RU2459756C2 - Multilayer container and method of removing residues therefrom - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: transport, package.

SUBSTANCE: set of inventions relates to container of definite inner volume to store selected substance. Container inner chamber 20 has filler neck communicated therewith. Inner chamber has inner layer 22 of material to be diluted in the presence of selected solvent, and outer layer 24 to rest on inner layer, made of material insoluble in said selected solvent. Note here that inner layer may dilute in either hot or cold water and be made of polyvinyl alcohol. Outer layer may be made up of fragile outer wall bound with inner layer and made of water-insoluble material. There is method of removing residues of toxins.

EFFECT: reduced effects of toxins on environments.

14 cl, 5 dwg

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to containers for storing and transporting selected products or materials. In particular, the present invention relates to containers (containers) suitable for storing liquid substances, for example pesticides, which can be washed with an appropriate solvent to remove residue in the interior of the container. The present invention also relates to a method for removing residue from the inside of a container.

In modern society, packaging is an elementary need. In essence, packaging makes it possible to distribute goods over large geographical areas, while protecting and maintaining the quality of goods during their distribution and storage. Packaging usually provides important information about the products it contains, for example, product designation, product usage instructions, and legally relevant information. In addition, an important factor is that packaging can provide significant commercial benefits to companies selling competing products. For example, the shape of the packaging of products and the decals or patterns found on the packaging can be an important market tool, especially if consumers identify certain packaging features with a particular source or brand of products.

As markets continue to diversify and the economy develops, packaging issues must continue to meet the economic, social, and government requirements for existing and emerging products. Since the product and its packaging are so interdependent, meeting these requirements requires more than just combining commercially available materials for packaging goods. It is more correct to say that in modern terms of trade, packaging with a good design requires a corresponding unification of the structural elements specific to each product, aesthetics, style, transmission of information, as well as elements regulated by common law. In addition, successful packaging solutions must be cost-effective and environmentally responsible.

Environmental packaging solutions to packaging issues continue to be an important driving force in the discovery of new packaging materials and designs. Of particular importance is the improvement of environmentally friendly packaging for hazardous materials such as pesticides, heavy metals and organic chemicals, which is strictly regulated by governments and departments in various countries, including the United States. Indeed, the pressure of environmental, safety, and commercial requirements has led to the development of stringent regulatory requirements to reduce soil and groundwater pollution resulting from the burial of partially filled containers or the presence of residues in containers that are not properly washed. As a result, many manufacturers of hazardous materials who are forced to use such disposal schemes, or who have consumers who are forced to use them, now believe that product packaging and disposal are as important as the product itself.

For example, in the industry engaged in the production of toxic chemicals, strategies and programs have been developed aimed at reducing the environmental impact of its products. Companies producing pesticides, for example, have made significant progress in placing their products in reusable containers, as well as in developing return programs for the systematic and effective refilling of containers, which is an incentive to implement these programs. Although as a result of these programs, the number of containers requiring disposal is reduced, these containers cannot be used indefinitely. For example, after using for a sufficiently long time, the tightness of the container may be impaired, which makes it unsuitable for use. In addition, and, apparently, this happens even more often, the names of pesticides producers change over time for various reasons, for example, as a result of mergers or acquisitions of companies. Product names also change, in addition, over time, even the dimensions or configuration of the containers usually change. As a result, a potentially huge number of containers with incorrect names, sizes or configurations become unsuitable for further use and, ultimately, must be disposed of.

Despite the fact that reusable containers are becoming more widely used, many pesticides should be packaged in disposable or non-returnable containers. In fact, a significant amount of pesticides is packaged in non-returnable containers, since there is a large (percentage) number of agricultural enterprises that are too small to allow the practical use of refillable containers. In addition, such containers should be properly rinsed before burial in these areas.

From the above examples related to the production of pesticides, it will be obvious to specialists in this field that a huge number of old-timers and disposable containers must be disposed of in accordance with established rules. In the United States, for example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established and enacted regulations requiring prior to disposal of flushing containers for pesticides with prescribed flushing methods such as pressure flushing and triple flushing. Pressure washing typically involves the use of a special nozzle attached to the end of the hose, while triple washing is simply referred to as washing the pesticide containers three times. These two washing methods remove more than 99% of the pesticide residue remaining in the container after emptying it.

Thus, despite progress in addressing packaging issues and attempts to use reusable containers, there is still a need to improve the structural elements and materials of containers in order to reduce the environmental impact of pesticides and other hazardous substances. In particular, containers are required that can be washed efficiently and more economically in order to improve the protection of soil and water from pollution and to help consumers comply with the relevant disposal rules. In addition, there is a need for the development of containers for the disposal of which less space is required at these sites. The present invention addresses these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a container (container), the inside of which has a certain volume and is adapted to accommodate and store the selected substance. The container includes a housing surrounding the interior and having a neck in communication with the interior. The container body includes an inner layer formed of a first material, dissolving in the presence of a selected solvent and having a first thickness. The container also includes an outer layer supported by the aforementioned inner layer and formed from a second material, insoluble in a selected solvent and having a selected second thickness. The first thickness of the inner layer may be greater than the second thickness of the outer layer.

The inner layer is preferably substantially continuous and encompasses most of the inside of the container, and can be formed from a material that is soluble in either hot water or cold water, and impervious to hazardous substances. The inner layer may be formed, for example, of polyvinyl alcohol. Alternatively, the outer layer may be formed of polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate.

In addition, the container may have a middle layer, that is, a connecting (bonding) layer located between the inner layer and the outer layer. The middle layer may be formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, ethylene polyvinyl acetate, polyamide and ethylene vinyl alcohol.

The present invention also provides a method for removing chemical residues from the inside of a container, the inside of which covers an inner layer of a side wall formed from a water-soluble material, the method comprising contacting the inside of a container with an amount of water sufficient to dissolve the above inner layer of a side wall.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings show:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical container having a side wall, proposed in the present invention;

figure 2 is a perspective view of the container depicted in figure 1, with a partial cutaway showing the inner and outer layers of the side wall;

figure 3 is a cross section of the container depicted in figure 2, made along lines 3-3 in figure 2;

figure 4 is a perspective view of the proposed in the present invention container of alternative construction, with a partial cutaway; and

5 is a cross section of the container depicted in figure 4, made along lines 5-5 in figure 4.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

The present invention generally relates to containers or containers suitable for storing and transporting selected materials or products, including liquid, gel or solid substances. These selected products or materials may be either hazardous or non-hazardous substances. From the description below, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this container is primarily used for storing and transporting liquid hazardous substances such as pesticides. As used in this application, the term “hazardous substance” (or “hazardous materials”) generally refers to any substance that is potentially toxic or harmful to human health or the environment. Such hazardous materials can be in the form of solids, liquids or gels and include, for example, pesticides, poisons, radioactive substances, explosives, combustible or non-combustible gases. As used in this application, the term “pesticides” generally refers to pesticides such as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and other types of pesticides (chemical fertilizers), which are often potentially hazardous substances and are usually produced in concentrated form, for example, in the form of a solid substance liquid, dispersion or gel.

The first feature of the proposed container is the multilayer construction of its body, adapted both for the safe storage of hazardous substances and for removing their residue from the inside of the container before disposal. The multilayer design is universal and can be used for various containers of the selected configuration, including disposable containers and reusable containers.

For the sake of simplicity, the described container depicted in the accompanying drawings is in the form of a conventional canister and is intended for liquid pesticides. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the useful properties of the container are not limited to this form, nor are they limited to the transportation and storage of liquid pesticides. For transportation and storage of the selected product, containers of a different shape are also offered, for example, in the form of pallets, blister packs (thermoformed plastic packaging with a cardboard substrate), sleeves, large and small containers, or any containers suitable for transporting and storing the selected product.

As can be seen initially from Figs. 1 and 2, the first typical container is depicted in the form of a container 10 having the form of a conventional 2.5 gallon canister, used, as a rule, as a disposable container for transporting and storing various toxic chemicals. The container 10 includes a container body 20 surrounding the interior of the container 18, having a certain volume and adapted to accommodate and store a selected substance, such as a liquid pesticide. The container 10 also includes a bottle whisk or a neck (not shown) for communication with the inner part 18, which can be sealed in the usual way using a removable cap 14, which is well known in the art. In addition, the container 10 may have a handle 12, convenient for grabbing the hand of the user.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, as well as from FIG. 3, the container body 20 has a multilayer structure including an inner side wall or inner layer 22 and an outer side wall or outer layer 24. As shown, the inner layer 22 can be a continuous layer, which is coextensive with the outer layer 24, however, the container body is not limited to such a design. For example, there is no need for the inner layer to be fully coextensive with the outer layer. However, given that the inner layer is in direct contact with the pesticide after being placed in the container, it is preferably at least substantially continuous and encompasses at least a large portion of the container from the inside.

The inner layer 22 may be formed from a material that dissolves or breaks down upon contact with a suitable solvent, for example, water, or upon contact with a cleaning solution containing surfactants, soap, or their compounds. The solvent used to dissolve or disrupt the inner layer 22 is preferably either hot water or cold water. The material of the inner layer, which is a material soluble in hot water, is usually dissolved or otherwise destroyed in water having a temperature above about 50 ° C. On the other hand, the selected material of the inner layer, which is soluble in cold water, is dissolved or otherwise destroyed in water having a temperature below about 50 ° C, and preferably at a temperature of about 5 ° C to 35 ° C.

Typical materials that can be used to form the inner layer include polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, polyoxyethylene, cellulose derivatives, sodium polyacrylate, lactic acid polymers, lactic acid esters and polyvinyl alcohol ethers, lactic acid esters and cellulose ethers, carrageenan, pectin, compounds of the above substances and compounds of the above substances with starches. The cellulose derivative group may include methyl cellulose, methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, cellulose, cellulose monoacetate and hydrophobized cellulose derivatives. On the other hand, the outer layer is formed of a material that does not dissolve and does not collapse upon contact with a solvent selected to dissolve the inner layer, and is preferably insoluble in water. Typical materials that can be used to form the outer layer include polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate.

Each layer, the inner layer 22 and the outer layer 24, must have a corresponding thickness, providing the necessary structural integrity of the container to maintain the selected shape of the container under ordinary harsh transport conditions. In addition, the outer layer 24 must have a thickness that protects the inner layer from environmental influences, as well as water or other solvents that lead to its destruction. The inner layer 22 may have a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm, while the thickness of the outer layer 24 may be approximately 1.0 mm to 4.0 mm.

The ratio of the thickness of the inner layer to the thickness of the outer layer can be changed as desired. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inner layer 22 is thicker than the outer layer 24. In particular, the inner layer 22 has a first selected thickness "d ₁ " sufficient to allow the container to stand freely and retain the selected shape under normal harsh conditions of transportation and storage of the product contained in it. The outer layer 24 rests on the inner layer 22 and is associated with it, and has a second selected thickness "d ₂ ", which is less than "d ₁ ". The outer layer 24 provides additional stability (rigidity) for the entire container, while protecting the inner layer 22 during loading, transportation and storage of the pesticide. With this configuration, the outer layer 24 is fragile or, in other words, does not provide sufficient structural strength to maintain the selected shape of the container, and without supporting the inner layer is deformed under compression (under pressure). Thus, the outer layer basically forms a continuous protective outer wall around the inner layer 22. In addition, the outer layer 24 is a base on which to stick or otherwise attach product labels indicating the product and all the necessary information provided by law.

Now, after a detailed description of the design of the container 10, it can be obvious to a person skilled in the art how this multilayer structure facilitates the removal of residues that accumulate or otherwise collect during contact with the product. After deciding that the container 10 is to be disposed of and the product has been used or, in other words, removed from the inside of the container, the container should be thoroughly washed before disposal, especially if the container is used for a hazardous substance. Since the inner layer is soluble in water, when it comes into contact with water, it begins to break down or dissolve. Therefore, if, for example, in accordance with the rules of the ARB, the triple washing method mentioned in the description of the prior art is chosen, then during the triple washing steps at least part of the inner layer will dissolve. As the inner layer dissolves or breaks down, this layer, along with residues adhering to it, is washed out through the neck or corolla of the container. It is contemplated that removal of the inner layer will provide effective removal of the residue on it and, preferably, at least 99.9999% of the chemical residue in the interior of the container.

After the inner layer has been removed sufficiently or completely, the outer layer or outer wall of the container remains and, ultimately, must be disposed of at the landfill. Since the outer layer is brittle and no longer rests on the inner layer, it easily deforms or collapses with an insignificant degree of compression, while reducing its volume, so that it takes up less space on the landfill than in its original form until the inner layer is removed.

For example, the container 10 described above can be used to store and transport a herbicide-containing mesotrione, which is, for example, an active ingredient in a product sold under the trademark Callisto ^® registered by Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc., located in Greensboro, pc. North Carolina, USA. It is preferable to use a container with an inner layer formed from a suitable material soluble in cold water. This is due to the fact that the mesotrione during storage does not cause destruction or damage to the inner layer. In contrast, an inner layer formed from a material soluble in hot water was used to store a seed treatment product containing thiamethoxam as an active ingredient, for example, a seed treatment product sold under the trademark Cruiser ^® also registered with Syngenta Crop Protection , Inc.

Next, in FIGS. 4 and 5, a second example of the construction of the container of the present invention is shown. Like the container 10 above, the container 110 has a multi-layer container body 120 surrounding the interior of the container 118. However, as shown here, the container body 120 is formed of three layers: the inner layer 122, the outer layer 124 and the bonding or middle layer 126 located between them. The middle layer 126 may be formed of material that helps hold the inner and outer layers together. The middle layer 126 may be formed, for example, from polyvinyl acetate, ethylene polyvinyl acetate, polyamide and ethylene vinyl alcohol.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a multi-layer container body may be formed of several layers and is not limited to the examples of structures described above with reference to the drawings. For example, when you want to create a container or container suitable for the selected material, the container body may have several inner or outer layers, as well as connecting layers. However, in order to effectively remove residues in the interior of the container, the inner layer or layers are preferably formed from a material that dissolves or breaks down in the presence of an appropriate solvent. The container proposed in this application can be created by conventional methods known in the art, such as co-extrusion, blow molding, injection molding, or any suitable method.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a method for removing a residue located in the interior of a container, which can be carried out using the steps provided by the described construction. This method generally involves contacting the inside of the container with a selected solvent suitable for dissolving or otherwise destroying at least a portion of the inner layer or side wall that surrounds the inside of the container. This method includes repeatedly washing the inside of the container, sufficient to wash off part of the inner layer of the container body and to ensure the removal of residue. This method may also require the implementation of a step to remove from the inside of the support, providing the shape of the entire container, so that the remaining outer layer of the container body is wrinkled with little pressure.

Thus, the present invention is described in detail in terms of embodiments of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and that additions and changes may be made to the embodiments of the present invention without departing from its scope.

Claims (14)

1. The container, the inner part of which has a certain volume and adapted to accommodate and store the selected substance, including a housing surrounding the inner part and having a neck communicating with this inner part, the housing includes
an inner layer formed from a first material that dissolves in the presence of a selected solvent and having a first thickness, and
an outer layer supported by an inner layer and formed from a second material that does not dissolve in said selected solvent, this layer having a second thickness. 2. The container according to claim 1, in which the first thickness of the inner layer is greater than the second thickness of the outer layer. 3. The container according to claim 1, in which the inner layer is mainly continuous and covers most of the inner side of the container. 4. The container of claim 1, in which the inner layer is soluble in hot or cold water. 5. The container according to claim 1, in which the inner layer is formed from polyvinyl alcohol. 6. The container according to claim 1, in which the inner layer is impervious to hazardous substances. 7. The container according to claim 1, in which the outer layer is formed of polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate. 8. The container according to claim 1, in which the above selected substance is a liquid hazardous material. 9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a middle layer located between the inner layer and the outer layer. 10. The container according to claim 9, in which the middle layer is formed from a material selected from the group comprising polyvinyl acetate, ethylene polyvinyl acetate, polyamide and ethylene vinyl alcohol. 11. A container for transporting and storing the selected hazardous substance, having an inner part adapted to contain the hazardous substance, and including
an inner side wall surrounding at least a large part of the inner side of the container and formed from a water-soluble material, and
a brittle layer of the outer wall associated with the above inner side wall and formed from a material insoluble in water. 12. The container of claim 11, wherein said selected hazardous substance is a pesticide selected from the group consisting of fungicides, insecticides, herbicides and bactericides. 13. The container according to claim 11, comprising a middle layer located between the inner side wall and the outer wall. 14. A method of removing residual chemicals from the inside of the container, the inside of which is surrounded by an inner layer of the side wall formed from a water-soluble material, which allows contacting the inside of the container with water in an amount sufficient to dissolve the inner layer of the side wall.

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