Dried flower petals as well as color fixation treatment process and application thereof

Abstract

The invention belongs to the field of new daily chemical materials, and discloses a dried flower petal and a color fixation treatment process and application thereof, the treatment process comprises the following steps: step 1, soaking the dried flower petal with an acetic acid solution to make the color of the dried flower petal change to pink or red; 2, the petals treated in the step 1 are added into ethyl alcohol to be subjected to dehydration and color fixation treatment; 3, the petals treated in the step 2 are subjected to sealing treatment with isohexadecane; and step 4, drying the petals treated in the step 3. The process adopts acetic acid to soak petals, adopts isohexadecane to seal after ethanol dehydration, so that the petals can be changed from a dry flower color to a fresh flower color, the affinity of the petals and oily cosmetics is improved, the petals can be dispersed and suspended in oil, and the petals are prevented from discoloring in the storage process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of cosmetics, and more particularly to dried flower petals and their color-fixing process and application. Background Technology

[0002] The following solutions are available for color-fixing treatment of fresh flowers: Patent application No. JP2081100C, which relates to a method for producing food from fresh flowers or petals, describes soaking fresh flowers or petals in ethanol or a 1% to 15% acetic acid solution, then soaking them in a 1% to 400% sugar solution, subjecting them to vacuum treatment at a vacuum degree of -100 to -760 mmHg, and then drying them at a reduced pressure of -100 to -760 mmHg and a temperature of -20°C for 1 minute to 24 hours.

[0003] The announcement number is CN107912427B, and the subject is a cosmetic flower and its color preservation method, which includes the following steps: (1) Color preservation: The fresh flowers are soaked in sodium chloride with a mass concentration of 0.5-0.7% and citric acid with a mass concentration of 0.5-1.5% in sequence; (2) Dissolving: After drying the fresh flowers treated in step (1), they are soaked in ethanol with a volume concentration of 94-96% to dissolve the organic matter therein; (3) Drying: The fresh flowers treated in step (2) are dried; the drying method is oven drying, and the drying temperature is 40-45℃; the ethanol soaking steps in step (2) are as follows: First, the whole stem is completely immersed for 120-180 minutes, and then the flower stem is upside down and the flower head is immersed for 7-9 hours.

[0004] The above methods are all for fixing the color of fresh flowers. These methods are for dried flowers and are not entirely applicable.

[0005] Most current dried flower processing methods involve first rehydrating the dried flowers, and then processing them according to the fresh flower processing procedures. Dried petals processed in this way are not easily fully soaked when added to bath oil products, and they float on the surface of the bath oil instead of sinking. During high-temperature stability tests, the color turns yellowish-brown, and the product quality is unstable.

[0006] Therefore, it is evident that the material difference between fresh and dried flowers means that even after rehydration, dried flowers cannot achieve the same effect as fresh flowers. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a color-fixing process for dried flower petals. This process involves soaking the petals in acetic acid, dehydrating them with ethanol, and then sealing them with isohexadecane. This process can change the color of the petals from dried flower to Korean flower color, improve their affinity with oily cosmetics, facilitate the dispersion and suspension of the petals in the oil, and prevent the petals from changing color during storage. Meanwhile, the present invention also discloses dried flower petals obtained based on this process and their uses.

[0008] Meanwhile, this invention also discloses a process for fixing the color of dried flower petals, including the following steps: Step 1: Soak dried flower petals in acetic acid solution to change their color to pink or red; Step 2: Add the petals treated in Step 1 to ethanol for dehydration and color fixation; Step 3: The petals treated in Step 2 are sealed with isohexadecane; Step 4: Dry the petals after step 3.

[0009] This invention solves the problems of easy discoloration of petals, poor color restoration of dried flowers, poor suspension performance of petals in oil and poor resistance to discoloration in traditional methods through steps 1 to 3. The key to solving the above problems is: soaking in acetic acid, dehydration with ethanol, and the use of a suitable sealing agent. Specifically: 1. This invention uses acetic acid as an acidic treatment agent, which has the following advantages compared to citric acid: fast acidification ability, weak chelation performance, volatility, and high permeability. Acetic acid is a monoprotic acid, while citric acid is a triprotic acid. Acetic acid's faster acidification ability allows it to quickly create a pH 3-4 fixation environment, avoiding the alkalinity degradation of petals caused by citric acid's wider buffering range. This results in a better transition from dried flower color to fresh flower color. Acetic acid has relatively weaker chelating ability, making it more suitable for metal-sensitive flowers (such as roses and carnations), while citric acid is less effective against divalent / trivalent metal ions (such as Ca²⁺). + Fe³ + Acetic acid has a strong chelating effect, which may disrupt the balance of metal ions in the cell walls of petals and affect structural integrity. Acetic acid is volatile and leaves little residue after color fixation, reducing the impact on the long-term preservation of petals (such as color oxidation). Acetic acid has higher penetration efficiency: acetic acid has a smaller molecular weight (60.05 g / mol), making it easier to penetrate the petal epidermis than citric acid (192.12 g / mol), and quickly stabilize anthocyanin pigments.

[0010] Meanwhile, its high permeability, low chelation, and volatility mean that when applied to dried flowers, it can quickly penetrate the petal epidermis, filling the tissue fluid within the petals with minimal cell damage. This creates favorable conditions for subsequent ethanol replacement, facilitating the formation of abundant micropores after ethanol evaporation, which in turn promotes the penetration of isohexadecane. This helps isohexadecane form a hydrophobic film on the petal surface, increasing its affinity for oil agents and reducing contact with external air and moisture, thus alleviating discoloration.

[0011] Furthermore, the advantages of choosing isohexadecane in this invention are significant. Based on its inherent characteristics, isohexadecane is extremely hydrophobic and has a much shorter chain length than n-hexadecane. These two characteristics result in its insolubility in water and low surface tension, allowing it to efficiently displace residual ethanol, seal micropores, and form a physical waterproof layer on the petal surface, preventing the intrusion of environmental moisture and inhibiting mold growth. Moreover, isohexadecane has low volatility and evaporates more slowly than ethanol, allowing it to remain in the microstructure of the petals for a long time. Isohexadecane is chemically inert and does not readily react with pigments such as anthocyanins, making it suitable for long-term preservation. Compared to drying with pure ethanol, isohexadecane can also reduce petal brittleness; its slow evaporation reduces the shrinkage stress of the petals, maintaining a certain degree of flexibility.

[0012] In summary, dried flower petals processed by the process of this invention have the advantages of bright color, being able to be fully suspended in the oil, and not changing color for a long time.

[0013] In the above-described processing, the concentration of the acetic acid solution is 10-20 wt%.

[0014] In the above-mentioned processing technology, the ethanol refers to an ethanol solution with a concentration of 95±5 vol%.

[0015] In the above processing technology, the processing time of step 1 is 0.5~1h, the processing time of step 2 is 0.4~0.8h, and the processing time of step 3 is 1~2h.

[0016] In the above-mentioned processing technology, the drying temperature in step 4 is 30~35℃ and the drying time is 4~5h.

[0017] In the above-mentioned processing technology, the dried flower petals are one or more of the following: rose, cherry blossom, jasmine, carnation, peach blossom, chrysanthemum, marigold, etc.

[0018] Meanwhile, the present invention also discloses a dried flower petal, which is obtained by processing using any of the above-described processing techniques.

[0019] In addition, the present invention also discloses the use of dried flower petals as described above in the preparation of cosmetics.

[0020] In the above-described uses, the cosmetic is a bath oil, serum, or essential oil.

[0021] This application has at least the following beneficial effects: The processing technology of this invention can restore the original color of the petals as much as possible, improve the compatibility between the petals and the oil, improve their suspension properties, and at the same time, the petals can remain unchanged in color for a long time. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 A photo of dried cherry blossom petals; Figure 2 These are photographs of cherry blossoms treated in the oil solution according to Example 1 of the present invention. Figure 3 These are photographs of cherry blossoms treated in Example 1 and Comparative Example 4 of the present invention after being stored at high temperature in an oil for one month. Figure 4 These are photographs of cherry blossoms treated with different acetic acid concentrations in the oil solution according to Example 2 of the present invention. Figure 5 These are photographs of the state of roses treated in the oil in Example 3 of the present invention; Figure 6 Photographs showing the state of the products treated with acetic acid and citric acid in oil. Figure 7 Photographs showing the state of products with and without encapsulation treatments in oil. Figure 8 Photographs showing the effect of whether or not ethanol is evaporated on the product's storage in oil at room temperature. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The present invention will now be clearly and completely described in conjunction with embodiments thereof. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified in the embodiments, conditions are performed under conventional conditions or conditions recommended by the manufacturer. Reagents or instruments whose manufacturers are not specified are all commercially available products. Unless otherwise specified, all parts used in the embodiments of the present invention are parts by weight.

[0024] I. Description of Raw Material Properties The relevant properties of the fresh and dried flowers used in this invention are as follows: Rose petals: Sensory evaluation was conducted according to NY / T1506-2015 Green Food Edible Flowers Testing Method, and the appearance, color, and odor all met the standards; the moisture loss after drying at a constant temperature of 103℃ for 2 hours was 9.41%; Place of origin: Weinan, Shaanxi.

[0025] Cherry blossom petals: Sensory evaluation was conducted according to NY / T1506-2015 Green Food Edible Flowers Testing Method, and the appearance, color, and odor all met the standards; the moisture loss after drying at a constant temperature of 103℃ for 2 hours was 9.49%; Place of origin: Weinan, Shaanxi.

[0026] II. Performance Testing Methods Performance testing 1. Suspension performance test in oil: The test method is visual inspection; The oil is a bath oil and hair care essence oil, and its formula is shown in Table 1 below; Table 1. Formulas for Bath Oils and Hair Care Essences

[0027] 2. Color change of petals under high-temperature storage conditions in the above-mentioned oil. The maximum temperature is 50℃, and the storage time is 30 days. The testing method is visual inspection.

[0028] III. Examples and Comparative Examples

[0029] Example 1 A process for fixing the color of dried flower petals includes the following steps: Step 1: Soak dried cherry blossom petals in a 12wt% acetic acid solution for 0.5 hours until they turn pink; the amount of dried petals used should be enough to fully immerse them in the acetic acid solution. Step 2: Add the petals treated in Step 1 to ethanol for dehydration and color fixation; Specifically, the petals from step 1 were drained and then added to 95 vol% ethanol for dehydration and color fixation treatment for 0.8 hours; after treatment, they were drained again. Step 3: The petals treated in Step 2 are sealed with isohexadecane; Isohexadecane can be used to treat petals by spraying or soaking. In this embodiment, the petals are also treated by soaking. The petals are immersed in isohexadecane and then immediately removed and allowed to air dry. Steps 1 to 3 above can all be performed at room temperature; Step 4: Dry the petals after step 3.

[0030] The drying process in step 4 involves low-temperature drying in an oven at 35°C for 4 hours.

[0031] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 ,Depend on Figure 1 It is evident that the dried cherry blossom petals are a light purple in color; Figure 2 As you can see, the cherry blossoms are pink, very close to the color of fresh flowers.

[0032] refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 The fourth sample from left to right in the middle is the result of the sample of Example 1 after 30 days of storage, and it can be seen that the color of its petals has not changed much.

[0033] Example 2 The results are largely the same as in Example 1, except that the acetic acid concentrations are 4.5 wt% and 20 wt%, respectively.

[0034] refer to Figure 4 In this embodiment, after the cherry blossoms are added to the oil, they can exhibit a deeper pink color as the concentration of acetic acid increases. This may be because a slightly higher concentration of acetic acid has a faster acidification ability, which can improve the color of the cherry blossoms in a shorter time.

[0035] Example 3 It is largely the same as Example 1, except that the dried flower petals are rose petals.

[0036] refer to Figure 5 , Figure 5 The left side shows a photo of dried roses, and the right side shows the state of the dried roses in the oil after processing. In this embodiment, the roses, when added to the oil, can exhibit a deep red color, close to the color of the roses themselves.

[0037] Comparative Example 1 The results are largely the same as in Example 2, except that 20 wt% citric acid was used instead of acetic acid solution. The performance of the solution in the oil was observed; for details, please refer to [link / reference needed]. Figure 6 ; Figure 6 In the image, the sample on the left is a citric acid sample, and the sample on the right is a sample treated with 20wt% acetic acid. It can be seen that, at the same concentration, the color of the acetic acid-treated sample is significantly better than that of the citric acid sample.

[0038] Comparative Example 2 Step 1: Soak dried cherry blossom petals in a 20wt% acetic acid solution for 0.5 hours until they turn pink; the amount of dried petals used should be enough to fully immerse them in the acetic acid solution. Step 2: Add the petals treated in Step 1 to ethanol for dehydration and color fixation; Specifically, the petals from step 1 were drained and then added to 95 vol% ethanol for dehydration and color fixation treatment for 0.8 hours; after treatment, they were drained again. Step 3: Dry the petals after step 2.

[0039] The drying process in step 3 involves low-temperature drying in an oven at 35°C for 4 hours.

[0040] Observe its performance in oil-based formulations; for details, please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 7 ; Figure 7 In the image, the sample on the left is from the comparative example, and the sample on the right is from Example 2, treated with 20wt% acetic acid and then blocked with isohexadecane. It is evident that without blocking treatment, most of the sample is in a suspended and floating state, exhibiting poor affinity with the oil.

[0041] Comparative Example 3 The process is largely the same as in Example 1, except that after step 2, a low-temperature drying treatment is performed at a temperature of 30°C for 3 hours; step 3 is then performed after the low-temperature drying treatment.

[0042] Observe its performance after one week of storage at room temperature in an oil-based solution. For details, please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 8 ; Figure 8 In the image, the sample on the left is from the comparative example, and the sample on the right is from Example 1. It is evident that evaporating the ethanol before the sealing treatment hinders the penetration of the sealing agent; most of the sample floats to the surface and has an abnormal pink color, indicating poor affinity with the oil.

[0043] Comparative Example 4 The treatment is largely the same as in Example 1, except that the reagents used for the sealing treatment are: 1,2-hexanediol, C9-C12 alkanes, isododecane, and cyclopentamethoxysiloxane.

[0044] Observe its performance after 30 days of high-temperature storage in oil. For details, please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 3 ; Figure 3 In the middle, from left to right, are 1,2-hexanediol, C9-C12 alkanes, isododecane, isohexadecane, and cyclopentamethoxysiloxane. Different blocking agents have different performance in controlling color and suspension properties. Among them, 1,2-hexanediol, C9-C12 alkanes, and isododecane can show relatively good wettability and suspension, while cyclopentamethoxysiloxane has very poor suspension. Regarding color retention, 1,2-hexanediol and C9-C12 alkanes showed a significant fading in color after treatment, while isododecane produced an abnormal pink color. Isohexadecane and cyclopentamethoxysiloxane showed relatively better color retention.

[0045] This indicates that the sealing agent affects both suspension performance and high-temperature storage performance, and isohexadecane is the best in terms of overall performance.

Claims

1. A process for fixing the color of dried flower petals, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step 1: Soak dried flower petals in acetic acid solution to change their color to pink or red; Step 2: Add the petals treated in Step 1 to ethanol for dehydration and color fixation; Step 3: The petals treated in Step 2 are sealed with isohexadecane; Step 4: Dry the petals after step 3.

2. The processing technology according to claim 1, characterized in that, The concentration of the acetic acid solution is 10~20wt%.

3. The processing technology according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ethanol refers to an ethanol solution with a concentration of 95±5 vol%.

4. The processing technology according to claim 1, characterized in that, The processing time for step 1 is 0.5 to 1 hour, the processing time for step 2 is 0.4 to 0.8 hours, and the processing time for step 3 is 1 to 2 hours.

5. The processing technology according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drying process in step 4 is carried out at a temperature of 30-35°C for 4-5 hours.

6. The processing technology according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dried flower petals are one or more of the following: rose, cherry blossom, jasmine, carnation, peach blossom, chrysanthemum, and marigold.

7. A type of dried flower petals, characterized in that, It is obtained by processing using any one of the processing techniques described in claims 1 to 6.

8. Use of dried flower petals as described in claim 7 in the preparation of cosmetics.

9. The use according to claim 8, characterized in that, The cosmetic product is a bath oil, serum, or essential oil.

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