COMPOSITES AND ARTICLES FOR THE SLOW RELEASE OF NON-POLAR VOLATILE LIQUID COMPOUNDS AND METHODS OF PREPARING

Abstract

A composite for slow release of vapors from a non-polar liquid compound. The composite includes a hydrophobic material; and at least one volatile non-polar liquid compound associated with the hydrophobic material. The volatile non-polar liquid compound has a lower volatility after being associated with the hydrophobic material to form the composite.

Claims

1. A composite for release of vapors from a non-polar liquid compound, the composite comprising: a hydrophobic material; and at least one volatile non-polar liquid compound operably associated with said hydrophobic material to form said composite, wherein said at least one volatile non-polar liquid compound is a plant extracted compound or an essential oil and the composite is configured to slow the rate of the release of the vapors while still at a rate in a range effective for repelling insects and/or mitigating food sprouting.

2. The composite of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic material comprises aggregates.

3. The composite of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic material comprises particulates.

4. The composite of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic material comprises minerals.

5. The composite of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic material comprises wood chips.

6. The composite of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic material comprises a cloth or fabric, including woven and non-woven.

7. The composite of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic material comprises paper.

8. The composite of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic material comprises fibers.

9. The composite of claim 1, wherein said at least one volatile compound comprises an essential oil; extracted plant oil; a fragrance oil, naturally occurring or synthetic, or any combination thereof.

10. The composite of claim 1, wherein said at least one volatile compound comprises a 3-carbon or higher alcohol.

11. The composite of claim 1, wherein said at least one volatile compound comprises a pheremone, naturally occurring or synthetic.

12. The composite of claim 1, wherein said at least one volatile compound comprises a pyrethrin, naturally occurring or synthetic.

13. The composite of claim 1, wherein the liquid compound further comprises a carrier oil.

14. The composite of claim 13, wherein the carrier oil comprises a non-vegetable oil.

15. The composite of claim 13, wherein the carrier oil comprises paraffin oil.

16. The composite of claim 13, wherein the carrier oil comprises canola oil.

17. The composite of claim 1, further comprising a bag that is permeable to said at least one volatile non-polar liquid compound.

18. The composite of claim 17, wherein said bag is a polyolefin bag.

19. The composite of claim 18, wherein said polyolefin bag comprises a polyethylene material.

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. The composite of claim 18, wherein said polyolefin bag is made of polypropylene.

23-29. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a composite in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a composite in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a composite in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an article for the slow release of vapors in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0029] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the article for the slow release of vapors in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings referred to above. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience or clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features/components of an actual implementation are necessarily described.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present composite including a hydrophobic material or hydrophobic coated material 10 and a volatile non-polar liquid compound 12 that is operably associated with (which includes any of: adsorbed onto, or absorbed into, bonded with, combined with, integrated with, adhered to, or the like) the hydrophobic material. In FIG. 1, hydrophobic material 10 is exemplified by a hydrophobic sand or aggregate.

[0033] In FIG. 2 the hydrophobic material 10 is exemplified by a hydrophobic cloth/fabric (woven or non-woven). In some embodiments, hydrophobic material 10 is, or includes any one or combination of: aggregates (including sand, gravel and the like), particulates, minerals, wood chips, cloth/fabric (woven, non-woven), paper, fibers, and so on; and packets/bags including any of the aforementioned within. In some embodiments, hydrophobic material 10 is, or includes, any one or combination of: powder, wood chips, particulates, minerals, paper, fibers, and so on.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows as embodiment wherein the composite further includes a permeable bag 14, housing the mixture of hydrophobic material 10 and volatile non-polar liquid compound 12.

[0035] In some embodiments, volatile non-polar liquid compound 12 includes one or a mixture of essential oils, alcohols (3-carbon and higher alcohols) and the like.

[0036] In some embodiments, volatile non-polar liquid compound 12 includes one or a mixture of carrier compounds, such as a carrier oil. Examples of carrier compounds include: paraffin oil, lanolin oil, canola oil, plant extracted oils such as olive oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, palm oil and so on.

[0037] In some embodiments, the composite includes an adhesive (e.g. a double sided adhesive strip, wherein on one side of the strip there is adhered an aggregate composite or a cloth composite etc.), which can be a natural or synthetic adhesive, adapted to help the composite adhere to an item, such as the stem/stalk of a plant.

[0038] Preparing the composite by actively mixing the volatile non-polar liquid compound 12 and hydrophobic material 10, in a mixer/blender helps make the composite bond homogenous. However, liquid compound 12 can alternatively be sprayed on or shaken with hydrophobic material 10, or even merely combined, e.g. placed together in a bag (such as bag 14, FIG. 3), such as a polyolefin bag (e.g. PE, PP. LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, HDPP, PET, polyester, polyvinylidene chloride) a container with at least a portion that allows diffusion of vapors from the composite. The diffusion rate of the vapors is a function of the particular liquid compound (e.g. oil or oils used) type of hydrophobic material (e.g. aggregate, sand, etc., or combination thereof) and the thickness and diffusivity of the bag/container material, if any.

[0039] Without limitation to theory, it is believed that there is a particular chemical/physical attraction between non polar volatile liquid compound 12 (in particular volatile fractions thereof) and hydrophobic material 10, such that the volatile compound 12 is less volatile than if the compound were in free form, for example not chemically associated with, combined with, or bonded to the hydrophobic material.

[0040] Again, without limitation to theory, it is believed that the aforementioned chemical/physical attraction is a non-covalent attraction or bonding.

[0041] The aforementioned attraction or bonding has been found to be effective to result in a slow release of volatile compound 12 in a range of vaporization rates such that the composite (as a vehicle for the vapor emanating therefrom) can be suitable for a wide variety of applications. A particularly useful application is in the field of agriculture, in pre-harvesting, during growth and post-harvesting, to prevent damage from a wide variety of pests and/or retard sprouting (e.g. on potatoes and sweet potatoes). It is expected that the instant composites may have many additional useful applications.

[0042] FIG. 4 shows an article for the slow release of vapors in accordance with embodiments of the present invention wherein the article includes (sealed) permeable bag 14 containing volatile non-polar liquid compound 12. In essence, the article of FIG. 4 can be thought of as a simplified version of the composite of FIGS. 1-3 wherein there is no hydrophobic material 10.

[0043] FIG. 5 shows an article for the slow release of vapors in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, which also can be considered as a simplified version of the composite of FIGS. 1-3 wherein there is no hydrophobic material 10. Here, the article is as in FIG. 4, however, contained in bag 14 is non-hydrophobic material 16, which can be any one of or combination of non-hydrophobic: powder, aggregates (including sand, gravel and the like), particulates, minerals, wood chips, cloth/fabric (woven, non-woven), paper and other such cellulosic materials, fibers, and so on. Non-hydrophobic material 16 has associated therewith volatile non-polar liquid compound 12.

EXAMPLES

[0044] All steps in the following examples were performed at room temperature.

Example No. 1

[0045] Protecting cupboards from cockroaches: 3 grams of each of the essential oils: cinnamon, clove and eucalyptus were poured slowly into a beaker and stirred, at room temperature. The mixture of essential oils was added to and stirred in a beaker with 20 grams of Canola oil (carrier oil) until all the oils were fully homogeneous (about 2 minutes). The resultant homogenous oil mixture was then slowly added to a mixer with 100 grams of hydrophobic Vermiculite and mixed for about 2 minutes, at room temperature, until homogeneous. The mixed product was placed in a permeable polyethylene bag, whereby oil vapor could pass/diffuse. For storage purposes, the polyethylene bags can be stored in impervious containers (such as 3 layers of silver laminated film packet) to stop the process of fumigation until needed.

Example No. 2

[0046] Protecting flowerpots and window boxes from ants: 4 grams of each of the essential oils Cinnamon and Clove; and 2 grams of Peppermint were poured slowly into a beaker and stirred with 20 grams of Paraffin oil (carrier oil) until the oils were fully homogeneous. The homogenous oil mixture was then slowly added to a mixer with 1 kilo of hydrophobic sand (Newseal Minerals and Coatings Ltd, Ramat Hasharon, Israel) and mixed for about 2 minutes until homogeneous. As noted above, the mixed product can be placed in impervious containers (such as 3 layers of silver laminated film packet) to stop the process of fumigation until needed. The product can be sprinkled on the soil in the flowerpot.

Example No. 3

[0047] Protecting dogs from fleas and ticks: 30 grams of lavender essential oil poured slowly into a mixer with 1 kilo of hydrophobic micron Calcium Carbonate powder. The mixer was turned on and the Lavender oil mixture was slowly added to the calcium carbonate and mixed for about 2 minutes until homogeneous. The mixed product was placed in impervious containers (such as 3 layers of silver laminated film packet) as to stop the process of fumigation until needed. The packet can be opened and the powder sprinkled or puffed on the dog fur and rubbed in.

Example No. 4

[0048] Potato sprouting inhibitor: 40 grams of Peppermint essential oil was poured slowly into a mixer with 100 grams of hydrophobic Vermiculite (Newseal Minerals and Coatings Ltd, Ramat Hasharon, Israel) and mixed for about 2 minutes until homogeneous. The mixed product was placed in 10 permeable polyethylene bags allowing vapor passage, which were then placed in impervious containers (such as 3 layers of silver laminated packets) to stop the fumigation process until needed. To use, open the laminated packets and place the polyethylene bags in a container storing the potatoes.

Example No. 5

[0049] Protecting plants from Aphids: 4.5 grams of thyme essential oil, 1.7 grams of anise essential oil, 1.8 grams lavender essential oil, 1.9 grams lemon eucalyptus and 0.7 grams peppermint essential oil were poured slowly into a beaker and stirred. The essential oil mixture was then poured into a beaker with 23 grams of Paraffin oil (carrier oil) and stirred until the oils were fully homogeneous (about 2 minutes). The resultant oil mixture was then slowly added to a mixer with 1 kilo of hydrophobic calcium carbonate micron powder and mixed for about 2 minutes until homogeneous. The product can be placed in impervious containers (such as 3 layers of silver laminated film packet) as to stop the process of fumigation until needed. The packet can be opened and the contents poured into a puffer/dusting apparatus to puff the plants.

Example No. 6

[0050] Protecting cupboards/closets from Moths: 1.3 grams of each of the following essential oils: Patchouli, Cinnamon, Peppermint and Cedar were poured slowly into a stirred beaker with 12 grams of paraffin oil (carrier oil) for about 2 minutes until the oils are fully homogeneous. The resultant oil mixture was then slowly poured into a mixer with 500 grams of hydrophobic sand and mixed for about 2 minutes until homogeneous. The mixed product was placed in a permeable polyethylene bag allowing vapor passage, and then placed in an impervious container (such as 3 layers of silver laminated film packet) to stop the process of fumigation until needed. To use, the packet us opened and the polyethylene bags can be placed in the food/clothes cupboard.

Example No. 7

[0051] Protecting water ponds from mosquitoes: 40 grams of turmeric essential oil was slowly poured into a mixer with 1 kilo of hydrophobic sand and mixed for about 2 minutes until homogeneous. The mixed product can be placed in a permeable polyethylene bag allowing vapor passage and then placed in impervious containers (such as 3 layers of silver laminated film packet) to stop the fumigation process until needed. The polyethylene bags can be put in the pond whereby the active ingredients of the turmeric diffuse into the water and will disrupt life cycle of the mosquitoes.

Example No. 8

[0052] Insect attraction (Attracting the Red Palm Weevil from harming the Palm trees): 4 grams of male produced aggregation pheromone oil (4-Methyl-5-Nonanol and 4-Methyl-5 Nonanone) was slowly poured into a mixer with 100 grams of hydrophobic sand and mixed for about 2 minutes until homogeneous. The mixed product was placed in a permeable Polyethylene bag allowing vapor passage and then placed in impervious containers (such as 3 layers of silver laminated film packet) to stop the process of fumigation until needed. To use, open the packet and place the Polyethylene bag at least 20 meters from the nearest Palm tree to attract and trap the beetles. Alternatively, the sand/pheromone mixture can be sprinkled on the ground.

Example No. 9

[0053] Component AInsect attraction and harming (attracting the Red Palm Weevil). 4 grams of male produced aggregation pheromone oil (4-Methyl-5-Nonanol and 4-Methyl-5 Nonanone) was slowly poured into a mixer with 100 grams of hydrophobic calcium carbonate powder and mixed for about 2 minutes until homogeneous.

[0054] Component BPyrethroid or Pyrethrum insecticides in a non-polar liquid form. 8 grams of one of Pyrethrum insecticide, was slowly poured into a mixer with 10 grams of hydrophobic Vermiculite and mixed for about 2 minutes until homogeneous.

[0055] Component CPyrethrum insecticide in a powder form (an alternative to the liquid form).

[0056] Component A and component B were mixed in a mixer for about 1 minute and then placed in impervious containers (such as 3 layers of silver laminated film packet) to stop the process of fumigation until needed. To use, the packet contents can be poured/placed at least 20 meters from the nearest Palm tree to attract and trap the weevils.

[0057] Component A and Component C were mixed in a mixer for about 1 minute and then placed in impervious containers (such as 3 layers of silver laminated film packet) to stop the process of fumigation until needed. To use, the packet contents can be poured/placed at least 20 meters from the nearest Palm tree to attract and trap the weevils.

Example No. 10

[0058] Protecting potted plants from insects: 40 grams of cold-pressed turmeric oil was slowly poured onto a 1 square meter sheet of hydrophobic nonwoven polypropylene cloth (e.g. such as sold by 3M) resulting in a non-saturated nonwoven cloth product. The product was placed in an impervious container. To use, the cloth sheet product can be placed vertically along the stem/stalk of the plant.

Example No. 11

[0059] Protecting fruits from fungus: 1 gram of each one of the following essential oils: thyme, cinnamon and citronella were poured slowly into a beaker and stirred for about 1 minute, until homogeneous. The oil mixture was then poured into a beaker with 6 grams of Canola oil (carrier oil) and stirred for about 2 minute until the oils were fully homogeneous. The resultant oil mixture was slowly poured onto a 1 square meter sheet of hydrophobic coated paper/cardboard, producing a less than saturated sheet product. The paper/cardboard product was placed in a permeable polyethylene bag allowing vapor passage and then placed in an impervious container. The polyethylene bag can be opened and placed in the fruit box.

Example No. 12

[0060] Bonding and slow release of long chain alcohols: n-Butanol (C.sub.4H.sub.9OH) was poured slowly into a mixer with 100 grams of hydrophobic vermiculite and mixed for about 2 minutes until homogeneous. The mixed product was placed in a permeable polyethylene bag and then in an impervious container. The bag can be placed in the fruit box as a fungicide protection.

Example No. 13

[0061] Algaecide: 4 grams of turmeric essential oil was slowly poured into a mixer with 100 grams of hydrophobic sand and mixed for about 2 minutes until homogeneous. The mixed product was placed in a permeable polyethylene bag and then in an impervious container. The bag can be placed in a pond, lake, etc., and will inhibit algae growth.

Example No. 14

[0062] Fragrance: 4 grams of Rose fragrance synthesised essential oil was slowly poured into a mixer with 100 grams of hydrophobic coated micron calcium carbonate and mixed for about 2 minutes until homogeneous. The resultant mixture was placed in a permeable polyethylene bag and then in an impervious container. The bag can be placed in a room/bathroom for providing a fresh fragrance.

[0063] It will be appreciated that the above description is intended only to provide examples, and that many other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention and as defined in the appended claims.