Scavenging oxygen
A closure ( 40 ) includes a body ( 42 ) with a threaded portion ( 44 ) for engaging the closure with a container. Inwards of portion ( 44 ) is a liner ( 46 ) comprising a hydrogen generating device, wherein the liner includes one layer ( 48 ) which incorporates a hydride dispersed in a polymeric matrix and, on opposite sides of layer ( 48 ) are arranged PET layers ( 50, 52 ). Layer ( 50 ) acts as a control layer to control the rate of passage of water vapour from the beverage in the container to the hydride containing layer ( 48 ) and thereby control generation of hydrogen by the hydrogen generating device. In use, water vapour passes through layer ( 50 ) and contacts the hydride associated with layer ( 48 ) which results in production of molecular hydrogen which combines with oxygen. Thereafter, a reaction between the hydrogen and oxygen takes place, catalysed by a catalyst associated with the container thereby to scavenge the oxygen.
1. A container comprising:
a container body;
contents of the container being contained in the container body, wherein the contents comprise a source of moisture;
a closure which is removable from the container body;
an active material associated with said closure and arranged to generate molecular hydrogen on reaction with moisture from said source of moisture, wherein said active material is associated with a matrix material, and wherein said active material and matrix material are configured to release hydrogen inside the container; and
a control layer positioned between said source of moisture and said active material, said control layer being arranged to control passage of moisture from said source of moisture in the container to the active material, wherein said control layer comprises a polymeric material selected from HDPE, PP, LDPE, PET, EVA, SEBS, and Nylon;
wherein said active material is incorporated in a film which defines a hydrogen generating layer;
wherein said film incorporates a layer which defines said control layer;
wherein the distance between the layer which defines said control layer and the contents of the container is less than the distance between the hydrogen generating layer and the contents of the container; and
wherein said control layer has a thickness of at least 0.010 mm.
2. A container according to claim 1 , wherein said control layer is arranged to control a first evolution ratio, wherein the first evolution ratio is defined as:
the
rate
of
evolution
of
hydrogen
in
the
container
over
a
selected
initial
5
day
period
the
rate
of
evolution
of
hydrogen
in
the
container
over
a
second
5
day
starting
85
days
after
the
end
of
the
selected
initial
period
wherein said first evolution ratio is greater than 0.5 and is less than 4.
3. A container according to claim 2 , wherein said first evolution ratio is greater than 0.5 and less than 2.
4. A container according to claim 2 , wherein said control layer is arranged to control a second evolution ratio, wherein the second evolution ratio is defined as:
the
rate
of
evolution
of
hydrogen
in
the
container
over
a
selected
initial
5
day
period
the
rate
of
evolution
of
hydrogen
in
the
container
over
a
second
5
day
period
starting
180
days
after
the
end
of
the
selected
initial
period
and said control layer is arranged to control a third evolution ratio, wherein the third evolution ratio is defined as:
the
rate
of
evolution
of
hydrogen
in
the
container
over
a
selected
initial
5
day
period
the
rate
of
evolution
of
hydrogen
in
the
container
over
a
second
5
day
period
starting
270
days
after
the
end
of
the
selected
initial
period
wherein said second evolution ratio is greater than 0.5 and is less than 2; and said third evolution ratio is greater than 0.5 and is less than 2.
5. A container according to claim 2 , wherein said active material is dispersed in said matrix.
6. A container according to claim 1 , wherein said matrix material has a water vapour permeability of greater than 0.2 g.mm/m 2 .day and a permeability of less than 5 g.mm/m 2 .day.
7. A container according to claim 1 , wherein said matrix material includes 1-60 wt % of active material which comprises a metal and/or a hydride.
8. A container according to claim 1 , wherein said control layer is selected so that it defines the rate determining step for passage of moisture from the container to the active material; or wherein the ratio of the water vapour permeability of the control layer to the water vapour permeability of the matrix material is 0.75 or less.
9. A container according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the water vapour permeability of a polymeric material of said control layer to the water vapour permeability of a matrix material with which said active material is associated is 0.75 or less.
10. A container according to claim 1 , wherein said control layer comprises a layer of material having a water vapour permeability of less than 0.8 g.mm/m 2 .day.
11. A container according to claim 1 , wherein said control layer comprises a plurality of layers which make face to face contact so that, together, they define a unitary control means.
12. A container according to claim 11 , wherein the rate of passage of water vapour through at least one of the layers is slower than the rate of passage of water vapour through said matrix material.
13. A container according to claim 1 , wherein said control layer includes a plurality of layers, including an exposed layer arranged to contact a neck of a container in use and a foam layer to adjust the compressibility of the control layer.
14. A container according to claim 1 , wherein said container includes a sidewall constructed from a composition that includes a polymer resin first component and a second component comprising a catalyst capable of catalyzing a reaction between molecular hydrogen and molecular oxygen.
15. A container according to claim 1 , wherein said active material is incorporated in a film which is part of a container and is arranged to be removed to allow access to the contents of the container, wherein said film includes a layer which defines said control layer.
16. A container according to claim 15 , wherein the film is a lidding foil which is adhered to a container body to define a container.
17. A container according to claim 1 , wherein a catalyst is incorporated into a wall of the container.
18. A container according to claim 1 , wherein said active material is arranged to generate hydrogen for at least 270 days.
19. A container according to claim 1 , wherein said container comprises an assembly comprising:
(i) said active material associated with said matrix material; and
(ii) said control layer wherein said control layer is permeable to hydrogen and water vapour;
wherein said active material is provided in a first layer of the assembly and said control layer is provided in a second layer of the assembly; and
wherein said assembly comprises a laminate.
20. A container according to claim 19 , wherein said assembly is in the form of a liner for a closure.
21. A container according to claim 1 , wherein said container comprises an assembly comprising:
(i) said active material associated with said matrix material; and
(ii) said control layer, wherein said control layer is permeable to hydrogen and water vapour;
wherein said active material is provided in a first part of the assembly, said control layer is provided in a second part of the assembly; and
wherein said first and second parts make face to face contact.
22. A container according to claim 1 , wherein said control layer comprises a layer of material having a water vapour permeability of less than 2.0 g.mm/m 2 .day.
23. A container according to claim 1 , said container comprising an assembly,
wherein said active material is provided in a first layer of the assembly and said control layer is provided in a second layer of the assembly;
wherein said assembly comprises a laminate; and
wherein said first and second layers make face to face contact.
24. A container according to claim 1 , wherein said control layer has a thickness of less than 0.5 mm.
25. A container comprising:
a container body;
a closure which is removable from the container body;
a product for human consumption contained within the container body, wherein said product comprises a source of moisture;
an active material associated with said closure and being arranged to generate molecular hydrogen on reaction with moisture from said product, wherein said active material is associated with a matrix material, and wherein said active material and matrix material are configured to release hydrogen inside the container body; and
a control layer positioned between said product and said active material, said control layer being arranged to control passage of moisture from said product in the container body to the active material, wherein said control layer comprises a polymeric material selected from HDPE, PP, LDPE, PET, EVA, SEBS, and Nylon;
wherein said active material is incorporated in a film which defines a hydrogen generating layer;
wherein said film incorporates a layer which defines said control layer;
wherein the distance between the layer which defines said control layer and said product is less than the distance between the hydrogen generating layer and said product; and
wherein said control layer has a thickness of at least 0.010 mm.
26. A container according to claim 25 , wherein said control layer has a thickness of less than 0.5 mm.