Pelargonium Extract Storage Stability via Headspace Oxygen Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Solutions from Pelargonium extracts, particularly those containing proanthocyanidins and 2H-1-benzopyran-2-ones, suffer from inadequate storage stability, with significant decreases in these compounds during storage, limiting their shelf life and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
Reducing the oxygen content in the headspace of storage containers to a maximum of 0.025 parts by volume per part by volume of the solution using protective gases, reducing the headspace volume, or adding oxygen-removing agents like ascorbic acid, its salts, or oxidizable polymers to prevent degradation of proanthocyanidins and 2H-1-benzopyran-2-ones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If Pelargonium extract solutions are stored in conventional containers with normal headspace volume, then the container design is simple, but the content of proanthocyanidins and 2H-1-benzopyran-2-ones decreases significantly during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inert atmosphere by reducing oxygen content in the headspace to maximum 0.025 parts by volume per part by volume of solution through protective gas gassing (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or noble gases). This creates an oxygen-free environment that prevents oxidative degradation of proanthocyanidins and 2H-1-benzopyran-2-ones, resolving the contradiction between maintaining composition stability and avoiding complex container designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by adding oxygen-removing agents (ascorbic acid, its salts, derivatives, metals in low oxidation states, or oxidizable polymers) before storage begins. These agents proactively scavenge any remaining oxygen in the headspace, ensuring stability is maintained throughout the storage period without requiring complex ongoing monitoring or intervention systems.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the headspace volume is reduced to improve stability, then the storage stability improves, but the container volume utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than minimizing headspace volume, the patent maintains normal headspace volume but fills it with protective gases (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or noble gases) to create an inert atmosphere. This approach achieves storage stability without sacrificing container volume utilization, as the headspace is effectively used by displacing oxygen with inert gases rather than eliminating the headspace.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses oxygen-removing agents that chemically bind or absorb oxygen molecules in the headspace, effectively 'copying' the function of having a smaller headspace by chemically removing the harmful oxygen component while maintaining the physical headspace volume for container utilization.
3Stability of the object's composition
If oxygen-removing agents are added to reduce oxygen content, then the storage stability improves, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by incorporating oxygen-removing agents (ascorbic acid, its salts, derivatives, metals in low oxidation states, or oxidizable polymers) directly into the Pelargonium extract solution during manufacturing. These agents autonomously scavenge oxygen in the headspace during storage without requiring external intervention, monitoring, or additional equipment, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving enhanced stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the solution by adding oxygen-removing agents, which fundamentally alters the oxygen dynamics in the storage system. This single parameter change (adding oxygen-scavenging substances) achieves stability improvement without requiring complex manufacturing equipment or multi-step processes.
4Stability of the object's composition
If protective gas gassing is used to reduce oxygen, then the storage stability improves, but the manufacturing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by incorporating oxygen-removing agents during the extract preparation phase, before bottling and storage. This preliminary incorporation ensures that oxygen scavenging is already in place when the solution is sealed, eliminating the need for time-consuming protective gas gassing operations during or after filling, thus reducing manufacturing time while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
By pre-incorporating oxygen-removing agents into the solution, the system becomes self-sufficient for oxygen removal during storage, eliminating the need for separate protective gas gassing steps that would extend manufacturing time. The agents autonomously perform the oxygen removal function throughout the storage period.
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 method effectively maintains the content of proanthocyanidins and 2H-1-benzopyran-2-ones at or above 90% after nine months of storage, significantly improving the storage stability of Pelargonium extract solutions.
Implementation Method 1
the oxygen-removing agent being one or contains several substances selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, salts of ascorbic acid, ascorbic acid derivatives, metals or metal salts in low oxidation states and oxidizable polymers
Implementation Method 2
the amount of oxygen being reduced a) by gassing with a protective gas
Implementation Method 3
the oxidizable polymer is a condensed polymer of m-xylylenediamine and adipic acid
Data Source
AI summary
Solution production involves reducing oxygen quantity to 0.025, preferably 0.005 volume parts per volume part of the solution at atmospheric pressure in the head area of a container. The container is used for storing the solution of Pelargonium extract. Content is reduced by proanthocyanidin and 2H-1-benzopyran-2-one after 9 months storage at 25[deg] C and a relative air humidity of 60%. The oxygen quantity is reduced by mechanical blowing with an inert gas, by a reduced volume of the head area or by addition of an oxygen-removing agent. The agent consists of one or multiple substances.