Biodegradable Membrane Encapsulating Low-Water Liquid
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Solution Overview
Problem
The abundance of plastic packaging contributes significantly to environmental damage, particularly due to the difficulty in recycling thin plastic films used in food and consumer product packaging, necessitating the development of environmentally friendly alternatives.
Innovation Solution
The use of membranes comprising seaweed extracts or cellulose polymers to encapsulate liquids, providing a cost-effective and sustainable solution for packaging liquid consumer products, replacing traditional plastic packaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If plastic packaging is used to package liquid consumer products, then the packaging provides good barrier properties and stability, but it causes severe environmental damage and is difficult to recycle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameters by using seaweed extracts (carrageenan, agar) or cellulose polymers instead of conventional plastics. These biodegradable materials provide adequate barrier properties for liquids with water content below 20 wt% while being environmentally friendly and biodegradable, thus reducing environmental damage while maintaining necessary packaging stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures by combining seaweed extracts or cellulose polymers with specific processing methods to create membranes with enhanced barrier properties. The composite nature of these biopolymer materials allows them to achieve both environmental sustainability and functional performance for packaging liquid consumer products
2Object-affected harmful factors
If biodegradable materials like seaweed extracts or cellulose polymers are used to replace plastic packaging, then environmental sustainability is improved, but the membrane may not provide sufficient barrier properties to prevent liquid permeation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the water content parameter of the liquid to below 20 wt%, which fundamentally changes the interaction between the liquid and the biodegradable membrane. This parameter change ensures that the membrane maintains its structural integrity and barrier properties while still being environmentally sustainable. The low water content prevents excessive plasticization of the biopolymer membrane that would otherwise compromise its barrier function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality control by specifically targeting the water content of the liquid product. By controlling the water content to be below 20 wt%, the liquid maintains properties that are compatible with biodegradable membranes, allowing the membrane to provide sufficient barrier properties at the liquid-membrane interface while maintaining overall environmental sustainability
3Weight of moving object
If thin plastic films are used for packaging, then the packaging is lightweight and cost-effective, but it creates recycling difficulties and environmental pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adopts disposable biodegradable packaging made from seaweed extracts or cellulose polymers that can naturally decompose after use. These single-use biodegradable films replace difficult-to-recycle plastic films, maintaining the lightweight and cost-effective advantages while eliminating recycling difficulties through natural biodegradation pathways
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material composition parameter from conventional plastics to biodegradable biopolymers. This parameter change transforms the end-of-life behavior of the packaging from persistent pollution to natural decomposition, maintaining the lightweight and economical characteristics while solving the recycling difficulty problem
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 encapsulated liquids remain stably stored within the biodegradable membranes for significant periods without permeation, effectively replacing plastic packaging and reducing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
liquids with particular properties (particularly those that have a water content lower than 20 wt %) can be encapsulated in a membrane comprising seaweed extracts or cellulose polymers and remain stably stored for significant periods of time without the liquid permeating out of the membrane
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a liquid encapsulated within a membrane, wherein the liquid has a water content of less than 20 wt %, wherein the membrane comprises an extract derivable from seaweed or a cellulose polymer. The invention also relates to methods of preparing the same and uses thereof.