BR112019001215B1 - STABLE ELECTROLYTE MATERIAL AND SOLVENT MATERIAL CONTAINING THE SAME - Google Patents

Abstract

A stable electrolyte and solvent material is described that includes a compound having the following chemical structure: 1/2[HxO(x-1)]Zy where x is an odd integer that is greater than or equal to 3, y is an integer between 1 and 20 and Z is one of a monoatomic ion from groups 14 to 17 having a charge value between -1 and -3 or a polyatomic ion having a charge between -1 and -3; and which includes a liquid such as a short chain polar organic material, water or mixtures of the short chain polar organic material and water.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present invention relates to compositions that can be integrated into food products to improve the taste of associated food products.

[0002] A variety of food preparation and/or preservation processes are employed, in which food is packaged for consumption at a later time. When employed with various vegetables, fruits, juices and liquid compositions, these packaging processes may include various forms of canning, freezing, salting, pickling, smoking and the like. In addition, many foods can be processed and cured before refrigerating, freezing or other forms of storage. Non-limiting examples of such food processing technologies include pasteurization, addition of artificial food additives, irradiation and the like. Such processes can alter the inherent flavor of one or more ingredients of the food being preserved.

[0003] It is desirable to provide a richer and fuller flavor to foods, beverages, oral care products and the like. It is also desirable to provide food products, beverages, and oral care products with a richer, fuller flavor.

SUMMARY

[0004] It was unexpectedly discovered that a substance with the following chemical structure: where x is an odd integer≥ 3; y is an integer between 1 and 20; and Z is a polyatomic ion or monatomic ion that can be used advantageously to improve the taste of food products, beverages, pharmaceuticals and oral care products. The taste-enhancing substances according to the present invention are particularly useful in a wide variety of applications, including savory and non-salty foods, such as dairy products, beverages, fruits and vegetables and their associated dishes and confectionery, as well as food products. pharmaceuticals and oral hygiene.

[0005] It was also discovered, unexpectedly, that a solution that is composed of the compound where x is an odd integer ≥3; y is an integer between 1 and 20; and Z is a polyatomic ion or monatomic ion; and a solvent can be incorporated into various materials to improve the taste of food products, beverages, pharmaceuticals and oral care products.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0006] The present disclosure is based on the unexpected discovery that oxonium ion complex electrolytes, as disclosed herein, when employed in various food compositions, can improve the taste of the associated food, beverage, pharmaceutical or oral hygiene products, may improve the flavor panel of the associated material and/or increase the preservative nature of the composition. The electrolyte may be present in an amount between 0.01% by weight to 30% by weight in certain embodiments.

[0007] The electrolyte that can be used is widely interpreted as a complex derived from oxonium ions. As defined herein, “oxonium ion complexes” are generally defined as positive oxygen cations having at least one trivalent oxygen bond. In certain embodiments, the oxygen cation will exist in aqueous solution as a population predominantly composed of one, two and three trivalently linked oxygen cations present as a mixture of the aforementioned cations or as a material presenting only one, two or three oxygen cations. trivalently bonded oxygen. Non-limiting examples of oxonium ions having trivalent oxygen cations may include at least one of the hydronium ions.

[0008] It is contemplated that, in certain embodiments, the oxygen cation will exist in aqueous solution as a population predominantly composed of one, two and three trivalently linked oxygen anions present as a mixture of the aforementioned anions or as a material presenting only one, two or three trivalently linked oxygen anions.

[0009] When the compound as disclosed herein is mixed with a solvent, such as an aqueous or organic solvent, the resulting material includes a solution that may be composed of hydronium ions, hydronium ion complexes and mixtures thereof. The composition of the matter and the solutions containing it are useful in various food and ingestible compositions, even when low pH values are desirable and/or in which flavor enhancement is desired.

[0010] It has been theorized that extreme trace amounts of cationic hydronium can form spontaneously in water from water molecules in the presence of hydrogen ions. Without being bound by any theory, naturally occurring hydronium ions are believed to be extremely rare. The concentration of naturally occurring hydronium ions in water is estimated to be no more than 1 in 480,000,000. If they occur at all, hydronium ion compounds are extremely unstable. It is also theorized that naturally occurring hydronium ions are unstable transient species with lifespans typically in the nanosecond range. Naturally occurring hydronium ion species are reactive and are readily solvated by water, and as such these hydronium ions (hydroniums) do not exist in a free state.

[0011] When introduced into pure water, the stable hydronium material described here is one that will remain identifiable. It is believed that the stable hydronium material described here can complex with water molecules to form hydration cages of various geometries, non-limiting examples of which will be described in greater detail subsequently. The stable electrolyte material as described herein, when introduced into a polar solvent such as an aqueous solution, is stable and can be isolated from the associated solvent as desired or required.

[0012] Conventional strong organic and inorganic acids, such as those having a pKa 1.74, when added to water, will completely ionize in the aqueous solution. The ions then generated will protonate existing water molecules to form H3O+ and associate stable groups. Weaker acids, such as those with pKa < 1.74, when added to water, will achieve less than complete ionization in aqueous solution, however, they may be useful in certain applications. Thus, it is contemplated that the acidic material used to produce the stable electrolyte material may be a combination of one or more acids. In certain embodiments, the acidic material will include at least one acid having a pKa greater than or equal to 1.74 in combination with weaker acid(s).

[0013] In the present disclosure, it was unexpectedly found that the stable hydronium electrolyte material as defined herein, when added to the aqueous solution, will produce a polar solvent and provide effective pKa which is dependent on the amount of stable hydronium material added to the corresponding solution regardless of the concentration of hydrogen ion originally present in the solution. The resulting solution can function as a polar solvent and can have an effective pKa between 0 and 5 in certain applications when the pH of the initial solution before addition of the stable hydronium material is between 6 and 8.

[0014] It is also contemplated that the stable electrolyte material as disclosed herein may be added to solutions having an initial pH in the alkaline range, e.g., between 8 and 12, to effectively adjust the pH of the resulting solvent and / or the effective or actual pKa of the resulting solution. The addition of the stable electrolyte material as described herein can be added to an alkaline solution without discernible reactive properties including, but not limited to, exothermicity, oxidation or the like.

[0015] The acidity of theoretical hydronium ions existing in water as a result of aqueous self-dissociation is the implicit standard used to judge the strength of an acid in water. Strong acids are considered better proton donors than the theoretical hydronium ion material, otherwise a significant portion of the acid would exist in a non-ionized state. As previously indicated, theoretical hydronium ions, derived from aqueous self-dissociation, are unstable as a species, in random occurrence and believed to exist, if at all, in extremely low concentration in the associated aqueous solution. Generally, hydronium ions in aqueous solution are present in concentrations between less than 1 in 480,000,000 and can be isolated, if at all, from the native solution through solid or liquid phase organosynthesis as monomers bound to a superacid solution in structures such as HF- SbF5SO2. Such materials can be isolated only in extremely low concentrations and decompose readily upon isolation.

[0016] In contrast, the stable hydronium material, as disclosed herein, provides a source of concentrated hydronium ions that are long-lived and can be subsequently isolated from solution if desired or required.

[0017] In certain embodiments, the composition of interest has the following chemical structure: where x is an odd integer between 3 - 11; y is an integer between 1 and 10; and Z is a polyatomic ion or monatomic ion.

[0018] The polyatomic ion Z can be derived from an ion that is derived from an acid having the ability to donate one or more protons. The associated acid may be one that would have values of pKa 1.7 at 3° C. The Z polyatomic ion employed may be one having a charge of +2 or greater. Non-limiting examples of such polyatomic ions include sulfate ions, carbonate ions, phosphate ions, oxalate ions, chromate ions, dichromate ions, pyrophosphate ions and mixtures thereof. In certain embodiments, it is contemplated that the polyatomic ion may be derived from mixtures that include polyatomic ions that include ions derived from acids having pKa values 1.7.

[0019] The stable electrolyte material as disclosed herein is stable at standard temperature and pressure and can exist as an oily liquid. The stable electrolyte material can be added to water or another polar solvent to produce a polar solution that contains an effective concentration of stable hydronium that is greater than 1 part per million. In certain embodiments, the stabilized electrolyte material as disclosed herein can provide an effective concentration of hydronium concentrations in the stable ionic material greater than between 10 and 100 parts per million when mixed with a suitable aqueous or organic solvent.

[0020] It has also been unexpectedly observed that the hydronium ion complexes present in solution present as a result of the addition of the stable electrolyte material, disclosed herein, alter the acidic functionality of the resulting solvent material without a concomitant change in the acid to acid ratio. free and totally acidic. The change in acid functionality may include characteristics such as change in measured pH, changes in the free acid/total acid ratio, changes in rheology and specific gravity. Changes in spectral and chromatography results are also observed when compared to the acidic materials used in the production of the stable electrolyte material containing the initial hydronium ion complex. The addition of the stable electrolyte material as described herein results in changes in pKa that do not correlate with the observed changes in the free acid/total acid ratio.

[0021] Therefore, the addition of the stable hydronium electrolyte material, as described herein, to an aqueous solution having an initial pH between 6 and 8 results in a solution with an effective pKa between 0 and 5. It should also be understood that The pKa of the resulting solution may present a value less than zero, as when measured by a calomel electrode, ion-specific ORP probe. As used herein, the term “effective pKa” is a measure of the total hydronium ion concentration available in the resulting solvent. Thus, it is possible that the associated pH and/or pKa of a material, when measured, may present a numerical value represented between -3 and 7.

[0022] Typically, the pH of a solution is a measure of its proton concentration or the inverse proportion of the -OH portion. It is believed that the stable electrolyte material as disclosed herein, when introduced into a polar solution, facilitates at least partial coordination of hydrogen protons with the hydronium ion electrolyte material and/or its associated network or cage. As such, the introduced stable hydronium ion exists in a state that allows selective functionality of the introduced hydrogen associated with the hydrogen ion.

[0023] More specifically, the stable electrolyte material as disclosed herein may have the general formula: x is an odd integer≥ 3; y is an integer between 1 and 20; and Z is one of a monoatomic ion from groups 14 to 17 having a charge between -1 and -3 or a polyatomic ion having a charge between -1 and -3.

[0024] In the composition of interest, such as monoatomics here, which may be group 17 halides, such as fluoride, chloride, iodide and bromide; group 15 materials, such as nitrides and phosphides, and group 16 materials, such as oxides and sulfides. Polyatomic constituents include carbonate, hydrogencarbonate, chromate, cyanide, nitride, nitrate, permanganate, phosphate, sulfate, sulfite, chlorite, perchlorate, hydrobromide, bromide, bromate, iodide, hydrogen sulfate, hydrogen sulfite. It is contemplated that a composition of interest may be composed of a single of the materials listed above or may be a combination of one or more of the compounds listed.

[0025] It is also contemplated that, in certain embodiments, x is an integer between 3 and 9, with x being an integer between 3 and 6 in some embodiments.

[0026] In certain embodiments, y is an integer between 1 and 10; while in other modalities y is an integer between 1 and 5.

[0027] The composition of interest, as described here, may have the following formula, in certain embodiments: x is an odd integer between 3 and 12; y is an integer between 1 and 20; and Z is one of a monoatomic ion from group 14 to 17 having a charge between -1 and -3 or a polyatomic ion having a charge between -1 and -3 as indicated above. With some of the modalities having x between 3 and 9 and y being an integer between 1 and 5.

[0028] It is contemplated that the composition of interest exists as an isomeric distribution in which the value of x is an average distribution of integers greater than 3 preferred integers between 3 and 10.

[0029] The composition of interest, as disclosed herein, can be formed by adding a suitable inorganic hydroxide to a suitable inorganic acid. Inorganic acid can have a density between 22° and 70° Baumé; with specific gravity between about 1.18 and 1.93. In certain embodiments, it is contemplated that the inorganic acid will have a density between 50° and 67° Baumé; with specific gravities between 1.53 and 1.85. The inorganic acid can be a monoatomic acid or a polyatomic acid.

[0030] The inorganic acid used can be homogeneous or can be a mixture of several acid compounds that fit the defined parameters. It is also contemplated that the acid may be a mixture that includes one or more acid compounds that fall outside the contemplated parameters, but in combination with other materials will provide an average acid composition value in the specified range. The inorganic acid or acids used may be of any suitable grade or purity. In certain cases, food-grade and/or technology-grade materials can be successfully employed in various applications.

[0031] In preparing the stable electrolyte material as disclosed herein, the inorganic acid may be contained in any suitable reaction vessel in liquid form in any suitable volume. In various embodiments, it is contemplated that the reaction flask may be a non-reactive beaker of suitable volume. The volume of acid employed can be as small as 50 mL. Larger volumes up to and including 5000 gallons (18927 L) or more are also considered within the scope of this disclosure.

[0032] The inorganic acid can be maintained in the reaction flask at a suitable temperature, such as a temperature at or around room temperature. It is within the scope of this disclosure to maintain the initial inorganic acid in a range between about 23°C and about 70°C. However, lower temperatures in the range of 15° and about 40°C can also be employed.

[0033] The inorganic acid is agitated by suitable means to transmit mechanical energy in a range between approximately 0.5 HP (372.85 W) and 3 HP (2237.1 W) with agitation levels that impart mechanical energy between 1 and 2.5 HP (745.7 and 1864.25 W) being used in certain process applications. Agitation may be transmitted by a variety of suitable mechanical means including, but not limited to, direct current servo converter, electric impeller, magnetic stirrer, chemical inductor and the like.

[0034] Agitation may begin at an interval immediately before adding the hydroxide and may continue for an interval during at least a portion of the hydroxide introduction step.

[0035] In the process as disclosed herein, the acid material of choice may be a concentrated acid with an average molarity (M) of at least 7 or more. In certain procedures, the average molarity will be at least 10 or more; with an average molarity between 7 and 10 being useful in certain applications. The acid material of choice employed may exist as a pure liquid, a liquid suspension or as an aqueous solution of the acid dissolved in essentially concentrated form.

[0036] Suitable acidic materials can be both aqueous materials and non-aqueous materials. Non-limiting examples of suitable acidic materials may include one or more of the following: hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, chloric acid, perchloric acid, chromic acid, sulfuric acid, permanganoic acid, prussic acid, bromic acid, hydrobromic acid, hydrofluoric acid , iodic acid, fluoboric acid, fluosilicic acid, fluotitanic acid.

[0037] In certain embodiments, the defined volume of a concentrated liquid strong acid employed may be sulfuric acid having a specific gravity between 55° and 67° Baumé. This material can be placed in the reaction flask and mechanically stirred at a temperature between 16° and 70°C.

[0038] In certain specific applications of the disclosed method, a defined and measured amount of suitable hydroxide material may be added to a stirring acid, such as concentrated sulfuric acid, which is present in the non-reactive flask in a defined and measured amount. . The amount of hydroxide that is added will be sufficient to produce a solid material that is present in the composition as a precipitate and/or suspended solids or colloidal suspension. The hydroxide material employed may be a water-soluble or partially water-soluble inorganic hydroxide. Partially water-soluble hydroxides employed in the process, as disclosed herein, will generally be those that exhibit miscibility with the acidic material to which they are added. Non-limiting examples of suitable partially water-soluble inorganic hydroxides will be those that exhibit at least 50% miscibility in the associated acid. Inorganic hydroxide can be anhydrous or hydrated.

[0039] Non-limiting examples of water-soluble inorganic hydroxides include alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides and water-soluble rare earth hydroxides; alone or in combination with each other. Other hydroxides are also considered to be within the scope of this disclosure. “Water solubility”, as the term is defined in conjunction with the hydroxide material that will be employed, is defined as a material that exhibits dissolution characteristics of 75% or more in water at standard temperature and pressure. The hydroxide that is used is typically a liquid material that can be introduced into the acidic material. The hydroxide can be introduced as a true solution, a suspension, or a supersaturated suspension. In certain embodiments, it is contemplated that the concentration of the inorganic hydroxide in aqueous solution may be dependent on the concentration of the associated acid to which it is introduced. Non-limiting examples of suitable concentrations for the hydroxide material are hydroxide concentrations greater than 5 to 50% of a 5 mole material.

[0040] Suitable hydroxide materials include, but are not limited to, lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, strontium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide and/or silver hydroxide. Inorganic hydroxide solutions, when used, can have an inorganic hydroxide concentration between 5 and 50% of a 5 mol material, with a concentration between 5 and 20%, being used in certain applications. The inorganic hydroxide material, in certain processes, may be calcium hydroxide in a suitable aqueous solution, such as is present as slaked lime.

[0041] In the process as disclosed, inorganic hydroxide in liquid or fluid form is introduced into the stirring acid material in one or more volumes measured over a defined interval to provide a defined resonance time. The resonance time in the process, as outlined, is considered the time interval necessary to promote and provide the environment in which the hydronium ion material, as disclosed herein, develops. The resonance time range as employed in the process as disclosed herein is typically between 12 and 120 hours with resonance time ranges between 24 and 72 hours, increments being used in certain applications.

[0042] In several process applications, inorganic hydroxide is introduced into the acid on the upper surface of the stirring volume in a plurality of measured volumes. Typically, the total amount of inorganic hydroxide material will be introduced as a plurality of portions measured over the resonance time interval. Addition with front measurement is employed in many cases. “Addition measured with front load”, as the term is used herein, is taken to mean the addition of the total volume of hydroxide with a larger portion being added during the initial portion of the resonance time. An initial percentage of the desired resonance time is considered to be between the first 25% and 50% of the total resonance time.

[0043] It should be understood that the proportion of each measured volume that is added may be the same or may vary based on such non-limiting factors as external process conditions, in situ process conditions, specific material characteristics and the like. It is contemplated that the number of measured volumes may be between 3 and 12. The interval between additions of each measured volume may be between 5 and 60 minutes in certain applications of the process as disclosed. The actual addition interval may be between 60 minutes to five hours in certain applications.

[0044] In certain process applications, a volume of 100 mL of 5% weight by volume calcium hydroxide material is added to 50 mL of 66° Baumé concentrated sulfuric acid in increments of 5 2 mL meters per minute, with or without mixing. Addition of the hydroxide material to the sulfuric acid results in a material with increasing liquid turbidity. Increased turbidity of the liquid is indicative of calcium sulfate solids as precipitates. The calcium sulfate produced can be removed in a manner that is coordinated with the continuous addition of hydroxide in order to provide a coordinated concentration of suspended and dissolved solids.

[0045] Without being bound by any theory, it is believed that the addition of calcium hydroxide to sulfuric acid, in the manner defined herein, results in the consumption of the initial hydrogen proton or protons associated with the sulfuric acid resulting in the oxygenation of the hydrogen proton such that the proton in question is not released as a gas, as would generally be expected after the addition of hydroxide. Instead, the proton or protons are recombined with components of the ionic water molecule present in the liquid material.

[0046] After the appropriate resonance time, as defined, has passed, the resulting material is subjected to a non-bipolar magnetic field at a value greater than 2000 Gauss; with magnetic fields greater than 2 million Gauss being employed in certain applications. It is contemplated that a magnetic field between 10,000 and 2,000,000 Gauss can be employed in various situations. The magnetic field can be produced by several suitable means. A non-limiting example of a suitable magnetic field generator is found in US 7,122,269 to Wurzburger, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0047] The solid material generated during the process and present as a precipitate or suspended solids can be removed by any suitable means. Such means of removal include, but are not limited to, the following: gravimetric filtration, forced filtration, centrifuge, reverse osmosis and the like.

[0048] The stable electrolyte composition of interest, as described herein, is a storage-stable viscous liquid that is believed to be stable for at least one year when stored at room temperature and between 50 and 75% relative humidity. The stable electrolyte composition of interest can be used neat in a variety of end-use applications. The composition of the stable electrolyte of interest may have a 1.87 to 1.78 molar material that contains 8 to 9% of the total moles of acidic protons that are not charge balanced.

[0049] The composition of the stable electrolyte of interest that results from the process as disclosed herein has a molarity of 200 to 150 M of force and 187 to 178 M of force in certain cases, when measured titrimetrically through hydrogen coulometry and through FFTIR spectra analysis. The material has a gravimetric range greater than 1.15; with intervals greater than 1.9 in certain cases. The material, when analyzed, shows a yield of up to 1300 volumetric times of orthohydrogen per cubic millimeter versus the hydrogen contained in one mole of water.

[0050] It is also contemplated that the composition of interest as disclosed can be introduced into a suitable polar solvent and will result in a solution having a hydronium ion concentration greater than 15% by volume. In some applications, the concentration of hydronium ions may be greater than 25% and it is contemplated that the concentration of hydronium ions may be between 15 and 50% by volume.

[0051] The suitable polar solvent can be aqueous, organic or a mixture of organic and aqueous materials. In situations where the polar solvent includes organic components, it is contemplated that the organic component may include at least one of the following: saturated and/or unsaturated short-chain alcohols having fewer than 5 carbon atoms and/or short-chain carboxylic acids saturated and/or unsaturated having less than 5 carbon atoms. When the solvent comprises organic solvents and water, it is contemplated that the ratio of water to solvent will be between 1:1 and 400:1, water to solvent, respectively. Non-limiting examples of suitable solvents include various materials classified as polar protic solvents such as water, acetic acid, methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropopanol, n-butanol, formic acid and the like.

[0052] The ionic complex present in the solvent material resulting from the addition of the composition of interest as defined here is, in general, stable and capable of functioning as an oxygen donor in the presence of the environment created to generate it. The material may have any suitable structure and solvation that is generally stable and capable of functioning as an oxygen donor. Particular modalities of the resulting solution employed in conjunction with the various food materials and ingestible materials will include an ion concentration represented by the following formula: where x is an odd integer≥ 3.

[0053] It is contemplated that an ionic version of the compound, as described herein, exists in single ionic complexes that have more than seven hydrogen atoms in each individual ionic complex which are referred to in this disclosure as hydronium ion complexes. As used herein, the term “hydronium ion complex” can be broadly defined as groupings of molecules surrounding the cation where x is an integer greater than or equal to 3. The hydronium ion complex can include at least four additional hydrogen molecules and a stoichiometric proportion of oxygen molecules complexed therein as water molecules. Therefore, the representation of the formula of non-limiting examples of hydronium ion complexes that can be used in this process can be indicated by the formula: where x is an odd integer of 3 or more; and y is an integer from 1 to 20, with y being an integer between 3 and 9 in certain embodiments.

[0054] In various embodiments described herein, it is contemplated that at least a portion of the hydronium ion complexes will exist as solvated structures of hydronium ions having the formula: where x is an integer between 1 and 4; ey is an integer between 0 and 2.

[0055] In such structures, a core protonated by multiple H2O molecules. It is contemplated that the hydronium complexes present in a composition of interest, as disclosed herein, may exist as cations of Eigen complexes, Zundel complexes or mixtures of the two. The Eigen solvation structure can feature the hydronium ion at the center of an H9O4+ structure with the hydronium complex being tightly bound to three neighboring water molecules. The Zundel solvation complex may be an H5O2+ complex in which the proton is shared equally by two water molecules. Solvation complexes typically exist in equilibrium between the Eigen solvation structure and the Zundel solvation structure. Until then, the respective solvation structure complexes generally existed in an equilibrium state that favors the Zundel solvation structure.

[0056] The present disclosure is based, at least in part, on the unexpected discovery that stable materials can be produced in which the hydronium ion exists in an equilibrium state that favors the Eigen complex. The present disclosure is also based on the unexpected discovery that increasing the concentration of the Eigen complex in a process stream can provide a class of new improved oxygen donor oxonium materials.

[0057] The process flow, as disclosed herein, may present an Eigen solvation state in relation to the Zundel solvation state between 1.2 to 1 and 15 to 1, in certain embodiments; with proportions between 1.2 to 1 and 5 to 1 in other modalities.

[0058] The new improved oxygen donor oxonium material as disclosed herein can generally be described as a thermodynamically stable acidic aqueous solution that is buffered with an excess of proton ions. In certain embodiments, excess protons can form in between 10% and 50% excess hydrogen, measured by free hydrogen content.

[0059] It is contemplated that the oxonium complexes used in the process disclosed herein may include other materials used by various processes. Non-limiting examples of general processes for producing hydrated hydronium ions are discussed in U.S. Patent No. US 5,830,838, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0060] The composition described here has the following chemical structure: where x is an odd integer ≥3; y is an integer between 1 and 20; and Z is a polyatomic or monatomic ion.

[0061] The polyatomic ion used may be an ion derived from an acid having the ability to donate one or more protons. The associated acid may be one having pKa values 1.7 at 23°C. The ion employed may be one with a charge of +2 or greater. Non-limiting examples of such ions include sulfate, carbonate, phosphate, chromate, dichromate, pyrophosphate and mixtures thereof. In certain embodiments, it is contemplated that the polyatomic ion may be derived from mixtures that include polyatomic ion mixtures that include ions derived from acids having pka values ≤1.7.

[0062] In certain embodiments, the composition of interest may have the following chemical structure: where x is an odd integer between 3 - 11; y is an integer between 1 and 10; and Z is a polyatomic ion or monatomic ion.

[0063] The polyatomic ion can be derived from an ion derived from an acid having the ability to donate one or more protons. The associated acid may be one that would have values of pKa 1.7 at 23°C. The ion employed may be one having a charge of +2 or greater. Non-limiting examples of such ions include sulfate, carbonate, phosphate, oxalate, chromate, dichromate, pyrophosphate and mixtures thereof. In certain embodiments, it is contemplated that the polyatomic ion may be derived from mixtures that include polyatomic ion mixtures that include ions derived from acids having pKa values 1.7.

[0064] In certain embodiments, the composition of interest is composed of a stoichiometrically balanced chemical composition of at least one of the following: hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri sulfate (1:1); hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri carbonate (1:1), hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri phosphate, (1:1); hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri oxalate (1:1); hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri chromate (1:1) hydrogen (1 + ), triaqua-μ3-oxotri dichromate (1:1), hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri pyrophosphate (1: 1) and mixtures thereof in admixture with a polar solvent selected from the group consisting of water, short-chain alcohols and mixtures thereof.

[0065] The composition disclosed herein can be configured as a solvent comprising: a compound having the following chemical structure: where x is an odd integer≥ 3; y is an integer between 1 and 20; and Z is one of a monoatomic ion from groups 14 to 17 having a charge value between -1 and -3 or a polyatomic ion having a charge between -1 and -3; and a polar liquid selected from short-chain alcohols and water.

[0066] In certain embodiments, x is an integer between 3 and 11 and y is an integer between 1 and 10, the polyatomic ion has a charge of -2 or greater. Z may be selected from the group consisting of sulfate, carbonate, phosphate, oxalate, chromate, dichromate, pyrophosphate and mixtures thereof.

[0067] The solvent material may be described above may include a compound composed of a stoichiometrically balanced chemical composition of at least one of the following: hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri sulfate (1:1); hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri carbonate (1:1), hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri phosphate, (1:1); hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri oxalate (1:1); hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri chromate (1:1) hydrogen (1 + ), triaqua-μ3-oxotri dichromate (1:1), hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri pyrophosphate (1: 1) and mixtures thereof.

[0068] The stable electrolyte material that is disclosed herein comprises a compound having the following chemical structure: a compound having the following chemical structure: where x is an odd integer ≥3; y is an integer between 1 and 20; and Z is one of a monoatomic ion from groups 14 to 17 having a charge value between -1 and -3 or a polyatomic ion having a charge between -1 and -3; and polar liquid selected from the group consisting of short-chain polar alcohols, water and mixtures thereof. Short-chain alcohol can have between approximately one and four carbon atoms.

[0069] The value of x can be an integer between 3 and 11 and y is an integer between 1 and 10. The polyatomic ion can have a charge of -2 or greater. Z may be selected from the group consisting of sulfate, carbonate, phosphate, oxalate, chromate, dichromate, pyrophosphate and mixtures thereof.

[0070] The compound disclosed herein can be mixed with fruit juice that has been extracted or derived from fruit material to produce a fruit juice material to reduce the effective pH of the solution to levels between, for example, approximately 5.7 to 6.4 to lower levels between about 4.2 to 4.8. In certain embodiments, it is contemplated that between 0.5 and 5 mL of a 25% solution of hydronium-containing ions, as disclosed herein, may be mixed into 1000 mL of the fruit juice material. It has been observed that the resulting material is aesthetically pleasing and has a flavor that meets or exceeds the flavor presented by conventional fruit juice. It was also unexpectedly found that the resulting material exhibits greater storage stability than conventional fruit juice. Without being bound by any theory, it is believed that the presence of the composition, as disclosed herein, serves to delay deterioration compared to conventional fruit juice. It has also been unexpectedly discovered that certain beverages formulated with fruit juices in combination with the composition disclosed herein can be employed with amounts of sweetener that are lower than conventional compositions without the composition disclosed herein, which can be formulated with reduced levels of added sugar without compromising flavor and/or storage stability. Non-limiting examples of suitable fruit juice material that may be employed alone or in any suitable combination with one or more additional fruit juices are as follows: citrus fruits such as orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, lemon and lime, various melons such as such as cantaloupe melon, honeydew melon, watermelon, water pumpkin; berries such as strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, cranberry, as well as fruits such as pomegranate, passion fruit, guava, coconut juice, apple, grape, peach, pineapple, kiwi, plums, sugar cane and the like.

[0071] It is also contemplated that the composition as described herein may be mixed with juices derived from various vegetables including, but not limited to, beets, carrots, celery, cucumber, dandelion greens, parsley, turnips, watercress , spinach, wheat, tomato and the like to produce flavorful juice material stable under storage.

[0072] It has also been unexpectedly discovered that the composition as disclosed herein can be integrated into brine and pickle solutions to produce a primary food that exhibits greater resistance to bacterial growth and/or spoilage than food products. The primary food thus treated also exhibits unexpected increases in base flavors and seasoning compared to those prepared with conventional methods and formulas.

[0073] In certain cases, it is contemplated that the compound, as disclosed herein, can be incorporated into the process water at a concentration between 1 ppm and 500 ppm, with concentrations between 10 and 50 ppm being used in certain applications. Process water can be formulated into a brine solution and can produce an effective pH between 1.0 and 3.0 and placed over cucumbers in a suitable storage container. Where desired or required, the process water may include suitable spices such as garlic or dill. After a suitable processing interval, the food can be subjected to bacterial challenge testing and has been shown to show a 3 log reduction through three microbial tests, such as aerobic plate count, lactic acid bacteria exposure test and psychotropic bacteria. In the canned food taste test, the use of process water incorporating the compound, as disclosed herein, was very effective in adjusting and optimizing the desired pH without affecting the optimal flavor of the primary food ingredient.

[0074] In order to better understand the invention disclosed herein, the following examples are presented. The examples should be considered illustrative and should not be viewed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure or claimed subject matter. EXAMPLE I

[0075] A new composition of matter, as disclosed herein, is prepared by placing 50 mL of concentrated liquid sulfuric acid having a H2SO4 mass fraction of 98%, an average molarity (M) above 7 and a specific gravity of 66° Baumé in a non-reactive flask and maintained at 25°C with stirring by a magnetic stirrer to impart mechanical energy of 1 HP (745.7 W) to the liquid.

[0076] Once stirring has begun, a measured amount of sodium hydroxide is added to the upper surface of the acidic material under stirring. The sodium hydroxide material employed is a 20% aqueous solution of 5M calcium hydroxide and is introduced in five calibrated volumes introduced at a rate of 2 mL per minute over a five hour interval to provide a resonance time of 24 hours. . The input interval for each measured volume is 30 minutes.

[0077] Turbidity is produced with the addition of calcium hydroxide to sulfuric acid, indicating the formation of calcium sulfate solids. Solids may precipitate periodically during the process and the precipitate removed from contact with the reacting solution.

[0078] After completion of the 24-hour resonance time, the resulting material is exposed to a non-bipolar magnetic field of 2400 Gauss resulting in the production of observable precipitate and suspended solids for an interval of 2 hours. The resulting material is centrifuged and force filtered to isolate the precipitate and suspended solids. EXAMPLE II

[0079] The material produced in Example I is separated into individual samples. Some are stored in closed containers at standard temperature and relative humidity of 50% to determine storage stability. Other samples are subjected to analytical procedures to determine the composition. Test samples are subjected to FFTIR spectra analysis and titrated with hydrogen coulometry. The sample material has a molarity ranging from 200 to 150 M strength and 187 to 178 M strength. The material has a gravimetric range greater than 1.15; with ranges greater than 1.9 in certain cases. The composition is stable and has a molar material of 1.87 to 1.78 that contains 8 to 9% of the total moles of acidic protons that are not charge balanced. FFTIR analysis indicates that the material has the formula hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3- oxotri sulfate (1:1).

EXAMPLE III

[0080] A 5 mL portion of the material produced, according to the method outlined in Example I, is mixed in a 5 mL portion of distilled and deionized water at room temperature and pressure. The excess hydrogen ion concentration is measured to be greater than 15% by volume and the pH of the material is determined to be 1.

[0081] Although the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the described embodiments but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims, the scope of which shall be given the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as permitted by law.

Claims (6)

1. Edible composition characterized by the fact that it comprises: a compound having the following chemical structure: where x is an odd integer between 3 and 11; y is an integer between 1 and 10; and Z is one of a monoatomic ion from groups 14 to 17 having a charge value between -1 and -3 or a polyatomic ion having a charge between -1 and -3; and an aqueous liquid containing at least one component of a fruit, vegetable or mixture of fruit and vegetables. 2. Edible composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the polyatomic ion has a charge of -2 or greater. 3. Edible composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the compound is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri sulfate (1:1); hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri carbonate (1:1), hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri phosphate, (1:1); hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri oxalate (1:1); hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri chromate (1:1) hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri dichromate (1:1), hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri pyrophosphate (1: 1) and mixtures thereof. 4. Method of manufacturing the edible composition, according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that it comprises the steps of: mixing at least one juice extracted from a fruit or vegetable with water, the mixed juice composition having a solution pH between 5.7 and 6.4; and adding to the mixed juice composition a sufficient amount of the compound selected from the group consisting of hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri sulfate (1:1); hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri carbonate (1:1), hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri phosphate, (1:1); hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri oxalate (1:1); hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri chromate (1:1) hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri dichromate (1:1), hydrogen (1+), triaqua-μ3-oxotri pyrophosphate (1: 1) and mixtures thereof to provide an effective solution pH between 4.2 and 4.8. 5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the compound is present in an amount between 0.0125% by volume and 0.125% by volume. 6. Method according to claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the fruit or vegetable material is at least one of orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, lime, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, cranberry, pomegranate, passion fruit, guava, coconut juice, apple, peach, pineapple, kiwi, plums, sugar cane, beetroot, carrot, celery, cucumber, dandelion, parsley, turnips, watercress, spinach, wheat and tomatoes.