Biodegradable Infusion Capsule Composition for Barrier and Compostability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infusion beverage capsules made of biodegradable materials face challenges in achieving both industrial and home compostability, while maintaining mechanical strength and barrier properties, and are difficult to recycle due to complex compositions and materials that are not environmentally friendly.
Innovation Solution
The capsule is made from a combination of biodegradable materials such as PBS, PBAT, PLA, TPS, PHA, and regenerated cellulose, enhanced with catalysators like polyphosphate salts and epoxides, and includes specific filler compositions to enhance biodegradability and barrier properties, ensuring compliance with home composting standards and resistance to infusion pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If capsules are made of oxygen and vapour tight materials (aluminium, plastics), then organoleptic properties of infusion product are preserved, but environmental friendliness deteriorates and recycling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameters by using biodegradable polymers (polyhydroxyalkanoates, polylactic acid, thermoplastic starch) instead of traditional aluminium or plastics. These materials are modified with specific additives and processing aids to achieve the required barrier properties while maintaining biodegradability, thus resolving the contradiction between preservation and environmental friendliness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures combining biodegradable polymers with specific additives, processing aids, and barrier layers. This composite approach allows the capsule to achieve both the necessary protection for infusion product quality and biodegradability for environmental compatibility, eliminating the need for separate recycling processes
2Object-affected harmful factors
If capsules are made of biodegradable materials, then environmental friendliness improves, but mechanical strength and barrier properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite material formulations combining biodegradable polymers (polyhydroxyalkanoates, polylactic acid, thermoplastic starch) with specific additives, processing aids, and barrier layers. This composite structure provides both the mechanical strength needed for infusion machine operation and the barrier properties required for product protection, while maintaining biodegradability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of biodegradable materials through controlled addition of additives and processing aids. These parameter changes enhance the mechanical properties and barrier characteristics of the biodegradable materials, allowing them to withstand infusion pressures while remaining environmentally friendly
3Reliability
If capsules use double-layer structure with barrier layer, then barrier properties improve, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material formulations where barrier properties are achieved through the inherent properties of the biodegradable polymer composition rather than separate barrier layers. This integrated approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while providing effective barrier protection against oxygen and vapour
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 results in a capsule that is easily compostable at home, maintains organoleptic quality, and withstands infusion pressures, while reducing environmental impact by being fully biodegradable and recyclable without separation, thus addressing the limitations of prior art capsules.
Implementation Method 1
at least one catalysator for enhancing the biodegradability of said capsule body, said at least one catalysator comprising one among the group of polyphosphate salts, phthalates, epoxides or combinations thereof
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a capsule (1) for preparing an infusion beverage from the interaction between an infusion product (22) and a liquid, said capsule (1) comprising a capsule body (2) and a lid (4). The capsule body (2) and the lid (4) are mutually connected to one another for creating a closed infusion chamber (6) containing the infusion product (22). The capsule body (2) is made of a capsule body material comprising between 60% to 89.5% w/w of PBS, PBAT, PLA, TPS, PHA, regenerated cellulose or combinations thereof and between 0.5 and 5% w/w, preferably between 0.5 and 2% w/w of at least one catalysator for enhancing the biodegradability of the capsule body (2), said at least one catalysator comprising one among the group of polyphosphate salts, phthalates, epoxides or combinations thereof and finally one or several organic and inorganic fillers respectively between 5 and 25% w/w and 5 and 20% w/w.