Antimicrobial Composition for Fruit Preservation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The agricultural industry faces challenges with microbial contamination and disease in fruits and vegetables, leading to significant economic losses and health risks, with existing biocides often being toxic and harmful to humans and the environment.
Innovation Solution
Development of an antimicrobial composition comprising propanoic acid, a C4-C6 acid salt, and a C2-C5 acid ester or C2-C8 aldehyde, which modulates pH and microbial activity without causing tissue necrosis, suitable for use on various fruits and vegetables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional biocides are used to control microbial contamination, then antimicrobial effectiveness is improved, but human safety and environmental safety deteriorate due to toxicity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of antimicrobial agents by using naturally derived compounds (organic acids like propanoic, butanoic, valeric acid and their salts/esters) instead of conventional synthetic biocides. This parameter change maintains antimicrobial effectiveness while eliminating the toxic effects on humans and environment that characterized the previous chemical composition parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs readily degradable organic acid compounds that break down into harmless substances (carbon dioxide, water, and mineral salts) after performing their antimicrobial function. These short-living chemical agents provide effective microbial control during the treatment period but do not persist in the environment, thereby eliminating long-term safety concerns associated with conventional biocides.
2Reliability
If endophyte volatile by products are used for antimicrobial control, then natural antimicrobial properties are improved, but human safety deteriorates due to toxic naphthalene and azulene derivatives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates only the safe, effective components from natural endophyte volatile by products - specifically the organic acids (propanoic, butanoic, valeric acid) and their derivatives - while deliberately excluding the toxic naphthalene and azulene derivatives. This selective extraction maintains the desired natural antimicrobial properties while removing the harmful elements that compromise human safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the complex mixture of endophyte volatile by products, which contains both beneficial antimicrobial components and harmful toxins, into a purified formulation of only the beneficial organic acid components. By transforming the harmful complex mixture into a safe, simplified composition, the patent eliminates the contradiction between natural origin and safety.
3Reliability
If biomimetic compositions are used to achieve antimicrobial effects, then antimicrobial properties are improved, but fruit and vegetable quality deteriorates due to tissue injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the physical-chemical parameters of the treatment composition by using mild organic acids with pH values that are compatible with fruit and vegetable tissue tolerance. By adjusting parameters such as acid concentration, pH, and formulation composition, the patent achieves effective antimicrobial action without causing the tissue injury that occurs with more aggressive biomimetic compositions.
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 composition effectively inhibits microbial growth and decay on fruits and vegetables without causing tissue damage, providing a safe and effective solution for post-harvest preservation.
Implementation Method 1
compositions comprising propanoic acid, with C4 acid salt and a component selected from a C2-C5 acid ester and a C2-C8 aldehyde... can be present in an aqueous medium wherein each of the propanoic acid and the C4 acid salt can be independently in an amount at least partially sufficient to provide such a composition the pH greater than about 4.4
Implementation Method 2
propanoic acid, with C4 acid salt and a component selected from a C2-C5 acid ester and a C2-C8 aldehyde... can be present in an aqueous medium wherein each of the propanoic acid and the C4 acid salt can be independently in an amount at least partially sufficient to provide such a composition the pH greater than about 4.4
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are embodiments of a composition including propanoic acid, a C4 acid salt, and a component selected from a C2-C5 acid ester and a C2-C5 aldehyde and combinations thereof. The composition is provided in an aqueous medium. Each of the propanoic acid and the C4 acid salt are independently present in an amount at least partially sufficient to provide to said composition a pH greater than about 4.4.