Preservation Membrane with Essential Oil Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
The postharvest decay of agricultural produce, particularly in the deciduous fruit industry, is a significant issue due to moisture accumulation and the use of hazardous pesticides and fungicides, which can lead to economic losses and environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
A membrane with hydrophilic outer layers and an inner layer impregnated with antimicrobial volatile essential oils and an absorptive agent like zeolite, which absorbs moisture to activate the release of essential oils, providing a natural and safe method for preserving produce by eliminating microbial elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pesticides and fungicides are used for postharvest disease control, then decay prevention is improved, but consumer safety and environmental impact deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the protective function from chemical substances and transfers it to a physical membrane structure. The membrane is impregnated with essential oils that provide antimicrobial protection without requiring external chemical applications, thereby eliminating pesticide residues while maintaining decay prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the membrane by impregnating it with essential oils at controlled concentrations. This creates a gradual release system that maintains effective antimicrobial levels without exceeding safety limits, resolving the contradiction between protection efficacy and consumer safety
2Strength
If plastic films are used to cover produce, then physical protection is improved, but moisture accumulation increases creating favorable environment for pathogens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous membrane structure that allows moisture vapor transmission while maintaining physical protection. The porous nature enables respiration and moisture escape, preventing the moisture accumulation that would otherwise occur with impermeable plastic films, thus eliminating the pathogen growth environment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite membrane combining plastic matrix with essential oil impregnation. This composite structure provides both the physical protection of plastic and the antimicrobial properties of essential oils, while the porous structure allows moisture management, simultaneously addressing all three requirements
3Reliability
If barium sulphate is used in sulphur dioxide generators, then microbial elimination is improved, but allergen exposure risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful barium sulphate component from the microbial elimination system and replaces it with essential oils impregnated in the membrane. This extraction eliminates the allergen exposure risk while maintaining the microbial elimination function through the natural antimicrobial properties of essential oils
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable membrane that provides microbial protection through essential oil release during its service life. This single-use approach eliminates the need for persistent chemical residues like barium sulphate, as the membrane is discarded after use, preventing any long-term allergen exposure
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 membrane effectively inhibits the growth of fungi and bacteria, such as Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum, by controlling the release of essential oils, thereby reducing postharvest decay and avoiding the use of harmful chemicals, while maintaining the safety and quality of the produce.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the outer polymeric layers being impregnated with a hydrophilic agent for the formation of hydrophilic pockets in at least one of the outer polymeric layers to increase the permeability of the outer polymeric layer impregnated with the hydrophilic agent to moisture
Implementation Method 2
the moisture passes through the hydrophilic patches in the first and second outer layers toward the inner layer, upon which the moisture is absorbed by the absorptive agent, which causes the temperature of the absorptive agent to increase
Implementation Method 3
the moisture is absorbed by the absorptive agent, which causes the temperature of the absorptive agent to increase and in turn activates release of the antimicrobial volatile
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a membrane and method for the preservation of agricultural produce. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a membrane for the preservation of agricultural produce comprising first and second outer polymeric layers, at least one of the outer polymeric layers being impregnated with a hydrophilic agent, and an inner layer dispersed in between the outer layers, the inner layer consisting of a polymer being impregnated with a carrier for incorporation of an antimicrobial volatile into the inner layer, the inner layer further including an absorptive agent, wherein in use, the membrane is placed proximate to agricultural produce to be preserved.