JPH0557185A - Oxygen scavenger - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an org. oxygen scavenger capable of suppressing heat generation. at the time of the absorption of oxygen and containing no iron component. CONSTITUTION:A low-molecular phenol compound, activated carbon and activated alumina are compounded. Activated alumina is compounded as a component having the temp.-suppressing effect in heat generation. The resulting mixture is put in an air permeable small bag to be used as an oxygen scavenger. Even when activated carbon having an extremely high activation degree is compounded in order to increase an oxygen absorbing speed, the food coming into contact with the oxygen scavenger is not heated and, therefore, this oxygen scavenger can be used in perishable food or food putting much value on taste without anxiety.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a new and improved oxygen scavenger capable of suppressing heat generation when absorbing oxygen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a means for preventing spoilage, deterioration and deterioration of foods, etc. and extending the life cycle of foods, a vacuum-packing method in which a storage system is decompressed under vacuum, nitrogen,
Gas replacement method to replace air with an inert gas such as ethylene or carbon dioxide, freezing or refrigeration method to prevent bacterial growth at low temperature, method to add antioxidants and anti-corrosion agents to food, packaging with high barrier property For example, a method of sealing food with a deoxidizer in a bag is used.

However, the above methods (1) to (3) require a large-scale device, a freezer and a refrigerator, and are economically expensive. In the other method, the use of an antioxidant or an anti-corrosion agent is severely restricted or regulated from the viewpoint of safety, and therefore, there is a tendency for reduction.

From the above circumstances, the method of using the oxygen scavenger is a simple and inexpensive method for preserving foods.
Demand has increased rapidly in about 0 years, and it has become established. Among such oxygen absorbers, oxygen absorbers prepared by blending one or more low molecular weight phenol compounds with activated carbon (Japanese Patent Publication No.
61-39098) is organic and does not contain iron, so it can pass foreign material contamination inspection with a metal detector, can be used for a long time without being deteriorated, and can preserve the flavor of food. It is particularly widely used for preserving seaweed because it is easy to use.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention As described above, an organic oxygen scavenger, particularly an oxygen scavenger containing catechol and activated carbon, has a large heat generation and heat accumulation due to oxygen absorption.
When activated carbon with an extremely high degree of activation is used to accelerate the oxygen absorption rate, the heat generation during oxygen absorption may become even higher, which is not necessarily satisfactory from a safety standpoint.

[0006] Specifically, when the exothermic temperature of the oxygen absorber is high, the deterioration of the food that comes into contact with the oxygen absorber is likely to progress, the freshness of the food is likely to deteriorate due to heat baking, and further the oxygen absorber is deteriorated. There is a problem that it is difficult to handle and manage during manufacturing. Therefore, conventionally, the oxygen absorption rate has been suppressed to some extent by using activated carbon whose activation degree is not so high or by reducing the air permeability of the packaging material for the oxygen scavenger.

However, it is needless to say that as the performance of the oxygen scavenger, a material having a higher oxygen absorption rate, that is, a higher oxygen removal rate is desirable. So this invention
Even when the deoxidation rate is increased by using activated carbon with an extremely high degree of activation, it is possible to suppress only heat generation without decreasing the deoxidation rate, and thus increase the temperature of the food that comes into contact with the deoxidant. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a high-performance oxygen scavenger without worry.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The inventors of the present invention have conducted extensive studies to achieve the above-mentioned object, and as a result, by adding activated alumina to a mixed system of a low-molecular phenol compound and activated carbon, oxygen was added. The inventors have completed the present invention by finding that the heat generation temperature can be suppressed to a low level without significantly reducing the absorption rate.

That is, the oxygen scavenger according to the present invention is characterized by containing a low molecular weight phenolic compound, activated carbon and activated alumina.

Examples of the low molecular weight phenol compound used in the present invention include phenol, catechol, pyrogallol and cresols. These phenol compounds may be used alone or in combination of two or more. However, especially when used for food preservation, it is most effective to use catechol in view of deoxygenation efficiency and safety.

As the activated carbon, any of plant-based wood, sawdust, coconut shell, pulp waste liquid, and activated carbon produced from mineral-based coal, petroleum, coke, petroleum pitch and the like can be effectively used. The activated carbon having a high degree of activation may be selected from the above and used.

[0012] Activated alumina is an alumina having a relatively strong adsorptive power, and is used in the present invention as having an effect of suppressing heat generation temperature. Generally, activated alumina used for adsorbing and removing moisture or oil vapor from gas can be preferably used in the present invention. Further, in the present invention, since activated alumina is mixed with activated carbon or a low molecular weight phenolic compound and used by filling it in a breathable sachet, the particle size and particle size distribution of the activated alumina are close to those of activated carbon or a low molecular weight phenolic compound. Those are desirable from the viewpoint of uniform mixing with these components.

The blending ratio of the low molecular weight phenol and the activated carbon is not necessarily constant depending on the type of the phenolic compound used, the type of activated carbon and the operating conditions, but in practice,
Generally, a preferable ratio is about 1 to 2 parts by weight of activated carbon to 1 part by weight of the low molecular weight phenolic compound. further,
The blending ratio of activated alumina to the mixture obtained by mixing 1 part of the low molecular weight phenol compound and 2 parts of activated carbon is preferably 0.1 to 0.6 parts by weight. If the amount of activated alumina is less than 0.1 part, not only is the effect of suppressing the exothermic temperature at the time of oxygen absorption small, but there is also the problem that uniform mixing with activated carbon or a phenol compound may become difficult because it is too small. Not preferable.

[0014]

EXAMPLES Example 1 Each component was mixed in a weight ratio as shown in sample Nos. 2 to 5 in Table 1, and the maximum exothermic temperature and the residual oxygen concentration were measured by the methods described below. The results are shown in Table 1.

Sample No. 1 is a comparative example in which the basic composition is composed only of catechol and activated carbon, and sample Nos. 6 to 11 are comparative examples in which phosphoric acid or ammonium chloride is compounded instead of activated alumina. The results of these comparative examples are also shown in Table 1.

Maximum exothermic temperature: 60 g of each of the samples mixed in various weight ratios is put in a petri dish, and 22 ° C. × 65%
It was left in an environment of RH, and a temperature sensor was inserted therein, and the temperature rise and fall were recorded. The highest temperature among them is shown as the maximum exothermic temperature.

Residual Oxygen Concentration: A packaging material (Gurley Air Permeability 2500-500) that is air permeable and heat sealable for the mixed sample.
4500 seconds, size 60 mm x 75 mm), and then 1000 cc of air with a barrier packaging bag (KNy (vinylidene chloride coated nylon) 15μ / PE (polyethylene) 60μ laminated film, size 270 mm x 3)
300 mm, sealed in oxygen permeability 4.7cc / m ² /24hrs.atm) in the oxygen concentration in the packaging bag at the time it was 96 hours in an environment of RH 22 ℃ × 65% was analyzed by gas chromatography.

[0018]

As can be seen from Table 1, the oxygen scavenger of the present invention (Sample Nos. 2 to 5) has a slightly slower oxygen scavenging rate than the oxygen absorber containing no activated alumina (Sample No. 1). Only the exothermic temperature is effectively reduced.

Since the oxidative decomposition reaction of low-molecular-weight phenol is activated in an alkaline atmosphere, an oxygen scavenger (samples Nos. 6 to 11) prepared by mixing acidic chemicals such as phosphoric acid and ammonium chloride for the purpose of suppressing heat generation. Was prepared. But,
Although the heat generation can be suppressed, the deoxidation rate is extremely slowed accordingly, so that it cannot be put to practical use.

1 and 2 are graphs showing the results of time-dependent measurement of the exothermic temperature and the residual oxygen concentration, respectively.

Example 2 An insulating material was laid inside a container without an upper lid, and the same oxygen scavenger samples No. 1, No. 3 and No. 5 as those used in Example 1 (manufacturing) were prepared inside the container. Immediately afterwards, each of which has sufficient oxygen absorption capacity) is left at 18 ° C in a piled state with appropriate gaps to allow air to flow, and a temperature sensor is inserted in advance to change the temperature over time. Was recorded. The results are shown in the graph of FIG.

This test method is made on the assumption of an inadvertent storage method during actual storage and storage of the oxygen absorber. That is, even if the oxygen absorber is left in an open state capable of reacting with sufficient oxygen and the heat storage or heat retention is easy, as shown in FIG. The exothermic temperature is lower than that of the non-treated ones, and the exothermic suppression effect is clearly recognized.

[0024]

As can be seen from the above description, the oxygen scavenger of the present invention contains a low molecular weight phenolic compound and activated carbon in addition to activated alumina to keep the deoxidation rate within a practically sufficient range. Thus, the heat generation temperature can be lowered.

Even when activated carbon having an extremely high degree of activation is used to accelerate the oxygen absorption rate, the food that comes into contact with the activated carbon is not warmed, and the food that easily deteriorates and the flavor are important. It is an oxygen scavenger that can be used with peace of mind even for foods that are used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a graph showing changes in exothermic temperature with time of the oxygen scavenger of the present invention and other oxygen scavengers.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing changes over time in the residual oxygen concentration of the oxygen scavenger of the present invention and other oxygen scavengers.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing changes with time of exothermic temperature in the piled storage state of the oxygen scavenger of the present invention and other oxygen scavengers.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An oxygen scavenger comprising a low molecular weight phenol compound, activated carbon and activated alumina.