Food processing and packaging technology using micro scale gas generating propell

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议的研究将确定使用经验证的高能材料作为活性包装组件整合到初级包装中的可行性，从而提供一种可控和非侵入性的方法，在包装经过处理和密封后改变包装内的气氛。这种活性包装技术可用于多种气调应用，包括容器加压、产品覆盖、除氧、防篡改等。]]最初提出的技术应用将是非酒精饮料行业;特别是风味非碳酸（无气）饮料行业（例如果汁，茶，等渗，能量和健康饮料等）。它正在迅速增长，并蚕食了碳酸（起泡）软饮料量的下降，因为健康和保健仍然是美国消费者的优先事项。这些饮料大多装在塑料瓶里。这些瓶子，平均而言，有60%以上的树脂比碳酸软饮料和水瓶由于灌装过程-热灌装。该研究旨在证明当使用通过该技术提供的新型加压技术时，这些瓶子的重量减轻到接近碳酸苏打瓶树脂量的能力。[[该研究将量化该设备的技术可行性以及包装供应商和饮料公司的商业机会，从而促进其快速进入市场和绿色制造机会;具体地说，A）确定使用经证实的高能材料作为微型气体发生器的各种推进剂混合物的技术可行性B）确认在标准20盎司PET瓶中受控驱动器械原型的技术可行性。这项技术创新将影响整个饮料行业，从原材料到废物管理，整个供应链都将受益。具体而言：减少3亿磅树脂原料;减少能源消耗（140万桶原油），从而降低了供应商生产更轻瓶子的成本;饮料公司以更低成本创新和区分其产品的能力;增强了消费者对更健康、非化学防腐、调味非碳酸饮料的吸引力，进一步蚕食碳酸苏打水的销售;更少的浪费-2.4亿磅的PET不会被送到垃圾填埋场或焚化炉，或乱扔垃圾。公共卫生相关性：使用mg量的有用气体按需致动小型、大规模生产的密封包装的充气的能力（如微型车辆气囊释放）具有超出饮料工业的用途。可以设想许多行业的许多应用对公共卫生产生影响，包括食品包装，制药和医疗设备。例如，含有高压灭菌/灭菌后膨胀的无菌手术工具的密封包装，如果袋泄漏，则表明可能存在无菌性破坏。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed research would determine the feasibility of using proven energetic materials as active packaging components for integration into primary packaging, thereby providing a controllable and non invasive means of altering the atmosphere inside the package after it has been processed and hermetically sealed. This active packaging technology can be used in a number of modified atmosphere applications including container pressurization, product blanketing, oxygen scavenging, tamper evidence, etc.]] The initial proposed technology application will be to the nonalcoholic beverage industry; specifically the flavored noncarbonated (flat) beverage sector (e.g. juices, teas, isotonics, energy and health drinks, etc.) which is growing rapidly and cannibalizing the declining carbonated (fizzy) soft drink volume as health and wellness continues to be a priority with American Consumers. Most of these beverages are packaged in plastic bottles. These bottles, on average, have 60% more resin than carbonated soft drinks and water bottles due to the filling process - hot fill. The research is intended to demonstrate the capability to light weight these bottles to near carbonated soda bottle resin amounts, when using a novel pressurization technique made available through this technology. [[ The research will quantify the technical feasibly of the Device and the business opportunity for the packaging suppliers and beverage companies, thus promoting its rapid market entry and green manufacturing opportunity; specifically, A) Determine the technical feasibility of various propellant blends using proven energetic materials as micro scale gas generators B) Confirm the technical feasibility of controlled actuation of Device protocepts in a standard 20 ounce PET bottle. ]] This technology innovation would impact the entire beverage industry from raw material to waste management with beneficiaries throughout the supply chain. Specifically: 300 million pounds less resin raw material; less energy (1.4 million barrels of crude oil) and thus lower cost for suppliers to make lighter weight bottles; beverage companies' ability to innovate and differentiate their products at lower cost; enhanced consumer appeal of healthier, non chemically preserved, flavored noncarbonated beverages further cannibalizing carbonated soda sales; and less waste - 240 million pounds of PET would not be sent to landfills or incinerators, or littered. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The ability to actuate the inflation of small, mass produced, sealed packages on demand using mg quantities of useful gases, (like a miniature vehicle airbag release) has uses beyond the beverage industry. It is possible to conceive of many applications across many industries that have an impact on public health, including food packaging, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. For example, having sealed packages containing sterile instruments inflated post autoclaving / sterilizing would indicate a potential sterility breach if the bag ever leaked.