# US 9,750,811 B2 · Devices and methods for controlling headspace humidity and oxygen levels

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 9,750,811 B2
- Document ID: US9750811B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/854,159
- Filed: 2015-09-15
- Published: 2017-03-16
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2015-09-15
- Assignees: Boveda, Inc.
- Applicants: Boveda, Inc.
- Inventors: David C. Egberg; Robert L. Esse
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750811B2

## CPC

- A61K 47/22: Heterocyclic compounds, e.g. ascorbic acid, tocopherol or pyrrolidones
- A23B 2/717: Oxygen absorbent
- A23B 2/758: Carboxylic acid esters
- A23B 2/771: Organic compounds containing hetero rings
- A61K 47/12: Carboxylic acids; Salts or anhydrides thereof
- B01D 53/14: by absorption
- B01D 53/1493: {Selection of liquid materials for use as absorbents}
- B01J 20/22: comprising organic material
- B01J 20/2805: {Sorbents inside a permeable or porous casing, e.g. inside a container, bag or membrane}
- B65D 81/268: {the absorber being enclosed in a small pack, e.g. bag, included in the package}
- A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
- B01D 2251/80: Organic bases or salts
- B01D 2252/103: Water
- B01D 2252/60: Additives
- B01D 2257/104: Oxygen
- B01D 2257/80: Water
- A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D)
- A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION

## Abstract

A humidity control device for use in maintaining the desired humidity of a closed environment, e.g., a container, while also decreasing headspace oxygen, the device including a water vapor and oxygen permeable pouch, an aqueous salt solution containing humidity controlling salts in combination with salts of ascorbic acid or isomers thereof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A liquid humidity and oxygen control device for use in an enclosure for maintaining a desired relative humidity and oxygen level of the enclosure, comprising:
(a) a water vapor and oxygen permeable and liquid impermeable pouch, the pouch formed from material defining an interior space, the material having an oxygen transmission rate of 80 ml/20 in2/20 days at 70 degrees F. and atmospheric pressure, and a water vapor transmission rate comprising:
in an atmosphere of less than 10% relative humidity, transmission of about 1% to about 50% by weight of initial pouch contents per 24 hours, and
in an atmosphere of 85% relative humidity, absorption of about 1% to about 50% by weight of the initial pouch contents; and
(b) an effective amount of a humidity and oxygen control solution disposed within the interior space, the humidity and oxygen control solution comprising:
a saturated aqueous salt solution,
salts of ascorbate isomers containing an amount of a salt solution from about 5% to 70% salt, and
ascorbic acid salts, or isomers thereof, from 5 to 60%.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 1, wherein the salt solution comprises cations and anions, wherein the cations are selected from the group consisting of: lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, and the anions are selected from the group consisting of: chloride, formate, acetate, phosphate, sulfate, citrate, lactate, malate and tartrate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 1, wherein the solution further comprises non-ionic substances selected from the group consisting of: propylene glycol, glycerin, and at least one simple sugar.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 3, wherein the at least one simple sugar is selected from the group consisting of glucose and fructose and sugar alcohols.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 4, wherein the sugar alcohol is selected from the group consisting of: xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 1, wherein the pH of the solution is between 6.0 and 10.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 1, where the solution contains ascorbate isomer salts and/or erythorbic isomer salts.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 7, wherein the ascorbate isomer salts comprise sodium salts of ascorbic acid and/or potassium salts of ascorbic acid, and wherein the erythorbic isomer salts comprise sodium salts of erythorbic acid and/or potassium salts of erythorbic acid.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 8, wherein the ascorbate isomer salts comprise sodium salts of ascorbic acid and/or potassium salts of ascorbic acid, and wherein the erythorbic isomer salts comprise sodium salts of erythorbic acid, and/or potassium salts of erythorbic acid.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 1, where the salt solution comprises ascorbate and/or erythorbic isomer salts and at least one metal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 10, wherein the at least one metal comprises iron.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 1, wherein said humidity control solution is thickened by an amount of one or more compatible viscosity control agents selected from the group consisting of chemically modified cellulose and xanthan gum.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 1, wherein the pH of the humidity control solution is adjusted by adding an amount of an acid or base selected from the group consisting of citric acid, lactic acid, formic acid, phosphoric acid, phosphate salts, sodium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 1, wherein material of the pouch is selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamides, poly lactate, polyolefin, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 1, further comprising a vapor-permeable outer pouch for containing said pouch as a further protection against leaks.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 1, wherein the solution contains elemental iron.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 16, wherein the ferrous salt comprises ferrous sulfate.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 1, wherein the solution contains a ferrous salt.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The humidity and oxygen control device of claim 1, wherein the salt solution comprises:
cations and anions, wherein the cations are selected from the group consisting of: lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, and the anions are selected from the group consisting of: chloride, formate, acetate, phosphate, sulfate, citrate, lactate, malate and tartrate;
and
non-ionic substances selected from the group consisting of: propylene glycol, glycerin, and at least one simple sugar, wherein the pH of the solution is between 6.0 and 10.