Planet Polymer Technologies, Inc.

Other

Brunswick Corporation

Basf Corporation

Agway Inc.

Pre Finish Metals, Incorporated

The Rubbright Group, Inc.

Deposition Technology, Inc.

Robert J Petcavich

Xiaoming Yang

Lijun Mao

Edmund J Kuziemka

Richard L Burns

Li Yang

Robert H Stock

Stephen M Emanuele

Douglas Merrill

Gregory A Kaiser

The shelf life of fresh harvest produce is extended by coating the exterior surface of freshly harvested produce with a coating composition comprising an aqueous emulsion of polyvinylidene chloride copolymers containing from about 0.25 to 25% by weight of copolymer solids to water and between 0.001 and 20% plasticizer preferably a polyethylene oxide based additive such as Triton-X to weight of copolymer solids in the emulsion. The coating may also contain biocides as well to control bacteria and fungal growth on the post harvest produce during storage, shipping, distribution, and sale of the product. The coating composition is effective in extending the shelf life of produce.

Process and coating composition for extending the shelf life of post harvest produce

A method of preserving the natural color and appearance of fresh and minimally processed fruits and vegetables, especially for inhibiting desiccation and/or discoloration of freshly processed vegetables such as carrots, resides in coating the fruit or vegetable with an aqueous solution of trehalose or of trehalose combined with one or more other sugars.

Method for preserving the natural appearance of fresh and minimally processed fruits and vegetables

Controlled release urea-based feed supplements for ruminant animals and controlled release urea-based plant nutrients are comprised of particles or granules comprised in whole or in principal part of urea or having urea at or on the exterior surfaces thereof, and a moisture resistant interpenetrating polymer network coating on the particles comprised of the reaction products of urea and a polyisocyanate, and the reaction products of polyisocyanate, an alkyd resin having at least one double bond in each repeat unit and an oil having at least one double bond, the double bonds being reactive with one another and with themselves. The coated plant nutrients have a substantially linear rate of release of nutrients to the soil over a controlled period of time, e.g., 30 to 120 days. The coated ruminant feed supplements have a substantially linear rate of NPN release in the rumen over a controlled period of time, e.g., 12 to 24 hours. The ratio of nutrients to control agents is high, controlled release is achieved at minimal expense, and the products are economical to use.

Controlled release urea-based products

This invention provides a ruminant feedstock with a content of non-protein nitrogen supplement which yields a safe controlled-release generation of ammonia under rumen incubation conditions. In another embodiment, this invention provides a ruminant feedstock supplement for controlled-release of non-protein nitrogen which comprises urea particles encapsulated with a rumen-degradable polymeric coating.

Feedstock for ruminants with controlled-release non-protein nitrogen

Fresh produce is preserved by coating the exterior surface of the produce with a coating composition comprising an aqueous solution of from about 0.5 to about 4 percent by weight of a cellulose derivative, preferably sodium carboxymethylcellulose, from about 0.05 to about 0.5 percent by weight of konjac, and from about 0.03 to about 0.1 percent by weight of surfactant, preferably dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate. Optional constituents include antimicrobials, plasticizers and antifoaming agents. The coating composition is effective to control respiratory exchange, i.e., the passage of gases, particularly oxygen, ethylene, carbon dioxide and water vapor, into and out of the produce, thereby to control maturation and ripening of the produce.

Process for preserving fresh produce

Fresh produce is preserved by coating the exterior surface of the produce with a coating composition comprising an aqueous solution of from about 1 to about 20 percent by weight of substantially hydrolyzed cold water insoluble polyvinyl alcohol, about 0.1 to about 10 percent by weight of low molecular weight cold water soluble starch, and about 0.03 to about 5 percent by weight of surfactant. Optional constituents include antimicrobials and plasticizers. The coating composition is effective to control respiratory exchange, i.e., the passage of gases, particularly oxygen, ethylene and carbon dioxide, into and out of the produce, thereby to control maturation and ripening of the produce.

Process for preventing fresh produce and coating composition therefor

A powder injection molding composition or feedstock is made of 70% or more by weight of a powdered metal or ceramic and 30% or less by weight of a binder system. The binder system contains a sufficient amount of polypropylene or polyethylene to hold the so-called brown preform of the molded metal or ceramic powder together for the sintering step of the injection molding process and a sufficient amount of partially hydrolyzed cold water soluble polyvinyl alcohol water and plasticizer to facilitate molding of the composition into the so- called green preform of the article to be manufactured. The debinding step of the injection molding process for transforming the green preform into the brown preform consists simply of immersing the green preform in water at ambient temperature to dissolve the polyvinyl alcohol. The binder system is nonhazardous, safe, harmless and fully degradable.

Powder and binder systems for use in metal and ceramic powder injection

A powder injection molding composition or feedstock is made of 70% or more by weight of a powdered metal or ceramic and 30% or less by weight of a binder system. The binder system contains a sufficient amount of polypropylene or polyethylene to hold the so-called brown preform of the molded metal or ceramic powder together for the sintering step of the injection molding process and a sufficient amount of partially hydrolyzed cold water soluble polyvinyl alcohol, water and plasticizer to facilitate molding of the composition into the so-called green preform of the article to be manufactured. The debinding step of the injection molding process for transforming the green preform into the brown preform consists simply of immersing the green preform in water at ambient temperature to dissolve the polyvinyl alcohol. The binder system is nonhazardous, safe, harmless and fully degradable.

Biologic molecules and pathogens in a sample substance are detected by utilizing the multiplicity of mirrors in a digital micromirror device as test sites to which molecular probes are attached and to which the sample substance is applied. A molecule or pathogen bonded on the surface of a micromirror activated with an appropriate molecular probe can be detected by optical projection or software interrogation of the array of micromirrors.

Method for molecule detection utilizing digital micromirror technology

Plant nutrients that are released in soil over a controlled period of time are comprised of plant nutrient particles containing urea and on the surface of the particles a water insoluble, biodegradable, interpenetrating polymer network comprised of a biuret, a urethane and tung oil; more specifically, an interpenetrating network comprised of the reaction product of the urea and an isocynate reactive with urea, the reaction product of the isocyanate and an alcohol reactive with isocyanate to form a urethane, and the reaction product of the urethane and tung oil. A method of making the controlled release plant nutrient conveniently and economically is also disclosed.

Controlled release plant nutrients

Cold water insoluble, hot water soluble and/or dispersible, disposable films, fabrics and other useful articles of manufacture are formed from a miscible polymeric resin blend comprised of cold water soluble partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol, cold water insoluble hot water disintegrable aliphatic polyester, and minor proportions of processing and performance aids. The aliphatic polyester has a melt temperature above the normal body temperature of a human (37 degrees C.; 98.6 degrees F.) and is present in the resin blend at a concentration sufficient to constitute the continuous phase of the blend, with the polyvinyl alcohol constituting a discontinuous phase of the blend. The aliphatic polyester thus renders the resin blend, and the partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol in the blend, cold water insoluble and determines the temperature at which articles formed from the blend will be subject to dissolution in an aqueous bath and subsequent disposal in an environmentally and ecologically sound fashion.

Hot water soluble disposable films, fabrics and articles

Electron beam radiation of resin blends and compounds comprises in major part by weight of cellulose acetate accelerates the rate and increases the degree of biodegradation of the compounds and products made therefrom, and renders the same fully compostable, without sacrifice of physical properties.

Biodegradable compostable plastic and method of making the same

A utensil for use in preparing foods in a microwave oven comprises a microwave transparent, nonconductive, ceramic, opentop food receiving vessel, a microwave transparent, nonconductive, ceramic cover for closing the open top of the vessel, special glaze or coating sintered onto at least the interior surfaces of the vessel and cover or onto both the interior and exterior surfaces thereof; the glaze or coating being comprised of a dielectric matrix and semiconductive particles dispersed throughout the matrix; the percent loading of the conductive particles in the matrix being such that the food contained in the vessel is partially shielded from microwave energy and the glaze absorbs microwave energy and the glaze absorbs microwave energy and converts it to thermal energy concentrated at the utensil so that the outside surface of the food is browned and crisped and the food is cooked from the outside to the inside by the heat transferred to the food from the utensil, as well as being cooked in part from the inside to the outside by microwave energy absorbed within the food.

Ceramic utensil for microwave cooking

Environmentally friendly, disposable, degradable and/or recyclable plastic articles are made from water soluble, miscible, high molecular weight, thermoplastic, polymeric resin blends that are comprised by weight of about 65% to 95% high molecular weight water soluble thermoplastic resin having an inverse solubility characteristic and about 35% to 5% of at least one of certain high molecular weight thermoplastic polymers that are functionally compatible (miscible) with the inversely soluble resin. The articles are insoluble when used for their intended purposes, but become soluble when exposed to tepid or cool water and degradable when buried in a land fill or compost. The inversely soluble resin comprises high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide). The compatible polymer is selected from the group consisting of Nylon 11, Nylon 12, polycaprolactone, polycaprolactone, polyethylene-co-acrylic acid, polyethylene-co-methacrylic acid, polyethylene-co-vinylacetate and polyethylene-co-vinylalcohol. The articles are hydrodegradable, e.g., flushable, biodegradable, e.g., compostable, and can be recycled if desired, thereby eliminating the trash and garbage problems inherent in the use of nondegradable plastics.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Robert J Petcavich