Biodegradable tea straw and method for producing the same

Abstract

To provide a biodegradable tea leaf straw and a method for producing the same.SOLUTION: A tube body, which is mainly made of a composition, wherein the composition comprises 35% - 65% by weight of a tea leaf mixture and 35% - 65% of a biodegradable material, the tea leaf mixture comprises tea leaf powder and inorganic filler powder, and the particle size of the tea leaf powder is smaller than that of the inorganic filler powder, the tube body made by the present invention has a natural tea leaf aroma, and all raw materials used in the manufacturing process are rapidly degraded by environmental microorganisms; Since only water, carbon dioxide and mineral substrate remain after decomposition, there is no burden or harm to the environment, and the prepared straw has the original fragrance of tea leaves, which will not dissolve during use to affect the taste of the beverage, and can be used as a substitute for the existing plastic straw to reduce the amount of plastic products used and reduce the risk of plastic pollution and environment, thereby achieving environmental protection and reducing carbon dioxide emission.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tea leaf straw that is biodegradable at room temperature or above and a manufacturing method thereof, and in particular to a biodegradable tea leaf straw that has the aroma of tea leaves by fusing tea leaf powder into a tubular object and does not dissolve in a solution, and a manufacturing method thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] A straw is formed in a hollow tubular shape and is inserted into a beverage, allowing the user to suck up the beverage, thereby increasing the convenience of drinking the beverage. Most conventional straws are made of plastic. However, because plastic is difficult to biodegrade, if it is not disposed of properly or properly treated, it can lead to environmental pollution and even endanger the lives of animals if they accidentally ingest it. Furthermore, in the marine environment, plastics bind with persistent organic pollutants such as dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), accumulate in the bodies of living organisms, and are transported through the food chain, posing serious risks to the health of living organisms and humans. Plastics can be recycled, but there are many different types of plastic waste, and it is extremely difficult to effectively centralize and sort it for recycling. Furthermore, plastic straws cannot be reused unless they are washed with fresh water after collection, which wastes water resources. Moreover, the cost of collecting plastic straws is relatively high, making it very difficult to steadily carry out collection operations. Therefore, some countries are trying to ban the use of plastic straws altogether to prevent the pollution and danger of plastic products to the environment.

[0003] In response to the plastic restriction policy, research and development is being conducted on straws made from various materials. This is expected to reduce pollution and danger to the environment, but still has the following drawbacks:

[0004] 1. Metal materials: Their manufacturing process generates a large amount of carbon dioxide, which accelerates the greenhouse effect and poses a risk to the environment. Furthermore, metal straws cannot be polished on the inside, so they are prone to accumulating impurities, making them difficult to clean and posing a risk to health if used for extended periods. Furthermore, metal materials are hard and inelastic, making them uncomfortable to touch in the mouth. Furthermore, they usually have a metallic taste, which can adversely affect the flavor of beverages. These are also some of the main reasons why consumers opt not to use metal straws. 2. Glass material: The manufacturing process requires high temperatures, which generates a large amount of carbon dioxide. Glass products are also fragile, so if careless when using or cleaning them, they may injure people around you. Furthermore, if the break is not obvious and the user continues to use the product, glass fragments may enter the human body, causing serious consequences. 3. Paper Material: To make paper straws, they must be waterproof and able to absorb beverages, which requires processing steps such as wrapping, gluing, and waterproofing. However, these processes require the use of edible adhesives or waxes. However, because there are many types of beverages and each has a different pH level, it is difficult to guarantee that edible adhesives or waxes will not produce toxic substances. Even if they do not produce toxic substances, consuming large amounts of edible adhesives or waxes can be harmful to human health.

[0005] In order to overcome the drawbacks of the materials mentioned above, in recent years, various companies have been engaged in research and development of biodegradable materials that have the property of being rapidly decomposed by environmental microorganisms in specific environments. However, due to their relatively high manufacturing costs, they have not yet gained popularity among the food and beverage industry or consumers, making it difficult to popularize them and completely replace plastic straws.

[0006] In light of the above, the inventor devoted himself to further research into straws made of materials that are biodegradable at room temperature or above, and embarked on research, development, and improvement in the hope of solving the above problems with an even better invention. As a result of repeated testing and improvement, he has completed the present invention. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The prior art has the disadvantage that it is not popular among the food and beverage industry or consumers due to its high manufacturing cost, and it is difficult to completely replace plastic straws. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention relates to a biodegradable tea straw and a method for producing the same.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and to achieve the above object, the inventor provides a biodegradable tea leaf straw. It has a tubular body and is mainly made of a composition, the composition including raw materials including 35% to 65% tea leaf mixture and 35% to 65% biodegradable material; The tea leaf mixture comprises 1% to 50% roasted tea leaf powder and 50% to 99% inorganic filler powder, and the particle size of the tea leaf powder is smaller than that of the inorganic filler powder; The inorganic filler powder includes at least one of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, kaolin, stearic acid, zinc stearate, zinc oxide, antimony trioxide, silicon dioxide, talcum powder, mica powder, barium sulfate, calcium silicate, and quartz powder; The biodegradable material includes at least one of polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA), polybutylene terephthalate adipate (PBAT), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), starch-based plastic, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), or polycaprolactone (PCL).

[0010] In the biodegradable tea leaf straws, the particle size of the tea leaf powder is between 0.1 and 1,000 μm.

[0011] In the biodegradable tea leaf straws, the particle size of the inorganic filler powder is between 0.01 and 100 μm.

[0012] The method for producing biodegradable tea straws according to the present invention comprises the following steps: After roasting and sterilizing the tea leaves, they are ground to form tea leaf powder. The tea leaf powder and the inorganic filler powder are mechanically mixed to form a tea leaf mixture, and the particle size of the tea leaf powder is smaller than that of the inorganic filler powder; The tea leaf mixture contains 1% to 50% tea leaf powder and 50% to 99% inorganic filler powder, Moreover, the inorganic filler powder contains at least one of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, kaolin, stearic acid, zinc stearate, zinc oxide, antimony trioxide, silicon dioxide, talcum powder, mica powder, barium sulfate, calcium silicate, and quartz powder; The tea leaf mixture and the biodegradable material are mixed in a high temperature environment of 140°C to 170°C to form a composition; The composition comprises 35% to 65% of a tea leaf mixture and 35% to 65% of a biodegradable material; the biodegradable material comprises at least one of polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA), polybutylene terephthalate adipate (PBAT), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), starch-based plastic, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), or polycaprolactone (PCL); The composition is extruded into a tube, and the tube is a straw.

[0013] In the above-mentioned method for producing biodegradable tea leaf straws, the particle size of the tea leaf powder is between 0.1 and 1,000 μm.

[0014] In the above method for producing biodegradable tea leaf straws, the particle size of the inorganic filler powder is between 0.01 and 100 μm.

[0015] As can be seen from the above description and installation, the present invention has the following advantages and effects.

[0016] 1. The present invention, by using its material composition and by roasting and sterilizing the tea powder, is able to fully bring out the aroma of the tea leaves. Moreover, because the tea leaf powder has a smaller particle size than the inorganic filler powder, the tea leaf powder adheres reliably to the inorganic filler powder, and the inorganic filler powder maintains its strength even after molding. The tube body produced by this invention has a natural tea aroma, and the tea leaves do not dissolve when inserted into a solution, thereby not affecting the flavor of the beverage. Therefore, it is certainly practical, and the aroma adds an elegant atmosphere. Furthermore, the low manufacturing cost makes it a popular choice among consumers, which in turn reduces the use of plastic straws and achieves the goals of plastic restriction and environmental protection. 2. All raw materials used in the manufacturing process of this invention can be rapidly decomposed by environmental microorganisms and can be decomposed at room temperature simply by burying them in the soil for approximately six months. After decomposition, only water, carbon dioxide, and inorganic filler powder remain, which does not burden or harm the environment. It also reduces plastic consumption and plastic pollution, contributing to the health and safety of environmental organisms and humans. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a manufacturing flowchart of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a three-dimensional schematic view of a tube made according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] (One embodiment) The technical means of the present inventors will be described in detail below with reference to several embodiments in conjunction with the drawings.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the biodegradable tea leaf straw according to the present invention has a tubular body 1.

[0020] The tube body 1 is mainly made of a composition containing the following weight percentages of raw materials: 35% to 65% tea leaf mixture, 35% to 65% biodegradable material. The tea leaf mixture contains 1% to 50% roasted tea leaf powder and 50% to 99% inorganic filler powder, and the particle size of the tea leaf powder is smaller than that of the inorganic filler powder. A specific manufacturing method of the present invention includes the following steps.

[0021] S001: Tea leaves are roasted, sterilized, and then ground to form tea leaf powder. The tea leaves can be obtained from various existing single tea leaves or mixed tea leaves, and the tea leaves can be unfermented or partially fermented. After selecting the required tea leaves, they are roasted to extract aroma, and then crushed and ground. In one embodiment, the particle size after grinding is between 0.1 and 1,000 μm.

[0022] S002: Mechanically mixing tea leaf powder and inorganic filler powder to form a tea leaf mixture, wherein the inorganic filler powder can be food-grade and can have different acid and alkali resistance depending on the application. Thus, in one embodiment, the inorganic filler powder comprises at least one of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, kaolin, stearic acid, zinc stearate, zinc oxide, antimony trioxide, silicon dioxide, talcum powder, mica powder, barium sulfate, calcium silicate, or quartz powder.

[0023] In the present invention, the particle size of the tea leaf powder must be smaller than that of the inorganic filler powder so that the tea leaf powder does not affect the strength of the molded product and retains the aroma of the tea leaves after molding. The particle size of the inorganic filler powder is preferably between 0.01 and 100 μm.

[0024] Regarding the ratio of tea leaf powder to inorganic filler powder, since tea leaves have a rich aroma, to prevent the tea leaf aroma of the manufactured product from being too pungent, about 1% to 50% by weight of tea leaf powder is added and mixed with about 50% to 99% of inorganic filler powder to form a tea leaf mixture.

[0025] S003: The tea leaf mixture is chelated in a carrier, and the carrier must comply with the requirements and goals of environmental protection, so a biodegradable material is selected as the carrier. Therefore, in the present invention, the tea leaf mixture and the biodegradable material are mixed in a high temperature environment of 140°C to 170°C to achieve the purpose of chelation and form a composition.

[0026] The biodegradable material can be any of various existing biodegradable materials, such as polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA), polybutylene terephthalate adipate (PBAT), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), starch-based plastic, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), or polycaprolactone (PCL). Therefore, the biodegradable material of the present invention includes at least one of the above. In terms of ratio, 35% to 65% by weight of the tea leaf mixture and 35% to 65% by weight of the biodegradable material are mixed under the conditions described above to form a composition.

[0027] S004: The composition obtained as described above is extruded into a tubular shape through an extruder. In this embodiment, the tubular object is manufactured into a straw, which has a tubular body 1 with a through hole 11 formed in the center.

[0028] As a result, even after production, the physical properties of the present invention are equivalent to those of straws made from existing biodegradable materials, and the particle size distribution of the inorganic filler powder allows it to reliably capture and solidify the tea leaf powder. The chelation of the biodegradable material ensures that the overall structure of the present invention still maintains a certain level of strength. Furthermore, the proportion of inorganic filler powder not only provides greater strength, but also prevents the straw from becoming brittle due to environmental humidity and temperature. This means that food safety is not affected by brittleness when consumed, and the addition of tea leaf powder does not affect its chemical properties.

[0029] What is particularly important is that the present invention can add the aroma of tea leaves, and since the tea leaves are attached to the above-mentioned tea leaf powder in ordinary solutions (such as water or beverages), the present invention only gives off the aroma of tea leaves and does not dissolve or affect the taste of the original solution. This increases the added value of the tube body 1, provides a high-quality texture, and yet is inexpensive to manufacture. The overall effect is to increase consumer purchasing interest, thereby reducing the use of plastic straws and contributing to the achievement of the goals of plastic restriction and environmental protection.

[0030] All raw materials used in the manufacturing process of the present invention are materials that can be quickly decomposed by environmental microorganisms, and will decompose in about six months if buried in the soil at room temperature or above. After decomposition, only water, carbon dioxide, and inorganic filler powder remain, so there is no burden or danger to the environment. This reduces the amount of plastic used, reduces plastic pollution, and maintains the health and safety of environmental organisms and humans.

[0031] In summary, the technical solutions disclosed in the present invention can certainly solve the problems of the prior art and achieve the expected objectives and effects. Moreover, since the invention had not been published in a publication or used publicly prior to the application, and it possesses a long-term inventive step, it must be an invention as defined by the Patent Act, and therefore the application is being submitted in accordance with the law.

[0032] The above are merely a few embodiments of the present invention, and do not limit the scope of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications based on the claims of the present invention and the description of the invention shall be included within the scope of the claims of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 tube body, 2 through holes, Steps S001~S004.

Claims

1. A biodegradable tea straw, comprising: The tube is made primarily of a composition, the composition comprising the following weight percentages of raw materials: 35% to 65% tea leaf mixture, 35% to 65% biodegradable materials; The tea leaf mixture comprises 1% to 50% roasted tea leaf powder and 50% to 99% inorganic filler powder, and the particle size of the tea leaf powder is smaller than that of the inorganic filler powder; The inorganic filler powder includes at least one of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, kaolin, stearic acid, zinc stearate, zinc oxide, antimony trioxide, silicon dioxide, talcum powder, mica powder, barium sulfate, calcium silicate, and quartz powder; The biodegradable tea straw is characterized in that the biodegradable material includes at least one of polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA), polybutylene terephthalate adipate (PBAT), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), starch-based plastic, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), or polycaprolactone (PCL).

2. 2. The biodegradable tea straw according to claim 1, wherein the particle size of the tea leaf powder is between 0.1 and 1,000 μm.

3. The biodegradable tea straw according to claim 1, wherein the particle size of the inorganic filler powder is between 0.01 and 100 μm.

4. The method for producing biodegradable tea straws includes the following steps: After roasting and sterilizing the tea leaves, they are ground to form tea leaf powder. The tea leaf powder and the inorganic filler powder are mechanically mixed to form a tea leaf mixture, and the particle size of the tea leaf powder is smaller than that of the inorganic filler powder; The tea leaf mixture comprises 1% to 50% tea leaf powder and 50% to 99% inorganic filler powder, and the inorganic filler powder comprises at least one of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, kaolin, stearic acid, zinc stearate, zinc oxide, antimony trioxide, silicon dioxide, talcum powder, mica powder, barium sulfate, calcium silicate, and quartz powder; The tea leaf mixture and the biodegradable material are mixed in a high temperature environment of 140°C to 170°C to form a composition, the composition comprising 35% to 65% of the tea leaf mixture and 35% to 65% of the biodegradable material, the biodegradable material comprising at least one of polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA), polybutylene terephthalate adipate (PBAT), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), starch-based plastic, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or polycaprolactone (PCL); The method for producing biodegradable tea straws, wherein the composition is extruded into a tubular body, and the tubular body is a straw.

5. The method for manufacturing biodegradable tea leaf straws according to claim 4, wherein the particle size of the tea leaf powder is between 0.1 and 1,000 μm.

6. The method for producing biodegradable tea straws according to claim 4, wherein the particle size of the inorganic filler powder is between 0.01 and 100 μm.

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