Siliconized Glass Containers for Stable Liquid Plant Extract Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid plant extracts face challenges with physical and chemical instability, including turbidity, precipitation, pH fluctuations, and degradation during prolonged storage, which affect their shelf life and stability.
Innovation Solution
The use of a sealable, siliconized glass container with an inner silicone layer to store liquid plant extracts, which reduces interaction between the packaging material and the extract, thereby enhancing stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If liquid plant extracts are stored in conventional glass containers, then the packaging is simple and inexpensive, but the extracts exhibit physical and chemical instability including turbidity, precipitation, and degradation during storage
Solution Approach 1:
A silicone layer is applied as an intermediary between the glass container wall and the liquid plant extract. This silicone layer acts as a mediator that prevents direct contact between the glass and the extract, thereby reducing harmful interactions while maintaining the simplicity of the overall packaging structure. The silicone layer serves as a protective barrier that stabilizes the extract without requiring complex packaging modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The packaging system becomes a composite structure combining glass, silicone layer, and liquid plant extract. The silicone layer (approximately 15-50 nm thick) creates a composite interface that combines the inertness of glass with the stability-enhancing properties of silicone, resulting in improved extract stability while keeping the packaging design relatively simple.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the glass container is made completely inert to prevent any interaction, then extract stability improves, but glass is not completely inert and releases metal ions that catalyze degradation reactions
Solution Approach 1:
The silicone layer serves as an intermediary barrier that completely prevents metal ions from the glass container from contacting and catalyzing degradation reactions in the liquid plant extract. By placing the extract in direct contact with silicone rather than glass, the harmful catalytic effect is eliminated while maintaining container integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of glass metal ion release into a benefit by using silicone as a protective layer. The silicone layer, which could potentially interact with the extract, actually provides a stabilizing effect that prevents the harmful catalytic degradation that would otherwise occur through glass-metal ion interactions.
3Ease of operation
If siliconeization is applied to enable sliding of packaging components, then dispensing function is enabled, but the silicone layer may interact with and degrade the extract over prolonged storage
Solution Approach 1:
The siliconeization is applied locally and selectively - sufficient to enable the sliding function for dispensing but not excessive to the point of causing degradation. The controlled thickness (15-50 nm) and distribution of the silicone layer ensure functional performance while minimizing harmful interactions with the extract over prolonged storage periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the silicone layer parameters (thickness, composition, application method) to achieve the desired balance between dispensing functionality and extract stability. By controlling the silicone layer to be thin (15-50 nm) and uniformly distributed, the system achieves ease of operation while minimizing chemical interactions that could degrade the extract.
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 siliconized glass container significantly reduces turbidity and precipitation, stabilizes pH, and delays chemical degradation, maintaining the efficacy of liquid plant extracts for extended periods.
Implementation Method 1
the inner wall of the glass is siliconized
Implementation Method 2
Siliconization is usually required for dispensing devices whose function can be triggered by the movement of parts of the packaging
Implementation Method 3
Their physical and chemical instability, as well as their susceptibility to microbiological changes, is well known. This instability can lead to turbidity, precipitation, color changes, pH fluctuations, and various degradation processes of the components.
Implementation Method 4
Largely inert rubber and plastic materials with strict specifications regarding leachable components, and glass, are the most commonly used packaging materials.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to the use of a closable glass container for storage of liquid plant extracts, the inner glass wall being coated with silicone.