REMOVING SULFUR DIOXIDE FROM PACKAGING
A sulfur dioxide reducing composition for reducing the headspace concentration of sulfur dioxide in fruit packages includes a sulfur dioxide absorber having pores sized to retain sulfur dioxide therein and a clinching absorber on the sulfur dioxide absorber with which the sulfur dioxide reacts irreversibly with the sulfur dioxide.
1 . A sulfur dioxide reducing composition for reducing the headspace concentration of sulfur dioxide in fruit packages comprising:
a sulfur dioxide absorber having pores sized to retain sulfur dioxide therein; and
a clinching absorber on the sulfur dioxide absorber with which the sulfur dioxide reacts irreversibly.
2 . The sulfur dioxide reducing composition of claim 1 , wherein the sulfur dioxide absorber is selected from a group consisting of carbon, silica gel, and zeolite.
3 . The sulfur dioxide reducing composition of claim 1 , wherein the clinching absorber is selected from the group consisting of a carbonate, lime, magnesium oxide, an alkali metal sulfite, a hydroxide, and calcium chloride.
4 . The sulfur dioxide reducing composition of claim 3 , wherein the clinching absorber is a hydroxide and the hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and mixtures thereof.
5 . The sulfur dioxide reducing composition of claim 1 , wherein the sulfur dioxide absorber has a pore size of at least 100 angstroms.
6 . The sulfur dioxide reducing composition of claim 5 , wherein the sulfur dioxide absorber has a pore size of at least 200 angstroms.
7 . The sulfur dioxide reducing composition of claim 6 , wherein the sulfur dioxide absorber has a pore size of at least 300 angstroms.
8 . The sulfur dioxide reducing composition of claim 1 , wherein the irreversible reaction of the clinching absorber is a chemical reaction.
9 . The sulfur dioxide reducing composition of claim 1 , further comprising a catalyst for the irreversible reaction.
10 . The sulfur dioxide reducing composition of claim 9 , wherein the catalyst is potassium dioxide or potassium iodide.
11 . The sulfur dioxide reducing composition of claim 1 , wherein the sulfur dioxide absorber comprises moisture impregnated carbon.
12 . The sulfur dioxide reducing composition of claim 1 , wherein the clinching absorber comprises potassium carbonate or calcium hydroxide.
13 . A package comprising:
a sulfur dioxide permeable material containing the sulfur dioxide reducing composition of claim 1 .
14 . The package of claim 13 formed as a sachet.
15 . A method of absorbing sulfur dioxide from a package comprising:
depositing a predetermined amount of a sulfur dioxide absorber carrying a clinching absorber in a sulfur dioxide permeable film; and
positioning the sulfur dioxide permeable film in contact with a headspace comprising sulfur dioxide.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the depositing step comprises depositing the predetermined amount of sulfur dioxide absorber carrying a clinching absorber in a sachet formed from the sulfur dioxide permeable film.
17 . A fruit package comprising:
a fruit previously treated with sulfur dioxide;
an outer package substantially impermeable to sulfur dioxide; and
a sulfur dioxide reducing composition as set forth in claim 1 in the outer package.