Benzoxaborole Volatile Antimicrobial Agents for Pathogen Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for new uses of volatile antimicrobial agents, particularly in agricultural applications, and for combinations with volatile plant growth regulators to address pathogens affecting meats, plants, or plant parts.

Innovation Solution

The use of volatile antimicrobial compounds, such as certain oxaborole compounds like benzoxaboroles, is proposed, along with delivery systems that leverage their volatility, and combinations with plant growth regulators like 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), for effective application against various pathogens through gas treatment methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional antimicrobial agents are used, then pathogen control is achieved, but volatility and agricultural applicability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepathogen control efficacyVSAvoidagricultural application suitability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical structure of antimicrobial agents by introducing oxaborole rings with specific substituents (halogen, nitro, nitrile, amino, carboxy, acyl, aryloxy, carbonamido, sulfonamido, or trifluoromethyl groups) to enhance volatility while maintaining antimicrobial efficacy. This structural parameter change enables the compounds to be applied as gases to plants, fruits, and vegetables, resolving the contradiction between pathogen control and agricultural applicability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the volatile nature of oxaborole compounds to deliver antimicrobial agents in gaseous form directly to agricultural products. The gas-phase delivery system allows uniform distribution of the antimicrobial agent across plant surfaces, fruits, and vegetables, achieving effective pathogen control while enabling practical agricultural application

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Reliability

If volatile antimicrobial compounds are applied, then pathogen inhibition is improved, but delivery system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepathogen inhibition efficacyVSAvoiddelivery system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The oxaborole compounds inherently possess volatile properties that enable self-delivery as gases without requiring complex external delivery infrastructure. The compounds naturally evaporate and disperse in the air, allowing simple application methods such as placing treated materials in storage containers or applying during packing, thus achieving effective pathogen inhibition while minimizing delivery system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If single antimicrobial compounds are used, then application simplicity is maintained, but disease control effectiveness is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication simplicityVSAvoiddisease control effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines volatile oxaborole antimicrobial compounds with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), a volatile plant growth regulator, to create synergistic disease control. The combination leverages both the antimicrobial activity of oxaboroles and the ethylene inhibition properties of 1-MCP, enhancing overall disease control effectiveness while maintaining the simplicity of gas-phase application for both compounds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 method provides effective inhibition of a wide range of pathogens, including fungal and bacterial species, with compounds like benzoxaboroles demonstrating 100% control at specific concentrations, and when combined with 1-MCP, enhances disease control and reduces phytotoxicity, offering a practical solution for agricultural applications.

Implementation Method 1

The volatile antimicrobial compounds provided include certain oxaborole compounds... contacting a meat, plant or plant part with an effective amount of the volatile antimicrobial compound, wherein said contacting comprises applying the volatile antimicrobial compound by way of gas treatment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVolatile compound vaporization: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP2950644B1Use of benzoxaboroles as volatile antimicrobial agents on meats, plants, or plant parts
Publication Date: 2017.07.19 AGROFRESH INC
  • EP2950644B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2950644B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2950644B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This invention is related to use of a volatile antimicrobial compound against pathogens affecting meats, plants, or plant parts. The volatile antimicrobial compounds provided include certain oxaborole compounds, for example benzoxaboroles. Delivery systems are provided to take advantage of the volatile nature of these antimicrobial compounds. Also combinations with a volatile plant growth regulator, for example 1- methylcyclopropene, are disclosed.