Compressed Mint Tablets with Encapsulated Menthol for High Humidity Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional compressed mint tablets fail to deliver a strong initial nasal cooling effect due to limited menthol content and stability issues, especially in high humidity environments, which affects consumer satisfaction and product freshness.
Innovation Solution
The use of encapsulated menthol, particularly with cyclodextrin, and a multi-layered formulation with a higher menthol-to-eucalyptol ratio in thinner layers of the tablets to enhance the release of menthol and eucalyptol, ensuring a strong initial cooling impact while maintaining stability and regulatory compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the amount of menthol in compressed mint tablets is increased to produce a strong initial nasal cooling effect, then the cooling effect is improved, but regulatory limits (5% by weight or less) prevent further increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mint tablet is divided into multiple layers with different menthol concentrations. The thinner outer layers contain higher menthol content (1-5%) to provide strong initial cooling, while the thicker inner layer contains lower menthol content (0.1-2%) to maintain overall compliance with regulatory limits (≤5% total menthol). This segmentation allows the product to deliver intense initial nasal cooling while staying within legal restrictions.
2Temperature
If conventional menthol formulation is used in compressed mint tablets, then manufacturing is simple, but the product fails to deliver strong initial cooling and has poor stability in high humidity environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of menthol delivery by using encapsulated menthol (menthol included at less than 10% by weight of the confectionery composition) and creating a multi-layer structure with specific thickness ratios. These parameter changes enable both strong initial cooling release and improved stability in high humidity conditions, overcoming the limitations of conventional single-layer formulations.
3Duration of action of moving object
If mint tablets are designed to dissolve slowly over time, then flavor duration is extended, but only a fraction of coolant is released in the first minute, resulting in weak initial cooling
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the mint tablet have different dissolution rates and cooling agent concentrations. The thinner outer layers dissolve more quickly and contain higher menthol concentrations to provide strong initial cooling within the first minute. The thicker inner layer dissolves more slowly, providing extended flavor duration. This local quality differentiation allows the product to satisfy both immediate cooling needs and long-lasting flavor preferences.
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 provides a strong initial nasal cooling effect within minutes of consumption, maintains menthol and eucalyptol stability under high humidity conditions, and extends the cooling duration beyond tablet dissolution, enhancing consumer experience and product shelf life.
Implementation Method 1
The confectionery products deliver a strong initial cooling impact... capable of producing a strong initial nasal cooling effect
Implementation Method 2
the menthol is encapsulated... have extended storage stability in high humidity environments
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to confectionery products, such as compressed mint tablets, that comprise menthol and eucalyptol. In certain embodiments, the menthol is encapsulated. The confectionery products deliver a strong initial cooling impact, and have extended storage stability in high humidity environments.