Abietic Acid Ester Coating with Limonene for Citrus Solubility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coatings for fruits and vegetables, particularly citrus fruits, face solubility issues in food-approved solvents like ethanol, leading to weakened coatings under humidity and phytotoxicity concerns, limiting their effectiveness and safety for use.

Innovation Solution

A composition combining abietic acid esters with limonene dissolved in ethanol is applied to fruits and vegetables, providing improved solubility and phytotoxicity reduction, ensuring a stable and effective coating process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If esters of abietic acid are used for coating citrus fruits, then coating properties are improved, but solubility in ethanol is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating propertiesVSAvoidsolubility in ethanol

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Limonene acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates the solubility of abietic acid esters in ethanol. The patent combines limonene with abietic acid esters to form a soluble complex that can be dissolved in food-approved solvents like ethanol, thereby enabling proper coating application without compromising the coating properties provided by the abietic acid esters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite coating system combining abietic acid esters with limonene. This composite formulation leverages the coating-forming properties of abietic acid esters while using limonene's solubility characteristics to enable dissolution in ethanol, achieving both coating performance and manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If alkaline agents are used to solubilize resins in alcohol, then solubility is improved, but coating strength is weakened under humidity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolubility in alcoholVSAvoidcoating strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Limonene serves as a neutral intermediary that enables solubility without introducing alkaline residues. Instead of using alkaline agents like soda or potash to solubilize resins, the patent uses limonene as a food-approved solvent that naturally dissolves abietic acid esters without compromising coating strength, especially under humid conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If waxes are used for coating, then visual and gas permeability characteristics are improved, but solubility in food-approved solvents is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual and gas permeability characteristicsVSAvoidsolubility in food-approved solvents

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Limonene acts as a bridge between waxes and food-approved solvents. The patent utilizes limonene's ability to dissolve both waxes and abietic acid esters, creating a soluble coating system that maintains the superior visual and gas permeability characteristics of waxes while achieving proper solubility for application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of manufacture

If terpenes are used for coating, then solubility and coating quality are improved, but phytotoxicity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolubility and coating qualityVSAvoidphytotoxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the concentration and formulation parameters of terpenes to reduce phytotoxicity. By using food-approved solvents like ethanol and controlling the ratio of terpene to abietic acid ester, the patent achieves adequate solubility and coating quality while minimizing harmful effects on the fruit surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enhances coating quality and stability, reducing weight loss and maintaining appearance over time, while being safe for use on fruits and vegetables.

Implementation Method 1

the presence of one or more terpenes in the aforementioned coating compositions made it possible to greatly improve the coating qualities... the terpene(s), thanks to its high boiling point, is present until the wax is perfectly dried: maintaining solubility until the end drying

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolubility: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

The fruits or vegetables then pass through a drying tunnel: the evaporation of the water leaves a protective film of approximately 2 microns on the fruits or vegetables

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP2111116B1Combination of abietic acid esters with limonene and use thereof for coating fruit or vegetables

Publication Date: 2015.04.01 XEDA INTERNATIONAL SA

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for coating fruit and vegetables, comprising the application of a composition comprising one or more abietic acid ester(s) or mixtures thereof, in combination with one or more non-oxygenated terpene(s). A further composition comprises wax, a resin and a non-oxygenated terpene.