BARRIER RED ALGAE FIBER, MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR, AND BARRIER COATED PAPER AND BARRIER SHEET COMPRISING SAME
20250369190 ยท 2025-12-04
Inventors
- Yung Bum SEO (Daejeon, KR)
- Jung Soo HAN (Daejeon, KR)
- Yun Young HEO (Seoul, KR)
- Sang Yun Kim (Suwon-si, KR)
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
The present invention relates to a barrier red algae fiber, a method for preparing the same, and a barrier coated paper and a barrier sheet comprising the same. The barrier coated paper according to the present invention not only has better oxygen barrier properties and dehydration properties during a coating process than conventional wood derived nanocellulose, but is also environmentally friendly because it has biodegradable properties.
Claims
1. A barrier red algae fiber comprising oval red algae fibers having a cross-sectional major axis length of 50 to 500 m.
2. The barrier red algae fiber of claim 1, wherein the fiber wall thickness of the oval red algae fibers is 50 to 500 nm.
3. The barrier red algae fiber of claim 1, wherein the oval red algae fibers are included in 50 wt % or more of the total weight of the barrier red algae fiber.
4. The barrier red algae fiber of claim 1, wherein the barrier red algae fiber is formed by red algae, and the red algae comprise one or more selected from Eucheuma cottonii, Eucheuma spinosum and Gracilaria.
5. A method for preparing a barrier red algae fiber, comprising: (1) adding 1,000 to 3,000 parts by weight of water to 100 parts by weight of a mixture of 0.1 to 5.0 wt % of sulfuric acid and 95 to 99.9 wt % of red algae, reacting the mixture at 60 to 120 C. for 1 to 5 hours to remove carrageenan or agar and obtaining a remaining red algae residue; and (2) adding 400 to 600 parts by weight of water and 0.5 to 5.0 parts by weight of a bleaching agent to 100 parts by weight of the red algae residue obtained at above (1), adjusting pH between 3 and 5, and then reacting the red algae residue at 60 to 95 C. for 0.5 to 5 hours to bleach and wash it, thereby obtaining the barrier red algae fiber.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the bleaching agent is one or more selected from chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite, chlorine, ozone and oxygen.
7. A barrier coated paper comprising, a paper; and a barrier coating layer containing the barrier red algae fiber of claim 1, which is coated on at least a portion of a surface of the paper.
8. The barrier coated paper of claim 7, wherein the barrier coating layer further comprises a polymer, and the barrier coating layer comprises 10 to 99 wt % of the polymer and 1 to 90 wt % of the barrier red algae fiber.
9. The barrier coated paper of claim 8, wherein the polymer is one or more selected from PVA (Poly vinyl alcohol), starch, nanocellulose, chitin, PLLA (Poly-L-Lactic Acid), sc-PLA (Stereo Complex Polylactic Acid), PHB (Poly-(3-hydroxy buthyrate)), PBS (Poly Butylene Succinate), PCA (Polycaprolactone) and PGA (Poly glycolic acid).
10. The barrier coated paper of claim 7, wherein the barrier coating layer having a basis weight of 1 to 100 g/m.sup.2.
11. The barrier coated paper of claim 7, wherein the barrier coating layer further comprises one or more selected from PAM (Poly amidoamine), a wet strength agent and a hydrophobic agent.
12. The barrier coated paper of claim 11, wherein the wet strength agent comprises one or more of epoxy emulsion and epichlorohydrin, and the hydrophobic agent comprises one or more selected from AKD (alkyl ketene dimer), ASA (alkenyl succinic acid) and rosin.
13. A barrier sheet comprising the barrier red algae fiber of claim 1.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0021]
[0022]
[0023]
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0024] Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that persons of ordinary skill in the art can easily practice the present invention. The present invention may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein. In the drawings, in order to clearly describe the present invention, parts that are not related to the description are omitted, and the same reference numerals are added to the same or similar components throughout the specification.
[0025] The barrier red algae fiber according to the present invention is implemented by comprising oval red algae fibers.
[0026] In this case, the oval red algae fibers have an oval shape as shown in
[0027] In addition, the oval red algae fibers may have a cross-sectional major axis length of 50 to 500 m, and preferably, a cross-sectional major axis length of 60 to 450 m. If the cross-sectional major axis length of the oval red algae fibers is less than 50 m, the dehydration property may be reduced during the coating process, and if the cross-sectional major axis length of the oval red algae fibers exceeds 500 m, the oxygen barrier property may be reduced.
[0028] Meanwhile, the term major axis used in the present invention refers to the axis having the longest length in a cross section.
[0029] In addition, the fiber wall thickness of the oval red algae fibers may be 50 to 500 nm, and preferably, the fiber wall thickness may be 60 to 450 nm. If the fiber wall thickness of the oval red algae fibers is less than 50 nm, the dehydration property may be reduced during the coating process, and if the fiber wall thickness of the oval red algae fibers exceeds 500 nm, the oxygen barrier property may be reduced.
[0030] In addition, the oval red algae fibers may be included in 50 wt % or more of the total weight of the barrier red algae fiber, preferably 60 wt % or more of the total weight of the barrier red algae fiber, and more preferably 70 wt % or more of the total weight of the barrier red algae fiber. If the oval red algae fibers are included in less than 50 wt % of the total weight of the barrier red algae fiber, the oxygen barrier property and the dehydration property during the coating process may deteriorate.
[0031] In addition, the barrier red algae fiber according to the present invention is prepared by comprising: (1) adding 1,000 to 3,000 parts by weight of water to 100 parts by weight of a mixture of 0.1 to 5.0 wt % of sulfuric acid and 95 to 99.9 wt % of red algae, reacting the mixture at 60 to 120 C. for 1 to 5 hours to remove carrageenan or agar and obtaining a remaining red algae residue; and
[0032] (2) adding 400 to 600 parts by weight of water and 0.5 to 5.0 parts by weight of a bleaching agent to 100 parts by weight of the red algae residue obtained at above (1), adjusting pH between 3 and 5, and then reacting the red algae residue at 60 to 95 C. for 0.5 to 5 hours to bleach and wash it, thereby obtaining the barrier red algae fiber.
[0033] In this case, it is preferable that the red algae comprise one or more selected from Eucheuma cottonii, Eucheuma spinosum and Gracilaria, but is not limited thereto.
[0034] In addition, it is preferable that the bleaching agent is one or more selected from chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite, chlorine, ozone and oxygen, more preferably chlorine dioxide or sodium hypochlorite, and even more preferably chlorine dioxide, which may be more advantageous in achieving the purpose of the present invention.
[0035] In addition, the present invention provides barrier coated paper comprising, a paper; and a barrier coating layer containing the barrier red algae fiber, which is coated on at least a portion of a surface of the paper.
[0036] In this case, the barrier coating layer may further comprise a polymer, and the barrier coating layer comprises 10 to 99 wt % of the polymer and 1 to 90 wt % of the barrier red algae fiber. As the polymer and the barrier red algae fiber satisfy the above content range, it may be more advantageous in achieving the purpose of the present invention.
[0037] The polymer preferably comprises one or more selected from among PVA (Poly vinyl alcohol), starch, nanocellulose, chitin, PLLA (Poly-L-Lactic Acid), sc-PLA (Stereo Complex Polylactic Acid), PHB (Poly-(3-hydroxy buthyrate)), PBS (Poly Butylene Succinate), PCA (Poly caprolactone) and PGA (Poly glycolic acid), but is not limited thereto.
[0038] Meanwhile, the barrier coating layer can be formed by mixing the polymer and the barrier red algae fiber and coating the paper surface.
[0039] In this case, before mixing the polymer and the barrier red algae fiber, mixing hydrogen peroxide and the barrier red algae fiber, adjusting pH, and then heat-treating to perform secondary bleaching.
[0040] In this case, the secondary bleaching can be performed by mixing 0.5 to 5.0 wt % of hydrogen peroxide and 95 to 99.5 wt % of the barrier red algae fiber, the pH may be adjusted to a range of 10 to 13, and the heat treatment can be carried out at a temperature of 60 to 95 C. for 0.5 to 5 hours.
[0041] Meanwhile, the barrier coating layer may have a basis weight of 1 to 100 g/m.sup.2.
[0042] In addition, the barrier coating layer may further comprise one or more selected from PAM (Poly amidoamine), a wet strength agent, and a hydrophobic agent. The wet strength agent may comprise one or more selected from epoxy emulsion, and epichlorohydrin, and the hydrophobic agent may comprise one or more selected from AKD (alkyl ketene dimer), ASA (alkenyl succinic acid), and rosin, but is not limited thereto.
[0043] Meanwhile, the present invention provides a barrier sheet comprising the barrier red algae fiber.
[0044] The barrier coating layer may be formed solely of the barrier red algae fiber, or may be formed by comprising a predetermined polymer and the barrier red algae fiber.
[0045] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the barrier sheet may further comprise a polymer, and in this case, the barrier sheet may comprise 10 to 99 wt % of the polymer and 1 to 90 wt % of the barrier red algae fiber described. When the polymer and the barrier red algae fiber satisfy the above content range, it may be more advantageous to achieve the purpose of the present invention.
[0046] The polymer preferably comprises one or more selected from PVA (Poly vinyl alcohol), starch, nanocellulose, chitin, PLLA (Poly-L-Lactic Acid), sc-PLA (Stereo Complex Polylactic Acid), PHB (Poly-(3-hydroxy buthyrate)), PBS (Poly Butylene Succinate), PCA (Poly caprolactone) and PGA (Poly glycolic acid), but is not limited thereto.
[0047] Meanwhile, before mixing the polymer with the barrier red algae fiber, hydrogen peroxide and the barrier red algae fiber can be mixed, followed by pH adjustment and heat treatment to perform secondary bleaching.
[0048] In this case, the secondary bleaching can be performed by mixing 0.5 to 5.0 wt % of hydrogen peroxide and 95 to 99.5 wt % of the barrier red algae fiber, the pH may be adjusted to a range of 10 to 13, and the heat treatment can be carried out at a temperature of 60 to 95 C. for 0.5 to 5 hours.
[0049] Meanwhile, the barrier sheet may have a basis weight of 1 to 100 g/m.sup.2.
[0050] In addition, the barrier sheet may further comprise one or more selected from PAM (Poly amidoamine), a wet strength agent, and a hydrophobic agent. The wet strength agent may comprise one or more selected from epoxy emulsion, and epichlorohydrin, and the hydrophobic agent may comprise one or more selected from AKD (alkyl ketene dimer), ASA (alkenyl succinic acid), and rosin, but is not limited thereto.
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
[0051] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail through examples. The following examples specially illustrate the present invention, and it is obvious to those persons of ordinary skill in the art that the scope of the present invention is not limited by following examples.
EXAMPLE
Example 1-1. Preparation of Barrier Red Algae Fiber (Eucheuma cottonii Fiber)
[0052] Eucheuma cottonii fiber (barrier red algae fiber) was prepared by the preparation method according to the flow chart disclosed in
[0053] a. 300 g of dried Eucheuma cottonii, a red algae fiber, was added to 6,000 g of water so that the weight ratio was 20:1 (water:Eucheuma cottonii), and then 0.3 wt % of sulfuric acid was added based on the weight ratio of Eucheuma cottonii. After that, the temperature was increased for 30 minutes and the reaction was performed at 100 C. for 3 hours, and then carrageenan was sufficiently extracted using a 200-mesh screen, and the remaining residue was referred to as Eucheuma cottonii residue (red algae residue).
[0054] b. After adjusting the weight ratio of the water:Eucheuma cottonii residue to 5:1, chlorine dioxide was added at 2 wt % based on the dry weight of the Eucheuma cottonii residue, and the pH was adjusted to 3.5 with acetic acid. After that, the reaction was performed at a temperature of 90 C. for 1 hour and 30 minutes to bleach the Eucheuma cottonii residue, and the washed material was referred to as Eucheuma cottonii fiber (barrier red algae fiber).
[0055] In Example 1 of the present invention, it was confirmed from the XRD results and sugar analysis results of the Eucheuma cottonii fiber that the Eucheuma cottonii is composed of cellulose (
[0056] The prepared barrier red algae fiber contained 80 wt % of oval red algae fibers having a cross-sectional major axis length of 50 to 500 um and a fiber wall thickness of 50 to 500 nm.
Example 1-2
[0057] Prepared in the same manner as in Example 1-1, except that Eucheuma cottonii was changed to Gracilaria to prepare a barrier red algae fiber. The prepared barrier red algae fiber contained 70 wt % of oval red algae fibers having a cross-sectional major axis length of 50 to 500 m and a fiber wall thickness of 50 to 500 nm.
Comparative Example 2-1
[0058] Prepared in the same manner as in Example 1-1, except that red algae Eucheuma cottonii was changed to red algae Gelidium to prepare a barrier red algae fiber. The prepared barrier red algae fiber was a cylindrical fiber having a major axis length of 500 to 800 um and a fiber thickness of 1,000 to 2,200 nm.
Comparative Example 2-2
[0059] Nanocellulose was prepared by passing 1.5% concentration of hardwood bleached pulp through a super masscolloidor 60 times, and the obtained nanocellulose was a cylindrical fiber with a major axis of 8.2 m and a fiber width of 35.2 nm.
Preparation Examples 1-1 to 1-2 and Comparative Preparation Examples 1-1 to 1-2. Preparation of Barrier Sheets
[0060] Using the fibers prepared in Example 1-1, Example 1-2, Comparative Example 2-1, and Comparative Example 1-2, a barrier sheet having a basis weight of 10 g/m.sup.2 and 10 g per square meter was prepared on a cellulose acetate membrane (0.45 m pore size, HYUNDAI MICRO, Republic of Korea) filter.
Experimental Example 1: Oxygen Permeability (OP) and Dehydration Analysis
[0061] For the barrier sheets prepared in Preparation Example 1-1 to 1-2 and Comparative Preparation Examples 1-1 to 1-2, oxygen permeability (OP) was measured. The oxygen transmission rate was measured using an ultra-precision oxygen analyzer (OX-TRAN Model 2, MOCON, USA) at 23 C., 1 atm, and 0 relative humidity for 24 hours. In order to compensate for the barrier sheet thickness, the oxygen permeability was calculated by dividing the oxygen transmission rate by the sheet thickness.
[0062] In addition, the dehydration was analyzed by measuring the time it took until dehydration no longer occurred when a 5 g/m.sup.2 barrier sheet was prepared by applying the same vacuum pressure on a cellulose acetate membrane (0.45 m pore size, HYUNDAI MICRO, Republic of Korea) filter.
[0063] The results are shown in Table 1 below.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 OP(oxygen permeability) Dehydration Sample Cm.sup.3 .Math. m/m.sup.2 .Math. day .Math. atm time(seconds) Preparation Example 1-1 95 30.4 Preparation Example 1-2 129 37.8 Comparative Preparation 1237 42.6 Example 1-1 Comparative Preparation 234 342.1 Example 1-2
[0064] As shown in the Table 1, Preparation Examples 1-1 and 1-2, which all satisfy the major axis length, fiber wall thickness, and content of the oval red algae fiber of the present invention, have significantly lower oxygen permeability than Comparative Preparation Example 1-1, which exceeds the cross-sectional major axis length and the fiber wall thickness range and uses cylindrical fibers, and have significantly faster dehydration times than Comparative Preparation Example 1-2, which falls below the cross-sectional major axis length and the fiber wall thickness range and uses cylindrical fibers.
Preparation Example 2. Coating 5g of Eucheuma cottonii Fiber on a Coated Base Paper
[0065] 60 wt % of the Eucheuma cottonii fibers prepared n Example 1-1 and 40 wt % of PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) were mixed, and then coated on a coated base paper (coated base paper supplied by a domestic M paper company with a basis weight of 50 g/m.sup.2. Hereinafter, coated base paper) using a coating bar so that the weight of the coating layer became 5 g per square meter on a dry basis, and then dried.
Preparation Example 3. Coating 10 g of Eucheuma cottonii Fiber on a Coated Base Paper
[0066] 60 wt % of the Eucheuma cottonii fibers prepared in Example 1-1 and 40 wt % of PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) were mixed, and then coated on a coated base paper using a coating bar so that the weight of the coating layer became 10 g per square meter on a dry basis, and then dried.
Comparative Preparation Example 2. Preparation of Hardwood Bleached Pulp Barrier Sheet 1
[0067] Hardwood bleached pulp was refined using a valley beater until it reached the Canadian standard freeness of 510 ml, and a barrier sheet of 20 g per square meter was prepared using the same method as Preparation Example 1-1.
Comparative Preparation Example 3. Preparation of Hardwood Bleached Pulp Barrier Sheet 2
[0068] Hardwood bleached pulp was refined using a valley beater until it reached the Canadian standard freeness of 95 ml, and a barrier sheet of 20 g per square meter was prepared using the same method as Preparation Example 1-1.
Comparative Preparation Example 4. Preparation of Microfibrils and Nanocellulose
[0069] Using the refined hardwood fibers of Comparative Preparation Example 3 and additionally repeating the refining 20 times using a super masscolloidor, cylinder-shaped microfibrils (cellulose microfibril. CMF) having a fibril length of 25.5 m and an average fibril width of 185 nm were prepared.
[0070] In addition, using the refined hardwood fibers of Comparative Preparation Example 3 and additionally repeating the refining 60 times using a super masscolloidor, cylinder-shaped nanocellulose (cellulose nano-fibrils, CNF) having a fibril length of 7.6 m and an average fibril width of 45 nm were prepared.
Comparative Preparation Example 5. Preparation of a Barrier Sheet 10 g Per Square Meter Using CMF
[0071] A barrier sheet 10 g per square meter was prepared on nanofilter using the CMF prepared in Comparative Preparation Example 4.
Comparative Preparation Example 6. Preparation of a Barrier Sheet 10 g Per Square Meter Using CNF
[0072] A barrier sheet 10 g per square meter was prepared on a nanofilter using the CNF prepared in Comparative Preparation Example 4.
Comparative Preparation Example 7. Coating 10 g of CMF on a Coated Base Paper
[0073] After mixing 60 wt % of the dried CMF prepared in Comparative Preparation Example 4 and 40 wt % of PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), the coating layer was coated on the coated base paper using a coating bar so that the weight of the coating layer became 10 g per square meter on a dry basis, and then dried.
Comparative Preparation Example 8. Coating 10 g of CNF on a Coated Base Paper
[0074] 60 wt % of the dried CNF prepared in Comparative Preparation Example 4 and 40 wt % of PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) were mixed, and then coated on the coated base paper using a coating bar so that the weight of the coating layer became 10 g per square meter on a dry basis, and then dried.
Comparative Preparation Example 9. Preparation of Film
[0075] In an extruder (Multi-Layer T-die Extrusion Film Production Line, Hankook EM, Korea), PLA (stereoisomer of 1.2-1.6% D-isomer lactide (PLA-4032D) and an average molecular weight of 220 kDa) was heated at 160180 C., and then a film of 10 g per square meter was prepared.
Comparative Preparation Example 10. Coated Base Paper
[0076] Coated base paper of 50 g per square meter was supplied from a domestic company M and used.
Experimental Example 2. Analysis of Oxygen Permeability (OP)
[0077] The components of the Preparation Examples 1-1, 2, 3 and Comparative Preparation Examples 2 to 10 and their oxygen permeability were measured (measured using the oxygen permeability measurement method of Experimental Example 1).
[0078] Table 2 shows the results of the oxygen permeability (OP) of the film. Considering that the oxygen permeability of PVDC (polyvinylidene chloride), a polymer barrier film with excellent oxygen permeability, is 10 to 300 cm.sup.3.Math.m/m.sup.2.Math.day.Math.atm, it was determined that biodegradable materials, Eucheuma cottonii fiber (Preparation Example 1-1) and CNF (Comparative Preparation Example 6), could function as excellent oxygen gas barriers, and in contrast, the hardwood fiber (Comparative Preparation Example 2, Comparative Preparation Example 3) barrier sheets that underwent a lot of refining and PLA (Comparative Preparation Example 9) films had very high oxygen permeability, and it was confirmed that CMF (Comparative Preparation Example 5) also did not function as an excellent barrier.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Oxygen permeability of Barrier sheet or film OP(oxygen permeability) Sample type form cm.sup.3 .Math. m/m.sup.2 .Math. day .Math. atm Preparation Eucheuma Barrier sheet 95 Example 1-1 cottonii fiber 10 g/m.sup.2 Comparative Hardwood pulp Barrier sheet >10,000 Preparation 510 ml CSF 20 g/m.sup.2 Example 2 Comparative Hardwood pulp Barrier sheet >10,000 Preparation 95 ml CSF 20 g/m.sup.2 Example 3 Comparative CMF Barrier sheet 487 Preparation 10 g/m.sup.2 Example 5 Comparative CNF Barrier sheet 153 Preparation 10 g/m.sup.2 Example 6 Comparative PLA film 10 g/m.sup.2 17,792 Preparation Example 9
[0079] Table 3 shows that when Eucheuma cottonii fiber (Preparation Example 3) and CNF were coated on the coated base paper (Comparative Preparation Example 8) to 10 g/m.sup.2, it could act as an excellent oxygen barrier like a PVDC film. However, when a small amount of Eucheuma cottonii fiber was coated, it showed slightly higher oxygen permeability than PVDC, as in Preparation Example 2. In contrast, CMF (Comparative Preparation Example 7) still showed significantly higher oxygen permeability than PVDC.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Oxygen permeability after coating on 50 g/m.sup.2 of coated base paper OP(oxygen permeability) Sample type form cm.sup.3 .Math. m/m.sup.2 .Math. day .Math. atm Preparation Eucheuma cottonii coating 318 Example 2 fiber, PVA 5 g/m.sup.2 Preparation Eucheuma cottonii coating 56 Example 3 fiber, PVA 10 g/m.sup.2 Comparative CMF, PVA coating 855 Preparation 10 g/m.sup.2 Example 7 Comparative CNF, PVA coating 128 Preparation 10 g/m.sup.2 Example 8 Comparative Chemical pulp 50 g/m.sup.2 >10,000 Preparation coated base paper Example 10
[0080] As described above, it was confirmed that Eucheuma cottonii fiber and CNF can act as excellent oxygen barriers. However, in order to prepare CNF, not only must bleached wood pulp be prepared first, but also a lot of energy must be invested to prepare nanocellulose. In contrast, Eucheuma cottonii fiber has the advantage of requiring less energy because it can be prepared with a simple bleaching process.
Experimental Example 3. Dehydration Analysis
[0081] In order to apply biodegradable films or coating materials as packaging materials, water must be used as a medium. However, if the dehydration speed of the water used as a medium is delayed, not only will the preparation speed be slowed down when preparing the film, but it will also be difficult to coat at a high concentration. Therefore, it was confirmed whether the dehydration was excellent.
[0082] The dehydration experiment was measured as the time required until dehydration no longer occurred when a barrier sheet having a weight of 5 g/m.sup.2 was prepared under the same vacuum pressure on a cellulose acetate membrane (0.45 um pore size, HYUNDAIMICRO, Republic of Korea) filter.
[0083] As the results of the dehydration analysis are disclosed in Table 4, CMF (Comparative Preparation Example 5) or CNF (Comparative Preparation Example 6) dehydrated very slowly, so there is a high possibility that product production will inevitably be disrupted unless special equipment or a lot of drying energy is used.
[0084] On the other hand, Eucheuma cottonii Fiber has a dehydration property similar to those of hardwood pulp that has undergone extensive refining, so it was confirmed that it can be prepared using existing papermaking machines, achieving high productivity and reduced drying energy consumption.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Dehydration characteristics of biodegradable barrier raw materials Dehydration Sample reference time(seconds) Eucheuma cottonii fiber Preparation Example 1-1 30.4 Hardwood pulp 95 ml CSF Comparative Preparation 29.4 Example 3 CMF Comparative Preparation 189.5 Example 5 CNF Comparative Preparation 243.7 Example 6
[0085] Although one example of the present invention has been described above, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the example presented in this specification, and those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention will be able to easily suggest other examples by adding, changing, deleting, or adding components within the scope of the same spirit, but this will also be considered to fall within the spirit of the present invention.