A solid compound prepared as a powder that exhibits good flowability and having a specific structure is provided. The solid compound contains a carrier carboxylic acid salt and a loaded carboxylic acid, wherein the pKa of the corresponding carboxylic acid of the carrier carboxylic acid is lower than or equal to the pKa of the loaded carboxylic. The loaded carboxylic acid is physisorbed within the structure of the carrier carboxylic acid salt, and wherein the water content of the solid compound is less than 2 equivalents of water relative to the carrier carboxylic acid. Processes and pharmaceutical compositions containing the solid compound are also provided.

A solid compound prepared as a powder that exhibits good flowability and having a specific structure is provided. The solid compound contains a carrier carboxylic acid salt and a loaded carboxylic acid, wherein the pKa of the corresponding carboxylic acid of the carrier carboxylic acid is lower than or equal to the pKa of the loaded carboxylic. The loaded carboxylic acid is physisorbed within the structure of the carrier carboxylic acid salt, and wherein the water content of the solid compound is less than 2 equivalents of water relative to the carrier carboxylic acid. Processes and pharmaceutical compositions containing the solid compound are also provided.

A method for producing a preservative salt includes feeding a biodegradable feedstock to a mixed consortium of microorganisms or microbiomes to produce a fermentation effluent comprising a carboxylic acid mixture; recovering the carboxylic acid mixture from the fermentation effluent; separating an acetic acid and propionic acid fraction from the carboxylic acid mixture; and reacting the acetic acid and the propionic acid fraction with a base to produce the preservative salt comprising an acetic acid and propionic acid salt. The carboxylic acids have greater than 80% bio-based carbon content.

A method for producing a preservative salt includes feeding a biodegradable feedstock to a mixed consortium of microorganisms or microbiomes to produce a fermentation effluent comprising a carboxylic acid mixture; recovering the carboxylic acid mixture from the fermentation effluent; separating an acetic acid and propionic acid fraction from the carboxylic acid mixture; and reacting the acetic acid and the propionic acid fraction with a base to produce the preservative salt comprising an acetic acid and propionic acid salt. The carboxylic acids have greater than 80% bio-based carbon content.

Embodiments herein include surface sterilization systems and methods for sterilizing packaged food items. In an embodiment, a surface sterilization system is included. The system can have a conveying mechanism configured to move discrete food packages, the food packages having opposed top and bottom surfaces, opposed right and left surfaces, and opposed front and back surfaces. The system can further include a plurality of dielectric discharge electrodes configured to come into sliding contact with the discrete food packages as they are moved by the conveying mechanism. The system can further include an electrical current source in electrical communication with the plurality of dielectric discharge electrodes, the electrical current source delivering a current to the plurality of electrodes sufficient to generate a plasma inside of the discrete food packages. Other embodiments are also included herein.

A ready-to-eat baked pizza packaged for long-term storage at room temperature, having an appearance and organoleptic properties comparable to those of a freshly made pizza is disclosed. A process for obtaining a ready-to-eat packaged pizza which can be stored at room temperature, according to the invention, is also described.

The invention relates to a polymer film obtainable from the crosslinking reaction between pectin and carboxymethylcellulose in the presence of an organic calcium salt and a plasticiser. The film can comprise zeolite, loaded or not loaded with silver ions. The organic calcium salt is selected from: calcium propionate, calcium acetate, calcium lactate, calcium sorbate, calcium glutamate, calcium oleate, calcium palmitate, calcium laurate, calcium stearate and calcium myristate. The plasticising agent is a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid selected from: oleic acid and palmitic, stearic, lauric, myristic, myristoleic, palmitoleic and linoleic acid; polyethylene glycol; glycerol; glycerol derivatives; and citric acid salts, preferably sodium citrate. The polymer film can be laminated to at least one film/layer of plastic material, possibly biodegradable, or to a layer of paper and used for packaging foods, in particular baked products, with the aim of preserving them and extending their shelf life.

The invention relates to a polymer film obtainable from the crosslinking reaction between pectin and carboxymethylcellulose in the presence of an organic calcium salt and a plasticiser. The film can comprise zeolite, loaded or not loaded with silver ions. The organic calcium salt is selected from: calcium propionate, calcium acetate, calcium lactate, calcium sorbate, calcium glutamate, calcium oleate, calcium palmitate, calcium laurate, calcium stearate and calcium myristate. The plasticising agent is a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid selected from: oleic acid and palmitic, stearic, lauric, myristic, myristoleic, palmitoleic and linoleic acid; polyethylene glycol; glycerol; glycerol derivatives; and citric acid salts, preferably sodium citrate. The polymer film can be laminated to at least one film/layer of plastic material, possibly biodegradable, or to a layer of paper and used for packaging foods, in particular baked products, with the aim of preserving them and extending their shelf life.

A solid compound prepared as a powder that exhibits good flowability and having a specific structure is provided. The solid compound contains a carrier carboxylic acid salt and a loaded carboxylic acid, wherein the pKa of the corresponding carboxylic acid of the carrier carboxylic acid is lower than or equal to the pKa of the loaded carboxylic. The loaded carboxylic acid is physisorbed within the structure of the carrier carboxylic acid salt, and wherein the water content of the solid compound is less than 2 equivalents of water relative to the carrier carboxylic acid. Processes and pharmaceutical compositions containing the solid compound are also provided.

A solid compound prepared as a powder that exhibits good flowability and having a specific structure is provided. The solid compound contains a carrier carboxylic acid salt and a loaded carboxylic acid, wherein the pKa of the corresponding carboxylic acid of the carrier carboxylic acid is lower than or equal to the pKa of the loaded carboxylic. The loaded carboxylic acid is physisorbed within the structure of the carrier carboxylic acid salt, and wherein the water content of the solid compound is less than 2 equivalents of water relative to the carrier carboxylic acid. Processes and pharmaceutical compositions containing the solid compound are also provided.