composition of the adhesive layer affects the ethanol release in sustained-release alcohol tablets, an ethanol release test was conducted in this embodiment 3. In this test, a control group was first prepared, as follows: 50 g of polyvinyl acetate solution, 50 g of ethanol, and 10 g of di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate were mixed to prepare a polyvinyl acetate solution containing 50% ethanol, and this solution was coated between the first and second paper layers. Next, the control group and the sustained-release alcohol tablets prepared in the aforementioned embodiments a to e were cut into 5 cm x 5 cm squares and sealed in aluminum foil bags and left to stand for at least one day. After standing, the sustained-release alcohol tablets were placed in a 5-liter serum bottle, covered with a sealing cap with a sampling port, and placed in a 25°C incubator. At regular intervals, the upper part of the bottle was sampled through the sampling port for analysis using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. The change in ethanol concentration in the bottle over time was recorded and converted into the alcohol release rate per unit time.

[0038] Please refer to Figure 5, which shows the ethanol release test results of this application. As can be seen from Figure 5, different adhesive layer compositions do indeed affect ethanol release. In Example ae, the amount of ethanol released within a 3-hour release time was greater than that of the control group without added foaming agent, alkaline additive, or acidic additive. This test result shows that under the condition of adding the same amount of ethanol, because the sustained-release alcohol tablets described in this application contain the adhesive layer, they can release more ethanol in the same action time than alcohol tablets without the adhesive layer.

[0039] Since Figure 5 shows that Example ae has a faster ethanol release rate, to further analyze whether different release rates affect ethanol escape, the equilibrium ethanol content was measured, where the equilibrium ethanol concentration is the ethanol content in each sustained-release alcohol tablet. The measurement results are shown in Table 1, where "-" indicates that the ethanol in the sustained-release alcohol tablet of Example c was not measured because it did not reach equilibrium. As can be seen from Table 1, although Example ae has a higher initial release rate than the control group, there is no significant difference in the equilibrium ethanol content. This result shows that the sustained-release alcohol tablet described in this application not only allows for rapid ethanol release but also does not exhibit significant escape. Table 1: Measurement results of initial ethanol release rate and equilibrium ethanol content Initial release rate (mL / h) Balanced ethanol volume (ml) control group 0.0029 0.0.312 Example a 0.0415 0.0299 Example b 0.0103 0.0302 Example c 0.0258 - Example d 0.0558 0.0310 Example e 0.0149 0.0309

[0040] In summary, the sustained-release alcohol tablets and their preparation method provided in this application have the advantage of simplified manufacturing process. Furthermore, the addition of a foaming agent creates air bubbles and pores. At low to medium foaming ratios, these pores are closed, and ethanol is stored within them. When ethanol is released from the outer pores, it is replenished from the inner pores, achieving a sustained-release effect. At high foaming ratios, the pores connect together, and the released ethanol causes stress on the structure of the sustained-release alcohol tablet, leading to cracking and further increasing the ethanol release rate. Clearly, this application improves upon the shortcomings of conventional alcohol packets or tablets, which require the addition of excessive ethanol and are prone to accidental ingestion.

[0041] 1: First plastic layer 2: First paper layer 3: Next layer 4: Second paper layer 5: Second plastic layer 31: First Sublayer 32: Second Sublayer S10~S40: Steps S21~S22: Steps

Claims

1. A sustained-release alcohol tablet, comprising: a first plastic layer; a first paper layer disposed on the first plastic layer; an adhesive layer disposed on the first paper layer; a second paper layer disposed on the adhesive layer; and a second plastic layer disposed on the second paper layer; wherein the adhesive layer is formed by coating an adhesive formed by mixing ethanol, an adhesive and a foaming agent between the first paper layer and the second paper layer.

2. The sustained-release alcohol tablet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adhesive comprises polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), or starch.

3. The sustained-release alcohol tablet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foaming agent comprises aluminum, zinc, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, or sodium percarbonate.

4. The sustained-release alcohol tablet as described in claim 1, wherein the adhesive further comprises an alkaline additive or an acidic additive.

5. The sustained-release alcohol tablet as claimed in claim 4, wherein the alkaline additive comprises sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, or potassium carbonate.

6. The sustained-release alcohol tablet as claimed in claim 4, wherein the acidic additive comprises hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, or lactic acid.

7. The sustained-release alcohol tablet as claimed in claim 4, wherein the adhesive layer comprises: a first adhesive sublayer formed by coating the first paper layer with a mixture of the adhesive and the alkaline additive or the acidic additive; and a second adhesive sublayer formed by coating the first adhesive sublayer with a mixture of the ethanol, the adhesive and the foaming agent.

8. The sustained-release alcohol tablet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer further comprises di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate, glycerin, polysorbate 80, or baking powder.

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