EDIBLE FOOD PRESERVATIVE
An edible preservative may include a polymer carrier and an active agent chemically bonded to the polymer carrier. The active agent may include multiple functional groups, including at least one of, a polyphenolic group, a double bond, a conjugated double bond, or a chelating group.
1 . An edible preservative, comprising:
a polymer carrier; and
an active agent chemically bonded to the polymer carrier comprising a plurality of functional groups, including at least one of:
a polyphenolic group;
a double bond;
a conjugated double bond; or
a chelating group.
2 . The edible preservative of claim 1 , wherein the active agent is chemically bonded to the polymer carrier through an ester, amide, or anhydride.
3 . The edible preservative of claim 1 , wherein the active agent includes a polyphenolic group that is unbound to the polymer carrier and acts as an antioxidant and a free radical scavenger.
4 . The edible preservative of claim 1 , wherein the active agent includes a double bond that is unbound to the polymer carrier and acts as an oxygen absorber.
5 . The edible preservative of claim 1 , wherein the active agent includes a chelating group that is unbound to the polymer carrier and acts as a transition metal deactivator.
6 . The edible preservative of claim 1 , further comprising an aqueous solution in which the polymer carrier is dissolved.
7 . The edible preservative of claim 1 , wherein the polymer carrier includes a natural polymer.
8 . The edible preservative of claim 7 , wherein the natural polymer includes at least one of a starch, a cellulose derivative, a chitosan, a gellan, an algenate, a pectin, a whey, or combinations thereof.
9 . The edible preservative of claim 1 , wherein the polymer carrier includes a modified natural polymer including one of a cellulose ester, hydroxyl methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, a starch ester, starch carboxylic acid adducts, esterified pectin, or combinations thereof.
10 . The edible preservative of claim 1 , wherein the polymer carrier includes a synthetic polymer.
11 . The edible preservative of claim 10 , wherein the synthetic polymer includes at least one of a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a polyethylene glycol (PEG), a polylactone, or combinations thereof.
12 . The edible preservative of claim 1 , wherein a monomer of the polymer carrier includes at least one functional group to form hydrogen bonds or ionic bonds.
13 . The edible preservative of claim 1 , wherein the active agent includes one or more of α-carotene, β-carotene, oxalic acid, leucic acid, ascorbic acid, gallic acid, ellagic acid, glutathione, α-tocopherol, α-tocopherol, rosmarinic acid, daidzein, catechins, tocotrienol, p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, oleuropein, luteolin, quercetin, myricetin, flavonoids, and combinations thereof.
14 . The edible preservative of claim 1 , wherein the active agent comprises between approximately 1% and 15% by weight of the edible preservative.
15 . The edible preservative of claim 14 , wherein the polymer carrier includes a starch and the active agent includes gallic acid, the gallic acid comprising between approximately 2% and 9% by weight of the edible preservative.
16 . The edible preservative of claim 14 , wherein the polymer carrier includes a starch and the active agent includes leucic acid, the leucic acid comprising between approximately 2% and 5% by weight of the edible preservative.
17 . The edible preservative of claim 14 , wherein the polymer carrier includes a starch and the active agent includes oxalic acid, the oxalic acid comprising between approximately 3% and 12% by weight of the edible preservative.
18 . The edible preservative of claim 14 , wherein the polymer carrier includes a starch and the active agent includes ascorbic acid, the ascorbic acid comprising between approximately 4% and 14% by weight of the edible preservative.
19 . The edible preservative of claim 14 , wherein the polymer carrier includes PVA and the active agent includes gallic acid, the gallic acid comprising between approximately 2% and 11% by weight of the edible preservative.
20 . The edible preservative of claim 14 , wherein the polymer carrier includes PVA and the active agent includes oxalic acid, the oxalic acid comprising between approximately 2% and 13% by weight of the edible preservative.
21 . The edible preservative of claim 14 , wherein the polymer carrier includes PVA and the active agent includes leucic acid, the leucic acid comprising between approximately 1% and 3% by weight of the edible preservative.
22 . The edible preservative of claim 14 , wherein the polymer carrier includes PVA and the active agent includes ascorbic acid, the ascorbic acid comprising between approximately 3% and 14% by weight of the edible preservative.
23 . A method of preserving food, the method comprising:
dissolving a polymer carrier and an active agent chemically bonded to the polymer carrier in an aqueous solution, the active agent including at least one of a phenolic group, a double bond, or a conjugated double bond;
treating a food to be preserved with the aqueous solution; and
drying the food to be preserved.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein drying includes exposing the food to an air stream.
25 . The method of claim 23 , wherein treating the food includes spraying the food with the aqueous solution.
26 . The method of claim 23 , wherein treating the food, includes dipping the food in the aqueous solution.
27 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the active agents includes a polyphenolic group, a double bond, and a chelating group.
28 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the food includes one of a fruit, a vegetable, or a flower.
29 . A storage container, comprising:
a body to store a perishable food item; and
a coating along an inner surface of the body, the coating comprising:
a polymer carrier; and
an active agent chemically bonded to the polymer carrier, the active agent comprising:
a polyphenolic group; and
a double bond.
30 . The storage container of claim 29 , wherein the active agent further includes a chelating group or a conjugated double bond.
31 . The storage container of claim 29 , wherein the storage container prevents ambient air from entering the body.
32 . The storage container of claim 29 , wherein the body is made of a polymer material.
33 . The storage container of claim 29 , wherein the storage container includes a cardboard box, a shipping crate, a polymer foam crate, or a plastic shell.
34 . The storage container of claim 29 , wherein the body includes a polymer foam slab and a stretchable plastic film around the perishable food and the polymer foam slab.
35 . The storage container of claim 29 , wherein the perishable food includes a fruit, a vegetable, or meat.
36 . The storage container of claim 29 , wherein the body includes a removable lid.
37 . The storage container of claim 29 , wherein the body includes a hinged lid.