WO2020208645A1

WO2020208645A1 - Degradable food containers

Info

Publication number: WO2020208645A1
Application number: PCT/IN2020/000012
Authority: WO
Inventors: M Meenakshi; M Siva Chettiappan
Original assignee: M Meenakshi; M Siva Chettiappan
Priority date: 2019-04-08
Filing date: 2020-03-19
Publication date: 2020-10-15

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of preparing degradable and edible food containers and utensils using natural food compositions. The degradable food container, said container comprises starch, dietary fibers, plasticizers, water repellent and releasing agent wherein, said Degradable food container essentially consists 10 to 80% of powdered millets.

Description

TITLE

DEGRADABLE FOOD CONTAINERS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to the field of degradable products. Particularly, the present invention relates to the field of degradable based edible products. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of preparing edible food containers and utensils using natural food compositions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Disposable articles are increasingly used due to the manufacturability, availability and ease of handling. Disposable articles are conventionally made out of synthetic foams, resins, plastics and commodities that are non- degradable and takes millions of years for partial degradation. Disposing of these plastics and non-degradable products are extremely hazardous to the environment. Plastic debris accumulation has led to a catastrophic increase in white pollution. Most of the plastic pollutants are dumped inland as landfills or thrown away in seas. There is a potential risk of groundwater contamination and soil quality degradation. The land used for plastic disposal is unsuitable for cropping due to the micro debris blending to the soil particles. Incineration is a sensible suggestion for plastic disposal but it poses the risk of emission of harmful gases into the atmosphere. Alternate suggestions for replacing the non-degradable products are continuously developed. Glass and wood are suggested as an alternative for plastic. But the availability is low and the cost of manufacturing is high, thereby making it an unviable option. The fragility of the materials is another parameter to be noted while considering disposable utensils. Using plastic additives to biodegradable materials to impart strength and stability is a viable option but degradation is independent of the number of plastics used. Microbial activity and oxidation of contaminable bio-degradable products create inconvenience. Moreover, the degradable products do not have a longer shelf life, therefore, the addition of antimicrobial chemicals is an expensive solution.

Different methods and processes have been devised in the existing prior art to manufacture bio-degradable edible utensils. The existing inventions proposed to resolve the issue are disclosed in the prior art section. Patent application WO2019000514 proposes a paper cup with biodegradable coating. The existing invention describes a method for manufacturing a paper cup with a coating applied to the cup to increase the factor of degradation. The existing invention proposes the external coating as polybutylene succinate which supports the factor degradation. The existing invention clearly proposes a process to increase the degradation rate, but unfortunately, residues of the plastic cup still exist on even after complete degradation and make the land unusable. Patent application CN1291626 employs plant fiber, adhesives and waterproofing agents to create a degradable disposable container. The existing invention describes that the containers are heat resistant and can withstand high pressure. They are immune to food corrosion. The limitation of this method is since the containers are predominantly made of fibers, there is a risk of fiber shrinkage which makes it inconvenient to use.

Indian patent application 201711030882 discloses a process of preparing biodegradable containers. The existing invention describes the process of preparing biodegradable materials by preparing a paste of cellulosic materials from plants, preparing pulp material from paper waste and preparing seed paste from Trigonella foenum. The existing invention also describes that the stiffness of the container is increased by blending pulp material from paper with seed paste of Trigonella foenum. The existing invention may propose a biodegradable container, but it clearly did not propose any edible based container. Since the existing invention uses paper pulp to make the container stiff and thus unsuitable for becoming an edible product. Moreover, the degradation rate of the container is very slow and may not be suitable for the environment.

There may be several products in the existing prior arts for preparing biodegradable containers, but there are no effective inventions proposed for preparing edible food containers. Thus the present invention proposes a process of preparing an edible container or utensils by using millets as raw materials and powdered plant fiber. Moreover, as the present invention uses roasted millets as raw materials it delivers more stiffness and water repellent properties and it may be converted into a mouldable form. The present invention is completely degradable without leaving any residues and also may be given as cattle feed.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an edible food container.

Another objective of the present invention is to use starch of millets as the predominant ingredient of the edible food container.

Still another objective of the present invention is to use a fibre reinforcement in the starch-based edible food container.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to add plasticizer, releasing agent and water repellent to the starch-based edible food container.

Other objectives and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the main aspect of the present invention, a degradable food container comprises starch, dietary fibers, plasticizers, water repellent and releasing agent wherein said Degradable food container also consists 10 to 80 % of. millets in powder form. The process for preparing an edible food container comprising steps of preparation of the millets by cleaning and washing them with warm water. The millets are roasted and fine grinded to powder and hem into a paste containing starch material. The paste is dried at a temperature of 50-150°C and grinding it to powdery consistency to extract concentrated starch. The dietary fibers are separated and fine powdered preferably by retting and centrifugation method at a speed of 1500-2500 rotations per minute for 10 minutes followed by extracting and grinding them to a powdery consistency. The starch from the millet, fine powder of the fibres is mixed with water to make a pulp of molding mixture content. The bio-degradable plasticizers, water repellent and releasing agent are added to the mold mixture content to facilitate flowability, faster extraction and to impart waterproofing ability. The edible food container is obtained preferably through compression moulding by maintaining a temperature range of 150-250°C for a period of 10-120 seconds.

According to yet another main aspect of the present invention, said millets used for preparation are Setaria italica (Foxtail millet), Panicum sumatrense (Little millet), Pennisetum glaucum (Pearl millet), Paspalum scrobiculatum (Kodo millet), Echinochloa frumentacea (Barnyard millet) or Sorghum (Maize). In addition, the powdered millets are added to the mixture in the ratio between 10-80%. The soluble fibres with extremely fine and uniform grain structures are collected preferably from the edible fibres such as legumes, oats, rye, chia, barely, root vegetables, psyllium seed husks, nuts or almonds. The powdered dietary fibers are added to the mixture in the ratio between 5-30%. The plasticizer is added to the mixture in the ratio between 0.1-10%. Said plasticizer is from the group of alkyl citrates with general formula C_nH_2n+1 C₆H₄O₇. The water repellent is added to the mixture in the ratio between 0.1-10%. Said water repellent is from a group of ligno cellulosic compounds, bio-degradable hydrocarbons and esters. The releasing agent is added to the mixture in the ratio between 0.1-10%. Said releasing agent is from the group of saturated fatty acids with general formula C_nH_2nO₂ preferably stearic acid or palmitic acid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those. skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. The edible food container comprises a mouldabte composition of starch, fibre, plasticizer, water repellents and releasing agents. According to the main aspect of the present invention, millets and fine powdered dietary fibers are the predominant ingredients used to prepare the edible food container. The millets used for preparation are Setaria italica (Foxtail millet), Panicum sumatrense (Little millet), Pennisetum glaucum (Pearl millet), Paspalum scrobiculatum (Kodo millet), Echinochloa frumentacea (Barnyard millet) or Sorghum (Maize). For preparation, any three or more than three of the above said millets are used as raw ingredients. Said millets are initially cleaned for mud and other impurities on its skin and washed thoroughly with warm water. If there are any outer skin (in case of maize) they are peeled off as the warm water relaxes the surface. The millets are roasted and ground to fine mesh. Said millets are made into a fine paste by the addition of water to facilitate a smooth grinding process. The paste is dried at a temperature range of 50- 150°C. The dried content is in a solid form and is finely ground to powdery consistency to enable homogeneous mixing with other additives.

The edible food container is to be imparted with adequate strength and flexural rigidity. Dietary fibres are the preferred embodiment in an aspect of the invention. Soluble fibres with extremely fine and uniform grain structures are collected preferably from the edible fibres such as legumes, oats, rye, chia, barely, root vegetables, psyllium seed husks, nuts or almonds. Fibres are separated by retting, centrifugation, floating and extraction. Centrifugation is the preferred method and is the fastest in the extraction of fibres. Preferably a centrifugation speed of 1500-2500 rotations per minute for 10 minutes is followed for separation of fibres. The separated fibres are dried and ground to a powdery consistency.

The powdered starch and fibre are added with a sufficient amount of water, plasticizer, water repellent and releasing agent to form the mould mixture content. The admixture consists of plasticizer to improve the flow of starch- fibre mould material into the mould. The plasticizer is preferably the group consisting of alkyl citrates with general formula C_nH_2n+1 C₆H₄O₇. Releasing agents helps in easier extraction of the casting from the mould. Said releasing agent is preferably a saturated fatty acid with general formula C_nH_2nO₂ preferably stearic acid or palmitic acid is added. To impart water repellent properties to the edible food container. Said water repellents are preferably !ignocel!ulosic compounds, bio-degradable hydrocarbons or esters. Said lignocellulosic compounds are extracted preferably from plant cell walls. Said edible food container is obtained by moulding preferably through compression moulding. The mould material is compressed and the processing temperature is maintained in a range of 150-250°C for a period of 10-120 seconds. The casting is extracted by using the said suitable for releasing agents.

According to the main aspect, the main ingredients of edible food container comprises of the steps:

I. roasted and finely grounded millets the ratio between 10-80%, II. dietary fine powdered fibres in the ratio between 5-30%,

III. bio-degradable plasticizers in the ratio between 0.1-10%,

IV. water repellents in the ratio between 0.1 -10%, and

V. releasing agents in the ratio between 0.1-10%.

The present invention uses only edible and degradable based ingredients. Moreover, it is understood that herbs can also be added as another main ingredient in an appropriate ratio. The herb plants are dried completely and grounded to fine powder whereas the prepared herb powder is added as starch to the main mixture. In addition, it is also understood that in order to reduce the cost of the product, fillers may be added in the ratio between 30% to 40%. Said fillers are Tapioca starch, corn starch, potato starch, sweet potato starch or rise starch. Anyone of the above mentioned starch are used as a filler.

The present invention is advantageous as it is edible and bio-degradable in its nature. The rate of complete degradation can be achieved in a period of 30 days. Moreover, as the present invention is edible, it may also be used as cattle feeds. Since the present invention is completely degradable, environmental pollutions are minimized. The composition used in the invention is non-toxic and non-reactive. The disposal of the said utensil is non-hazardous to the environment. The disposal does not require a special mechanism and complete degradation is achieved over a short period of time unlike normal plastic products.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. A degradable food container, said container comprises starch, dietary fibers, plasticizers, water repellent and releasing agent characterized in that, said Degradable food container consists 10 to 80 % of powdered millets.

2. The degradable food container as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said millets used for preparation are Setaria italica (Foxtail millet), Panicum sumatrense (Little millet), Pennisetum glaucum (Pearl millet), Paspalum scrobiculatum (Kodo millet), Echinochloa frumentacea (Barnyard millet) or Sorghum (Maize).

3. A process for preparing an edible food container, said process comprising steps of:

a) preparing the millets by cleaning and washing them with warm water; b) roasting and fine grinding the millets to powder and turning them into a paste containing starch material;

c) drying the paste at a temperature of 50-150°C and grinding it to powdery consistency to extract concentrated starch;

d) separating the dietary fibers and to fine powdering the fibres preferably by retting and centrifugation method at a speed of 1500-2500 rotations per minute for 10 minutes, followed by extracting and grinding them to a powdery consistency; e) mixing starch from the millet, fine powder of the fibres and water to make a pulp of moulding mixture content;

f) adding bio-degradable plasticizers, water repellent and releasing agent to the mould mixture content to facilitate flowability, faster extraction and to impart waterproofing ability;

g) obtaining the edible food container preferably through compression moulding by maintaining a temperature range of 150-250°C for a period of 10-120 seconds.

4. The degradable food container as claimed in claim 1 and 3, characterized in that said soluble fibres with extremely fine and uniform grain structures are collected preferably from the edible fibres such as legumes, oats, rye, chia, barely, root vegetables, psyllium seed husks, nuts or almonds.

5. The degradable food container as claimed in claim 1 and 3, characterized in that said powdered dietary fibers are added to the mixture in the ratio between 5-30%.

6. The degradable food container as claimed in claim 1 and 3, characterized in that said the plasticizer is from the group of alkyl citrates with general formula C_nH_2n+1 C₆H₄O₇ and said plasticizer is added to the mixture in the ratio between 0.1-10%.

7. The degradable food container as claimed in claim 1 and 3, characterized in that said water repellent is from a group of lignocellulosic compounds, bio-degradable hydrocarbons and esters and said water repellent is added to the mixture in the ratio between 0.1-10%.

8. The degradable food container as claimed in claim 1 and 3, characterized in that said releasing agent is from the group of saturated fatty acids with general formula C_nH_2nO₂ preferably stearic acid or palmitic acid and said releasing agent is added to the mixture in the ratio between

0.1-10%.