JPWO2020174234A5 - - Google Patents

Claims (60)

A composition comprising a seaweed extract in an amount of 50-90% by weight, a water-soluble cellulose derivative in an amount of 10-40% by weight, and water in an amount of 1-20% by weight of the total weight of the composition. Claim 1, wherein the seaweed extract is present in an amount of 60-85% by weight, the water-soluble cellulose derivative is present in an amount of 10-35% by weight, and water is present in an amount of 2-15% by weight. composition . 3. A composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said composition consists essentially of said seaweed extract, said water-soluble cellulose derivative and water. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the composition consists of the seaweed extract, the water-soluble cellulose derivative and water. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the weight percentages of said seaweed extract, said water-soluble cellulose derivative and water add up to 100% by weight of said total weight of said composition. A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the seaweed extract is selected from the group consisting of carrageenan; agar; and mixtures thereof. 7. The composition of claim 6, wherein said seaweed extract is carrageenan. 8. The composition of claim 7, wherein the carrageenan is carrageenan κ. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said composition lacks one or more of said group consisting of: starch; carrageenan; agar; alginate; and chitosan. A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the water-soluble cellulose derivative is selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose (MC); hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC); and mixtures thereof. 11. The composition according to claim 10, wherein said water-soluble cellulose derivative is methylcellulose (MC). A composition according to any one of claims 1-3 and 6-11, wherein said composition further comprises one or more additives. 13. The composition of claim 12, wherein said one or more additives are present in no more than 10% by weight of said total weight of said composition. Calcium carbonate; glycerin; apple puree; starch; montmorillonite (MMT); cinnamon oil; soybean oil; thyme (zataria multifloro) essential oil; nonoclay or clay minerals; polyethylene glycol (PEG); chitin; arabinoxylan; 14. The composition of claim 12 or 13, wherein A composition according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein said one or more additives comprise an inorganic salt, said inorganic salt being an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt. 16. The composition of claim 15, wherein said inorganic salt is selected from said group consisting of lithium salts; sodium salts; calcium salts; and potassium salts. 17. The composition of claim 16, wherein said inorganic salt is potassium chloride. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at a standard thickness of 0.5 mm, at least 30% of incident light passes through without being absorbed or scattered. 19. The composition of claim 18, wherein at a typical thickness of 0.5 mm, at least 50% of incident light passes through without being absorbed or scattered. A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein said composition is fully biodegradable. 21. The composition of claim 20, wherein said composition is substantially biodegradable in an external non-industrial environment in less than 6 months. 21. The composition of Claim 20, wherein said composition is fully biodegradable in an anaerobic atmosphere. A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein said composition is fully compostable. 24. The composition of claim 23, wherein the composition is compostable in a domestic compost pile in less than 6 months. A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the composition is edible. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said composition is moldable. 27. The composition of Claim 26, wherein the composition is moldable by press molding, injection molding or casting. A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the composition is reprocessed after molding. An article of manufacture formed from the composition of any one of claims 1-28. regular spheres; irregular spheres; regular spheroids; irregular spheroids; regular cubes; regular ellipsoid; irregular ellipsoid; regular cylinder; irregular cylinder; regular cone; 30. The article of claim 29, having a shape selected from the group consisting of irregular prisms; regular pyramids; irregular pyramids; and any combination thereof. said article is selected from the group consisting of structural material holding units (SKU); packaging materials; films; sheets; drinking straws; tubing; 31. A product according to claim 29 or 30. 32. The product of claim 31, wherein said product is a packaging material selected from said group consisting of containers; and parts thereof. 33. The article of manufacture of claim 32, wherein said container or portion thereof is selected from said group consisting of cups; trays; panets; clamshells; boxes; The product of any one of claims 29-33, wherein the product is three-dimensional, rigid and load-bearing. A product according to any one of claims 29 to 34, wherein the maximum thickness of said composition in said product is within said range of 0.01 mm to 5 mm. 36. The product of any one of claims 29-35, wherein the product, or part thereof, is translucent. 29. A method of making the composition of any one of claims 1-28, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the seaweed extract with water to form a seaweed extract hydrogel; a) separately contacting the water-soluble cellulose derivative with water to form a water-soluble cellulose derivative solution; and (c) mixing the seaweed extract hydrogel and the water-soluble cellulose derivative solution to form a mixture. and (d) drying said mixture to form said composition. Step (a) comprises: (i) contacting said seaweed extract with water at a temperature within said range of about 5°C and about 40°C; 38. The method of claim 37, comprising heating to a temperature within said range of to about 100°C to form said seaweed extract hydrogel. 39. The method of claim 37 or 38, wherein in step (b), the water-soluble cellulose derivative is contacted with water at a temperature of about 70°C to about 100°C. 40. The method of any one of claims 37-39, wherein step (c) comprises mixing the seaweed extract solution and the water-soluble cellulose derivative solution at a temperature of about 70°C to about 100°C. A method of manufacturing a product according to any one of claims 29-36, comprising steps (a)-(d) of said method of manufacturing a composition as claimed in claims 37-40, and A method comprising, between steps (c) and (d), the further step of forming said mixture into the shape or three-dimensional form of said product. 42. The method of claim 41, wherein said step of forming comprises molding. 43. The method of claim 42, wherein said molding comprises press molding, injection molding or casting. 44. A method according to claim 42 or 43, wherein during step (d) a solid composition is carried on at least part of the mold used in said molding. A method of reprocessing a biodegradable composition comprising manufacturing a product by the method of any one of claims 41-44,
f) softening or melting said product by contacting said product with water or steam to provide a softened product;
g) further manipulating the softened product to provide a reprocessed product having a different shape than the product;
h) drying the reprocessed product to provide a dry reprocessed product. 46. The method of claim 45, wherein the water in step (f) is at a temperature above 80<0>C or is steam. 47. A method according to claim 45 or 46, wherein said operation in step (g) comprises reprocessing said softened product into said shape of a former or mold. 48. The method of claim 47, wherein after drying in step (h), the dried shaped product is removed from the tool or mold. 48. A method according to any one of claims 44 to 47, wherein the operation in step (g) seals at least an edge or part of an edge of the softened product. 37. A method of dissolving a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 28 or a product according to any one of claims 29 to 36, comprising contacting said composition or product with liquid water. A method comprising the step of causing 51. The method of claim 50, wherein said liquid water is at a temperature of at least 50<0>C for at least 1 hour. 52. The method of claim 51, wherein said liquid water is at a temperature of at least 70<0>C. A method of industrial biodegradation of a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 28 or of a product according to any one of claims 29 to 36, wherein conditions increase the rate of biodegradation to the composition or product. 54. The method of claim 53, wherein said conditions are selected from said group consisting of heating; exposure to water; exposure to microorganisms; enzymes; 37. A method of composting the composition of any one of claims 1-28 or the product of any one of claims 29-36, wherein the composition or product decomposes , compost, or conditions that form a material suitable for use as an additive to soil in compost or as a fertilizer. 56. The method of claim 55, wherein said condition is to add said composition or product to pre-composted or composted material. A method of extending the shelf life of perishable goods comprising placing said perishable goods in a structural material holding unit formed from the composition of any one of claims 1-28. A method, including 58. The method of claim 57, wherein said perishable goods are selected from said group consisting of fruits; vegetables; dairy products; cheese; bread; 59. The method of claims 57 or 58, wherein the shelf life of the perishable goods is increased by at least 25%. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 28, or a product according to any one of claims 29 to 36, as packaging material or in beverage containers, tampons or tampon applicators, etc. Use as a single-use product.