Degradable article

Abstract

Degradable water- and oil-resistant article is made of chitin and contains water-activated chitin-degrading enzyme or enzymes. Initially supplied in an inactive lyophilized (dry) form, the enzyme or enzymes upon exposure to water present in ambient environment degrade chitin-based article to chitosan, a benign compound. Several article embodiments presented, some with water ingress retardant features.

Claims

1. A degradable container comprising an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein at least said inner wall comprises chemical compound containing chitin-type polysaccharide, wherein said outer wall comprises at least one internal compartment, said internal compartment containing chitin-degrading enzyme or enzymes, said enzyme or enzymes provided in inert form, said internal compartment further comprising at least one water ingress feature, wherein said inner wall of said container is degraded by said enzyme or enzymes when said enzyme or enzymes are activated by exposure to water entering said internal compartment via said water ingress feature from outside of said container and degrading said chitin-type polysaccharide.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein said water ingress feature comprises at least one water propagation channel, said channel communicating with environment outside said outer wall.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein said water ingress feature comprises an open aperture.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein said aperture further comprises at least one water ingress retardation element.

5. The container of claim 4, the retardation element further comprising a plug located inside said aperture.

6. The container of claim 5, the plug further comprising polyvinyl alcohol.

7. The container of claim 5, the plug further comprising a porous compound, said porous compound permeable by water, said porous compound comprising bio- or photo-degradable material or materials.

8. The container of claim 1, the outer wall including a plurality of the at least one internal compartments, the water ingress feature of each internal compartment comprising at least one water propagation channel, said channel communicating with environment outside said outer wall.

9. The container of claim 8, each of the plurality of internal compartments are connected by a plurality of environment connecting passages.

10. The container of claim 1, the outer wall including a plurality of the at least one internal compartments, the water ingress feature comprising an open aperture.

11. The container of claim 10, the aperture comprising at least one water ingress retardation element.

12. The container of claim 11, the water ingress retardation element comprising a plug.

13. The container of claim 12, the plug comprising polyvinyl alcohol.

14. The container of claim 12, the plug comprising porous structure, said porous structure permeable by water, said porous structure comprising bio- or photo-degradable compound or compounds.

15. A degradable container comprising an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein at least said inner wall comprises chemical compound containing chitin-type polysaccharide, a cavity between said inner wall and said outer wall, said cavity further containing chemical compound or compounds comprising chitin-degrading enzyme or enzymes, said enzyme or enzymes provided in inert form, said outer wall further comprises porous material, said material permeable by water, wherein at least said inner wall is degraded by said enzyme or enzymes when said enzyme or enzymes are activated by exposure to water entering said cavity via said porous material from outside of said container.

16. The container of claim 15, the material further comprising bio- or photo-degradable compound.

17. A degradable article comprising a first layer, whereby at least said first layer comprising chitin or chitin-containing compound or compounds, said article further comprising a second layer, said second layer comprising compound or compounds containing chitin-degrading enzyme or enzymes, said enzyme or enzymes supplied in inactive form, said second layer comprising at least one aperture for ambient water to ingress and contact said enzyme or enzymes, said enzyme or enzymes activated upon contact with said water, said enzymes subsequently degrading said chitin or chitin-containing compound or compounds in said first layer, said article being degraded thereby.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the beverage container with enzyme compartments.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the beverage container with internal enzyme layer accessible via infiltration channels in its outer layer.

(3) FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section of the beverage container with enzyme compartments.

(4) FIG. 4 is a partial cross-section of the beverage container with external enzyme compartments detailing construction of the compartments.

(5) FIG. 5 is a partial cross-section of the beverage container with enzyme compartments detailing construction of the compartments with infiltration retardation features.

(6) FIG. 6 is a cross-section of alternative embodiment of the beverage container with enzyme layer accessible via porous infiltration outer layer.

(7) FIG. 7 is a cross-section of an alternative embodiment of the beverage container with enzyme layer accessible via infiltration channels in its outer layer.

(8) FIG. 8 is a cross-section of an alternative embodiment of the beverage container with enzyme layer accessible via infiltration channels in its outer layer, with additional infiltration retardation features present.

(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of alternative embodiment of the beverage container with enzyme compartments interconnected by infiltration/spreading channels.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(10) In the foregoing description like components are labeled by the like numerals.

(11) Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 container 100 comprises outer layer 110 and inner layer 115 both of which are made of chitin.

(12) Outer layer 110 comprises essentially convex hemispheric hollow enzyme compartments 120 on its outer surface. Each compartment contains within enzyme 125 which can be exposed to the environment via opening 130 in outer layer 110.

(13) Referring to FIG. 5 in the container's enzyme compartment 120 opening 130 is obstructed with retardation plug 140 which retards activation of enzyme 125 and subsequent decomposition of container 100.

(14) Referring to FIGS. 2, 7 and 8 beverage container 200 comprises an outer chitin layer 110, inner chitin layer 115 and enzyme layer 126. Enzyme layer 126 can be exposed to the environment via openings 135 in outer layer 110. Retardation plugs 140 can be inserted in openings 130 to delay enzyme activation and the resulting decomposition of the container.

(15) On FIG. 6 an alternative container embodiment 300 has an inner chitin layer 115, a porous layer 150 and an enzyme layer 126 interspersed between them. Porous layer 150 is made preferably of filter-type degradable paper.

(16) On FIG. 9 an alternative container embodiment 400 has, in addition to enzyme compartments 120 open to the environment interconnecting passages 160 which facilitate distribution of water and dissolved enzymes to speed up container degradation. Compartments 120 may also contain degradation retarding elements, as other embodiments described hereinabove.

(17) Operation

(18) Under normal operation, containers 200, 300 or 400 hold inside them water or other water- or oil-based foods virtually indefinitely thanks to the properties of their chitin inner layer 115. When discarded, containers are exposed to the environment where eventually they will be exposed to water.

(19) Enzyme 125 is preferably a chitochinase-type enzyme or a combination of enzymes initially in an inactive dry (‘lyophilized’) state. Enzyme layer 126 is made of the same type of lyophized enzymes, either in powder, pressed layer or impregnated into a porous carrier layer. The chitochinase-type enzymes are well known in the art.

(20) For example, some of the mostly studied chitochinase-type enzymes are those extracted from the fungi Mucor rouxii, Absidia coerulea, Aspergillus nidulans and Colletotrichum lindemuthianum. All these enzymes are glycoproteins and all exhibit very good thermal stability.

(21) The chitochinase-type enzymes in lyophilized powder form are commercially available, for example Product C6137 ‘Chitinase from Streptomyces griseus’ and Product C8241 ‘Chitinase from Trichoderma viride’, both by Sigma-Aldrich, Inc. of Saint Louis, Mo., USA.

(22) Upon exposure to water, the lyophized enzymes are activated and proceed to decompose the chitin layers of the container via hydrolysis of N-acetamido bonds in chitin which break down (acetylate) chitin and convert it to chitosan.

(23) If a particular container is equipped with retardation devices such as plugs 140 made to dissolve or having controlled porosity, the ambient water first dissolves the plugs before reaching the underlying enzyme, or slowly penetrates them. This prevents premature enzyme activation from accidental contact with water or aqueous substances (e.g. user's hand sweat) during container use.

ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENTS

(24) Although descriptions provided above contain many specific details, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.

(25) Disposable degradable cup lids are also possible with the underlying technology.

(26) Various enzyme containment means, such as internal ribs, dividers, pockets and depressions can be added in the container. The dry enzyme layer can be ‘painted’ onto the inner surface of a porous substrate which in turn could be wrapped around the inner chitin container layer.

(27) Retardation plugs can be made of a PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) material or similar, which dissolves in aqueous solutions, or a porous filter-type degradable paper.

(28) Also several features of distinct embodiments can be combined.

(29) Other articles can be made degradable using the technology described herein above, such as packaging and utensils.

(30) A continuous degradable sheet of this material can be envisioned as well, usable protection from oil, water and weather when turned with chitin layer to the outside, to be degraded later by being reversed and exposed to ambient water.

(31) Thus, the scope of this invention should be determined from the appended claims and their legal equivalents.