Microbial Oxygen Absorber for Food Packaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for reducing residual oxygen in food packaging are costly, time-consuming, and often inefficient, with chemical oxygen absorbers having low efficiency and legislative issues, while vacuum and modified atmosphere packaging are prone to defects and oxygen re-entry upon opening.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a microbial oxygen absorber, such as Lactococcus lactis, into packaging materials or as a surface application, which consumes oxygen with minimal carbon dioxide and organic acid production, allowing for continuous oxygen reduction even after package opening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If chemical oxygen absorbers are used, then oxygen removal is achieved, but absorber efficiency is low and activation time is unacceptably long

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxygen removal rateVSAvoidactivation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the oxygen absorber by incorporating enzymes (glucose oxidase, catalase) and selecting specific substrates (lactose, glucose) that enable faster oxygen consumption kinetics. This transforms the slow chemical oxidation process into a more rapid enzymatic reaction system, resolving the contradiction between removal efficiency and activation time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite oxygen absorber system combining multiple components: microorganisms (Lactococcus lactis), enzymes (glucose oxidase, catalase), substrates (lactose, glucose), and buffering agents (sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate). This composite structure enables synergistic action where each component contributes to rapid and efficient oxygen removal, overcoming the limitations of single-component chemical absorbers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If vacuum and gas flushing cycles are used to reduce residual oxygen, then oxygen content is reduced, but packaging costs significantly increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresidual oxygen contentVSAvoidpackaging cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the oxygen removal function from the packaging process itself and places it inside the package through an oxygen absorber. This eliminates the need for expensive external vacuum and gas flushing equipment and processes, while achieving the same or better oxygen reduction效果, thereby resolving the cost contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The oxygen absorber package is self-contained and autonomously removes oxygen through enzymatic and microbial reactions without requiring external energy input or complex equipment. This self-service mechanism replaces costly industrial vacuum and gas flushing systems, making oxygen control accessible and economical for various packaging applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional oxygen absorbers are used, then oxygen is removed, but legislative aspects hinder their use in food products

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxygen contentVSAvoidregulatory compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs food-grade microorganisms and enzymes that are Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) and naturally occurring in food systems. These biodegradable, short-lived biological agents replace persistent chemical absorbers with regulatory restrictions, enabling versatile application across different food products while meeting legislative requirements for food safety and natural preservation methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

This approach enables increased packaging efficiency, reduced oxygen levels within the package, and prolonged food freshness by allowing for repeated decreases in oxygen content, while being compliant with regulatory standards and consumer preferences.

Implementation Method 1

The microbial oxygen absorber is preferably microorganisms consuming oxygen with little or no concomitant production of carbon dioxide and organic acids

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerobic respiration: Aerobic Digestion

Implementation Method 2

An example of such a microorganism is a Lactococcus lactis strain, which uses oxygen and produces limited amounts of diacetyl and acetoin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentUS10226061B2Microbial oxygen absorber

Publication Date: 2019.03.12 CHR HANSEN AS

AI summary

Oxygen is a major quality-deteriorating factor with respect to many food products in that it may cause the growth of molds and the development of rancid off-flavors, which reduce the quality or shelf life of many food products. The present invention provides an improved food packaging and a method for prolonging the shelf life and quality of packaged foods by packaging the food in a packaging material together with a microbial oxygen absorber, such as Lactococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Lactobacillus spp., Leuconostoc spp., Brevibacterium spp., Propionibacterium spp., and Bifidobacterium spp.