Grape Surface Treatments Using Sorbents Against Wildfire Smoke Taint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wildfire smoke taint in wine grapes results in undesirable flavors and aromas, leading to economic losses and quality issues, with existing mitigation strategies being non-selective and impacting desirable flavor compounds.
Innovation Solution
Treatment compositions comprising organic or inorganic sorbent materials, such as cyclodextrins and zeolites, are applied to agricultural products to form a surface-deposited treatment that sequesters volatile aromatic compounds, reducing or preventing smoke taint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If blending smoke tainted wine with untainted wine is used to mitigate smoke taint, then acceptable wine blends can be produced, but a very large excess of untainted wine is required, significantly increasing production costs and reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful smoke-derived compounds from the wine through selective adsorption using sorbent materials, rather than relying on dilution through blending. This extraction approach eliminates the need for large quantities of untainted wine to mask smoke taint, thereby improving production efficiency while maintaining wine quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sorbent materials as intermediary substances that selectively bind to and remove smoke-derived compounds from the wine. These intermediaries enable the removal of harmful substances without requiring extensive blending with untainted wine, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining quality and improving productivity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If attempts are made to remove problematic smoke-derived compounds from tainted wines, then smoke taint can be reduced, but the approaches are not sufficiently selective and remove desirable flavor compounds, negatively impacting the wine's flavor profile
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using sorbent materials with specific chemical properties that are selectively attracted to smoke-derived compounds while being indifferent to desirable flavor compounds. This selective interaction allows the removal of harmful substances without compromising the wine's flavor profile, resolving the contradiction between eliminating smoke taint and preserving quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes porous sorbent materials that can selectively adsorb smoke-derived compounds through their pore structures. The porous nature of these materials provides a large surface area for selective binding, enabling the removal of harmful compounds while maintaining selectivity that prevents the removal of desirable flavor compounds.
3Stability of the object's composition
If smoke exposure occurs during the final ripening period leading up to harvest, then grapes can complete their development, but the grapes become most susceptible to smoke taint problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by treating the grapes with sorbent materials before they are exposed to wildfire smoke during the critical ripening period. This pre-treatment creates a protective barrier that prevents smoke-derived compounds from adhering to the grape surface, allowing the grapes to complete their development without suffering smoke taint damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary anti-action by applying protective treatments to the grapes before smoke exposure, creating a preventive barrier that counteracts the harmful effects of wildfire smoke. This advance protection allows the grapes to undergo normal ripening processes without becoming susceptible to smoke taint.
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 treatment compositions effectively reduce or prevent smoke taint by forming a protective barrier on agricultural products, minimizing the impact of wildfire smoke on flavor and aroma, while allowing for the selective removal of problematic compounds without affecting desirable sensory qualities.
Implementation Method 1
The binder component includes one or more organic or inorganic sorbent materials, preferably one or more organic or inorganic adsorbent materials
Implementation Method 2
the one or more treatment composition is capable of forming a surface-deposited treatment on agricultural products susceptible to wildfire smoke taint
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, kits, and treatment compositions for treating agricultural products to reduce or preventing wildfire smoke taint or other types of taint, including treated agricultural products, are provided. One or more treatment compositions effective in reducing or preventing wildfire smoke taint are preferably applied to agricultural products such as, for example, wine grapes prior to and/or during wildfire smoke exposure.