Oxygen Absorber Tablet for Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oxygen absorbers are limited in their ability to effectively remove oxygen from packaging environments, require moisture to function, and often result in dust or particle spillage due to their powdered form, making them unsuitable for all types of products and requiring additional operational setups and costs.
Innovation Solution
A compact oxygen absorber tablet composed of a binding agent, carbon, silica gel, clay, hygroscopic salt, magnesium stearate, iron powder, and an antimicrobial agent, designed to enhance oxygen absorption capacity per unit volume, with a controlled ratio of iron powder to the composition, allowing for targeted oxygen removal and simultaneous absorption of moisture and odors, while minimizing hydrogen and carbon dioxide generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If powdered oxygen absorbers are used, then oxygen absorption capability is provided, but dust spillage and particle contamination occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical form parameter of the oxygen absorber from powdered state to compressed tablet state. This parameter change eliminates dust spillage and particle contamination while maintaining the oxygen absorption capability through the same iron powder core material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite tablet structure combining iron powder (oxygen absorption function) with binding agents and fillers (structural integrity function). This composite material approach maintains the chemical oxygen absorption capability while providing a solid, non-dusting physical form.
2Reliability
If moisture-activated oxygen absorbers are used, then oxygen absorption function is enabled, but additional moisture control setups and operational complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the moisture absorption function (through hygroscopic salts and silica gel included in the tablet) with the oxygen absorption function (through iron powder). This combination eliminates the need for separate moisture control devices and simplifies the operational procedure to a single-step oxygen absorption process.
Solution Approach 2:
The oxygen absorber tablet is designed to be self-activating through its own internal moisture-absorbing components. The tablet does not require external water injection or separate desiccants, making the system self-sufficient and operationally simple.
3Reliability
If conventional oxygen absorbers are used, then basic oxygen removal is achieved, but enhanced oxygen absorption amount per unit volume is not obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the density and composition parameters of the tablet to increase the concentration of iron powder per unit volume. By adjusting the compression force, binding agent ratio, and particle size distribution, the tablet achieves higher oxygen absorption capacity in a compact form factor.
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 oxygen absorber tablet effectively removes oxygen and moisture from packaging environments, reducing oxidative degradation and extending the shelf life of products, while eliminating the risks of dust spillage and operational complexities associated with powdered absorbers, and can be tailored for various target air volumes.
Implementation Method 1
The typical oxygen absorbers known in the prior art depend upon oxidation of iron or similar metal to reduce oxygen
Implementation Method 2
10 gm to 15 gm hygroscopic salt; 25 gm to 35 gm silica gel
Implementation Method 3
10 gm to 15 gm hygroscopic salt
Implementation Method 4
25 gm to 35 gm carbon
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses an oxygen absorber composition in the form of an oxygen absorber tablet and a process for the preparation of the oxygen absorber tablet. The oxygen absorber tablet includes composition A and iron powder. Composition A has binding agent, carbon, silica gel, clay, hygroscopic salt and magnesium stearate. The ratio of iron powder to Composition A is determined depending on the target air volume from where the oxygen is to be removed. The tablets are prepared for 30 cc, 100 cc, 250 cc and 500 cc of target air volume. The tablet has an enhanced oxygen absorption amount per unit volume. It absorbs moisture and odour from the available target air volume and helps diminish the hydrogen and carbon dioxide gas generated during oxidation. The tablets are compact, user friendly and are useful to increase the shelf life of pharmaceutical, food and nutraceutical products.