Natural packaging composition
AssigneesThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture, Method Products, PBC
InventorsWilliam M Hart-Cooper, William J Orts, Julia C Cunniffe, Nabeel N Kalla, Lennard C Torres, Kaj Johnson, Dirk Develter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A packaging material composition may be biodegradable and water-soluble. The packaging material may include a biodegradable nonionic polysaccharide, a biodegradable ionic polysaccharide, and a plasticizer. Optionally, additional components may be added to the packaging material for a desired purpose. Additional components may include a biocide, clay, metal oxides (i.e. titanium dioxide and zinc oxide), modified nanoclays, one or more crosslinkers, other functional agents, and residual solvent from the packaging material production process.
Claims16
A packaging composition, consisting essentially of:
- a biodegradable nonionic polysaccharide;
- wherein said nonionic polysaccharide is at least one of pullulan, inulin, guar, cellulose, konjac, agar, agarose, maltodextrin, dextran and curdlan;
- a biodegradable ionic polysaccharide;
- wherein said ionic polysaccharide is at least one of locust bean gum, tara gum, alginate, xanthan gum, gum arabic, gum tragacanth, cationic starch, chitosan, gellan, and carrageenan;
- at least one plasticizer;
- wherein said plasticizer is at least one of sorbitol, glycerin, polyethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-butane diol, 1,3-butane diol, 1,2-pentane diol, 1,3-pentane diol, a diol of C6-C10, xylitol, maltitol, mannitol, erythritol;
- at least one of trehalose and isomalt;
- wherein the packaging composition is biodegradable in at least one environment;
- and,
- wherein said nonionic polysaccharide is present in about 20-70 wt % on a dry basis, said ionic polysaccharide is present in about 1-15 wt % on a dry basis, and said plasticizer is present in about 15-30 wt % on a dry basis,
- wherein the packaging composition optionally includes a functional agent, wherein said functional agent is at least one of a biocide, a clay, a nanoclay, a metal oxide, a structural enhancer, and a cross-linker.
A composition consisting essentially of:
- a polysaccharide selected from alginate, xanthan gum, gum arabic, gum tragacanth, cationic starch, chitosan, gellan, pectin, and carrageenan;
- a polysaccharide selected from the group comprising pullulan, inulin, guar, cellulose, konjac, agar, agarose, locust bean gum, tara gum, maltodextrin, dextran and curdlan;
- at least one plasticizer selected from the group comprising of sorbitol, glycerin, polyethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-butane diol, 1,3-butane diol, 1,2-pentane diol, 1,3-pentane diol, a diol of C6-C10, xylitol, maltitol, mannitol, erythritol;
- at least one of trehalose and isomalt;
- wherein the composition is biodegradable in at least one environment;
- and,
- wherein a selected nonionic polysaccharide is present in about 20-70 wt % on a dry basis, a selected ionic polysaccharide is present in about 1-15 wt % on a dry basis, and said plasticizer is present in about 15-30 wt % on a dry basis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.