Iron Blue Pigment Oxygen Detection Agent for Heat Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oxygen detecting agents using organic dyes, such as methylene blue, suffer from elution and contamination when exposed to high-temperature atmospheres during heat sterilization, leading to misidentification of oxygen levels and damage to packaging materials.
Innovation Solution
The use of an iron blue pigment as a redox dye, combined with a reducing agent and a sodium inorganic or organic salt, which suppresses elution and maintains color change responsiveness, even under high-temperature conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If organic dyes such as methylene blue are used as redox dyes in oxygen detecting agents, then the oxygen detection function is achieved through color change, but the dye elutes and contaminates packaging materials when exposed to high-temperature atmospheres during heat sterilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the redox dye from organic dyes (methylene blue) to inorganic iron blue pigments. This parameter change fundamentally alters the thermal stability and chemical properties of the dye, preventing elution at high temperatures while maintaining the oxygen detection color change function. The iron blue pigment's inorganic nature provides heat resistance that organic dyes lack.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a support material structure where the iron blue pigment is fixed onto a solid support. This creates a disposable or replaceable detecting agent composition that can withstand heat sterilization without degrading or eluting, effectively treating the detecting agent as a stable, single-use component that maintains integrity throughout its service life including high-temperature exposure.
2Measurement precision
If organic dyes are used in oxygen detecting agents, then the color change mechanism works effectively at normal temperatures, but the exterior appearance of packaging materials is impaired due to dye transfer during heat sterilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from organic dye to inorganic iron blue pigment, which fundamentally alters the thermal behavior. The inorganic pigment maintains color stability at high temperatures, preventing the transfer and staining of packaging materials that occurs with organic dyes, while preserving the oxygen-induced color change detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support material acts as an intermediary between the iron blue pigment and the packaging material. It anchors the pigment particles, preventing direct contact and potential transfer to the packaging material surface during heat sterilization, while still allowing the pigment to perform its oxygen detection function.
3Temperature
If conventional oxygen detecting agents are used in heat sterilization processes, then the sterilization function is achieved, but the oxygen detecting agent color becomes misidentified due to dye degradation or elution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal stability parameter of the redox dye by switching from organic to inorganic materials. The iron blue pigment maintains its structural integrity and color properties at high sterilization temperatures, preventing the color distortion or fading that occurs with organic dyes, thereby preserving accurate oxygen level identification capability throughout the sterilization process.
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 effectively prevents dye elution and maintains accurate oxygen detection performance during heat sterilization, enhancing the reliability of oxygen detection and reducing contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
oxygen detecting agents using organic dyes which undergo reversible color change due to oxidation and reduction
Implementation Method 2
the oxygen detecting agent composition comprises a redox dye and a reducing agent
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an oxygen detecting agent composition including a redox dye and a reducing agent, the redox dye being an inorganic substance.