BIODEGRADABLE TEA LEAF STRAW AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME

Abstract

A biodegradable tea leaf straw suitable for use above room temperature and its manufacturing method. The straw includes a tubular body made from a composite. The composite includes the following raw materials by weight percentage: 35% to 65% of tea leaf mixture and 35% to 65% of biodegradable material. The tea leaf mixture contains tea leaf powder and inorganic filler powder. A particle size of the tea leaf powder is smaller than that of the inorganic filler powder. The tea leaf straw retains the natural aroma of tea leaves. All raw materials used in the manufacturing process can be quickly decomposed by environmental microorganisms. The tea leaf straw does not dissolve in the beverage, thereby not affecting its flavor during consumption. The tea leaf straw is feature can attract consumers to use these straws as an alternative to existing plastic straws.

Claims

1. A biodegradable tea leaf straw, comprising: a tubular body made from a composite, the composite comprising tea leaf mixture: 35% to 65% in weight percentage and biodegradable material: 35% to 65% in weight percentage; wherein the tea leaf mixture contains 1% to 50% roasted tea leaf powder, and 50% to 99% inorganic filler powder, a particle size of the tea leaf powder is smaller than a particle size of the inorganic filler powder, the inorganic filler powder includes at least one of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, kaolin, stearic acid, zinc stearate, zinc oxide, antimony trioxide, silicon dioxide, talcum powder, mica powder, barium sulfate, calcium silicate, or quartz powder, the biodegradable material includes at least one of polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), starch-based plastics, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), or polycaprolactone (PCL).

2. The biodegradable tea leaf straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the particle size of the tea leaf powder ranges from 0.1 to 1,000 m.

3. The biodegradable tea leaf straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the particle size of the inorganic filler powder ranges from 0.01 to 100 m.

4. A method for manufacturing a biodegradable tea leaf straw, comprising the steps of: roasting and sterilizing tea leaves, and grinding the tea leaves to form tea leaf powder; mechanically mixing the tea leaf powder with inorganic filler powder to form a tea leaf mixture, a particle size of the tea leaf powder being smaller than a particle size of the inorganic filler powder, the tea leaf mixture including 1% to 50% of the tea leaf powder and 50% to 99% of the inorganic filler powder, the inorganic filler powder including at least one of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, kaolin, stearic acid, zinc stearate, zinc oxide, antimony trioxide, silicon dioxide, talcum powder, mica powder, barium sulfate, calcium silicate, or quartz powder; mixing the tea leaf mixture with a biodegradable material at a temperature between 140 C. to 170 C. to form a composite, the composite including 35% to 65% of the tea leaf mixture and 35% to 65% of the biodegradable material, the biodegradable material including at least one of polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), starch-based plastics, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), or polycaprolactone (PCL), and extruding the composite into a tubular form to create a straw.

5. The method for manufacturing a biodegradable tea leaf straw as claimed in claim 4, wherein the particle size of the tea leaf powder ranges from 0.1 to 1,000 m.

6. The method for manufacturing a biodegradable tea leaf straw as claimed in claim 4, wherein the particle size of the inorganic filler powder ranges from 0.01 to 100 m.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the manufacturing process of the method of the present invention, and

[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tubular body produced by the method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the biodegradable tea leaf straw of the present invention comprises a tubular body made from a composite. The composite comprises tea leaf mixture: 35% to 65% in weight percentage and biodegradable material: 35% to 65% in weight percentage. The tea leaf mixture contains 1% to 50% roasted tea leaf powder, and 50% to 99% inorganic filler powder. A particle size of the tea leaf powder is smaller than a particle size of the inorganic filler powder.

The Method for Manufacturing a Biodegradable Tea Leaf Straw Comprises the Steps of:

[0025] S001: roasting and sterilizing tea leaves, and grinding the tea leaves to form tea leaf powder. The tea leaves are selected from various existing single or mixed types of tea leaves. These tea leaves can be either non-fermented or fermented to a certain degree. After selecting the desired tea leaves, they are roasted to release their aroma and then crushed and ground. The particle size of the tea leaf powder ranges from 0.1 to 1,000 m. [0026] S002: mechanically mixing the tea leaf powder with inorganic filler powder to form a tea leaf mixture. As for the inorganic filler powder, it is food-grade and can be selected based on the required resistance to different pH levels according to usage needs. In one embodiment, the inorganic filler powder includes at least one of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, kaolin, stearic acid, zinc stearate, zinc oxide, antimony trioxide, silicon dioxide, talcum powder, mica powder, barium sulfate, calcium silicate, or quartz powder.

[0027] In order to ensure that the strength of the formed product is not compromised by the tea leaf powder and that the formed product retains the aroma of the tea leaves, the particle size of the tea leaf powder needs to be smaller than that of the inorganic filler powder. Preferably, the particle size of the inorganic filler powder ranges from 0.01 to 100 m.

[0028] Regarding the ratio of tea leaf powder to inorganic filler powder, since tea leaves have a strong aroma, to ensure that the aroma of the final product is not too overpowering, the tea leaf powder can be added at a weight percentage of about 1% to 50%, and mixed with about 50% to 99% of inorganic filler powder to form the tea leaf mixture. [0029] S003: in order to ensure that the tea leaf mixture can bind to a carrier, and in response to environmental requirements and goals, biodegradable materials are chosen as the carrier. Therefore, in the present invention, the tea leaf mixture and the biodegradable materials are mixed at a temperature between 140 C. to 170 C. to achieve binding and form a composite.

[0030] The biodegradable material includes at least one of polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), starch-based plastics, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), or polycaprolactone (PCL). The composite includes 35% to 65% of the tea leaf mixture and 35% to 65% of the biodegradable material. [0031] S004: the composite obtained as described above is extruded and molded into a tubular shape body using an extruder. In this embodiment, the tubular shape body is made into a straw, wherein it includes a tubular body 1 with a passage 11.

[0032] After production, the tubular body 1 made of the present invention retains physical properties comparable to existing biodegradable material-made straws. Due to the particle size configuration, the inorganic filler powder effectively adheres and solidifies the tea leaf powder. Through the binding with biodegradable materials, the present invention maintains a certain level of strength overall. Additionally, the proportion of the inorganic filler powder not only enhances strength but also prevents the straw from becoming brittle due to environmental humidity or temperature changes, ensuring food safety during use without compromising chemical properties due to the addition of tea leaf powder.

[0033] Importantly, the present invention imparts the aroma of the tea leaves. In typical solutions (such as water or beverages), the attachment of tea leaf powder ensures that only the aroma of tea leaves is released without affecting the original taste of the solution. This enhances the added value of the tubular body 1, giving it a higher quality feel at a low manufacturing cost. Overall, these effects help attract consumer purchases, thereby reducing the use of plastic straws and contributing to plastic reduction and environmental protection goals.

[0034] Furthermore, all raw materials used in the manufacturing process of the present invention are materials that can be rapidly decomposed by environmental microorganisms. Therefore, they only require burial in normal ambient temperature soil for about six months to decompose. After decomposition, only water, carbon dioxide, and inorganic filler powder remain, completely avoiding any burden or harm to the environment. This assists in reducing plastic use, thereby lowering plastic pollution and maintaining the health and safety of environmental organisms and humans.

[0035] While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.