PET Container Oxygen Scavenging via Embedded Hydrogen Generator
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers are poor barriers to oxygen, which limits the shelf life of food and beverages due to oxygen ingress, and existing solutions for reducing oxygen exposure are either costly, affect clarity, or are not easily integrated into existing container designs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a hydrogen generator and catalyst into the container wall, label, or other discreet locations, using methods like dissolving the hydrogen generator in a solvent or combining with compatibilizers to maintain clarity and ease of manufacturing, allowing for efficient oxygen scavenging without affecting the container's appearance or requiring significant modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If PET containers are used to package food and beverages, then the containers are lightweight, inexpensive, and recyclable, but PET is a poor barrier to oxygen which limits shelf life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hydrogen generator as an intermediary substance embedded in the container wall that releases hydrogen to react with oxygen, and a catalyst as a mediator to accelerate this reaction. This intermediary system actively scavenges oxygen without requiring structural changes to the PET container itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical environment within the container by introducing hydrogen-generating capabilities and catalytic activity, transforming the passive PET barrier into an active oxygen-scavenging system that dynamically maintains low oxygen levels.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If barrier coatings or multilayer packages are used to reduce oxygen diffusion, then oxygen barrier performance improves, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the oxygen scavenging function directly into the container wall by embedding the hydrogen generator and catalyst within the PET structure itself, rather than adding separate barrier layers or coatings. This integration maintains the simple single-layer PET structure while adding active oxygen protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The container structure itself provides oxygen scavenging services through the embedded hydrogen generator and catalyst, eliminating the need for external barrier layers. The container wall performs dual functions: structural containment and active oxygen removal.
3Reliability
If hydrogen generator and catalyst are dispersed in the container wall, then oxygen scavenging effectiveness improves, but container clarity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the hydrogen generator and catalyst in specific discrete locations within the container wall rather than uniform distribution, or using targeted dispersal methods that minimize visual impact while maintaining scavenging effectiveness in critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dispersal methods that create fine, distributed particles of the hydrogen generator and catalyst throughout the container wall, making them microscopic or sub-visual in scale, thus copying the appearance of clear PET while incorporating functional materials.
4Reliability
If existing container designs are retrofitted with oxygen scavenging capabilities, then shelf life extends, but manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates the hydrogen generator and catalyst during the initial container manufacturing process, performing the oxygen scavenging preparation in advance. This preliminary integration allows existing container designs to be modified with minimal additional processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal oxygen scavenging system that can be integrated into various existing container designs and manufacturing processes, making the solution adaptable to different PET container types without requiring design-specific customization.
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
Effectively reduces oxygen penetration into PET containers, extending the shelf life of contents while maintaining container clarity and ease of manufacturing, and allowing for retrofitting existing designs with oxygen scavenging capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrogen generator generating molecular hydrogen, the hydrogen generator being dispersed in, disposed in, or coated on the container in a first location
Implementation Method 2
a catalyst catalyzing a chemical reaction between the hydrogen and oxygen, the catalyst being dispersed in, disposed in, or coated on the container in a second location
Implementation Method 3
The hydrogen that does not react with oxygen will slowly permeate out of the container
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A polyethylene terephthalate container having a hydrogen generator and catalyst disposed or otherwise incorporated in components of the container, including the closure, closure insert, label, label glue, and/or any other portions of the final container assembly. In addition, the catalyst and the hydrogen generator can both be located in the same component. Methods for dispersing the hydrogen generator and catalyst in the container wall without affecting clarity are provided.