PRESERVING BAKED GOODS DURING STORAGE

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the packaging of baked goods with materials to prolong their shelf life. It particularly relates to the packaging of baked goods with absorbents.

2. Description of Related Art

It is known in the packaging of foods that various materials may be added to food packages to prolong storage life. Sometimes materials absorb moisture to lower the relative humidity in the package. At other times oxygen absorbers are added to lower oxidation of the material in the package.

In the packaging of baked goods it is known to place ethyl alcohol in the package to prolong shelf life. “Novel Food Packaging Techniques,” by Raija Ahvenainen (2003) pages 56-58 and 94 it is taught that ethanol has strong antibacterial and antifungal activity however it is not strong enough to prevent the growth of yeast. Also ethanol is commonly used with bakery products in Europe to extend the shelf life. Usually the ethyl alcohol is sprayed on the bakery item.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,103,141 Incorvia and US publication 2002/0188046—McKedy discloses activated carbon utilized in an absorbent. U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,690—McKedy discloses activated carbon as a water supplier for an oxygen absorber. US publication 2010/0018236—Powers discloses activated carbon for absorbing moisture and odor. US 2009/0053388—Powers discloses activated carbon as holding a flavor emitter.

There remains a need for improved packaging of baked goods. Baked goods emit hexanal during storage. There is a need for a product that would absorb hexanal and decay odors as well as aid in the prevention of decay of the baked goods. There remains a need for a product that is low-cost, easy-to-use, and safe.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method of preserving baked goods comprising placing the baked goods in package and inserting an absorber for hexanal and decay odors into the package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

There are numerous advantages to the instant invention. The instant invention allows longer storage of baked goods. Further it is low in cost and absorbs both unpleasant odors and hexanal. The hexanal also has an unpleasant odor. Further the invention method is compatible with other food packaging materials such as oxygen absorbers and water absorbers. The packaging method of the invention improves the taste and odor of baked goods in storage. These and other advantages will be apparent from the detailed description below.

The invention method initiates the process of improving preservation of the baked goods by placing a hexanal absorber into the package for the baked goods. The hexanal absorber may be any suitable material such as activated carbon, molecular sieve material and silica gel. Hexanal is undesirable because it has an undesirable and offensive odor. This odor can give the impression that the bakery item is bad before its time. A preferred material has been found to be activated carbon as this material both efficiently adsorbs odor and hexanal. A most preferred carbon material has been found to be a small pore activated carbon as this material has been found to more rapidly adsorb flavor compounds and to be able to adsorb and retain a greater amount of flavor compounds than a larger pore activated carbon. Too large a pore size and the gas is not retained in the particle.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention includes a hexanal reducing composition including an adsorber that will releasably retain sulfur dioxide and an absorber that will react with the sulfur dioxide to irreversibly retain the sulfur dioxide. For example, the absorber will react with the sulfur dioxide to convert the sulfur dioxide into another compound that cannot later be released back into the package. In operation, the adsorber draws the hexanal into the composition and the absorber reacts with the hexanal to form a new compound from which sulfur dioxide is not released.

The adsorber is any substance that will releasably retain hexanal. The adsorber preferably is a porous structure that allows for retention of the hexanal in its pores. Adsorbers usable in the invention include, but are not limited to, activated carbon, molecular sieve and silica gel.

Although in some applications the adsorber may be sufficient to remove hexanal from a headspace of a container, for example, using activated carbon or the like, can lead to subsequent release of the sulfur dioxide. Thus preferred embodiments of the invention further include an absorber.

Any activated carbon may be utilized in the invention. However, as stated above a small pore activated carbon is preferred as the gas is retained better in the carbon particle when adsorbing flavor chemicals. The molecular sieve also is more effective in adsorbing the flavors and hexanal if the pore sizes are small. The activated carbon may be present in any suitable amount. Generally the activated carbon is present in any amount effective with a particular baked good as hexanal is given off in differing amounts by different baked goods. Typically a typical amount for an activated carbon or silica gel would be between 1 and 30 grams per 500 grams of baked goods. A preferred amount for the preferred small pore activated carbon would be between 5 and 20 grams for a 500 gram whole wheat bread loaf.

Absorbers may be added to the activated carbon or molecular sieve to increase the adsorption of fragrances, odors and hexanal and react with the hexanal, or other absorbent, to prevent the release of the material absorbed. Suitable for use to increase adsorption capacity and speed of hexanal adsorption was sodium bisulfite or potassium bisulfite. Sodium bisulfate and hydrogen peroxide or other peroxides, calcium peroxide and potassium carbonate may be utilized with or without a carrier. The amount of sodium or potassium bisulfite utilized in the invention maybe any effective amount. A preferred amount is between 1 and 5 grams to increase the absorption of odors and hexanal from a 500 gram whole wheat bread loaf.

While hexanal is the material most desired for absorption to aid in longer shelf life, the absorption of aldehydes is also of interest to increase shelf life. Aldehydes which may be given off by baked goods include acetaldehyde, vanillic aldehydes, furfuraldehyde, anyisaldehyde, perillaldehyde, benzaldehyde, and cinnamic aldehydes. These and other materials would be adsorbed by activated carbon and silica gel.

While the invention has been described as being particularly suitable for use with bread, it is to be understood that other baked goods also would benefit by the invention. Such baked goods would include pies, rolls, cakes, coffee cakes, doughnuts, cookies, sweet rolls (such as cinnamon rolls), fruitcakes, and bagels.

The invention has been described primarily as comprising a method for absorbing hexanal using materials such as activated carbon, peroxides, and a bisulfite, it is understood that other materials normally would be present in such an absorber. The other additives include bactericides, fungicides, fillers, and other additives which aid in food storage but not necessarily the absorption of hexanal.

The material of the invention may be placed into the package by a variety of means. The material may be placed into a sachet of a water vapor and hexanal permeable cloth or membrane, such as microporous polyethylene fibrous sheets (such as Tyvek®) or microporous gas permeable polymer sheets. Further the absorbent of the invention could be placed in an adhesive label or patch which is attached to the inside of the package, normally below printing on the package so that is not visible to the customer. The use of absorbent labels is known in the art, note U.S. Pat. No. 6,1 39,935—Cullen et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,161—Cullen et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,863—Cullen et al. A suitable label structure would generally comprise a layer structure as follows:

	Water vapor, hexanal and odor permeable layer
	Invention hexanal absorber (possibly in a vapor permeable
	polymer layer)
	Polymer base sheet
	Adhesive layer for the attachment to package
	Strippable coversheet for the protection of the adhesive
	prior to use

The label would be sealed at the edges, if necessary, in a known manner such as by heat, ultrasonic sealing, or adhesive sealing.

It is also possible that a permeable polymer layer on the inside of the packaging material could contain the hexanal absorber. The outer layer of the package would provide a barrier layer for oxygen and possibly water vapor.

The absorbers may include an ethanol emitter to aid in preserving the baked goods. Typically of such emitters are ethyl alcohol on a carrier. A preferred ethanol emitter (by weight) is 36% ethyl alcohol, 64% silica gel or 30.7% ethyl alcohol, 5.7% water, 63.6% silica gel or activated carbon can be used as the carrier, an alternative would be 52 grams silica gel, 32.2 grams ethyl alcohol, 190 proof, 2.2 grams water, and 15 grams activated carbon because the ethyl alcohol will be readily released over 30 days' time. It typically would be used in an amount of 10 to 20 grams of a batch comprising 52 grams silica gel, 32.2 grams ethyl alcohol, 190 proof, 2.2 grams water, and 15 grams activated carbon in a packet for a 500 gram whole wheat bread loaf.

Examples below are illustrative and not exhaustive of examples of materials of the invention. Parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

EXAMPLES

The examples show that a combination hexanal absorber and ethanol emitter would be suitable or a combination hexanal absorber and flavor/fragrance emitter to prolong life of baked goods.

Tyvek® packets for the absorber are in a 11×16 inch foil pouch that was cut down to 11×16 inches from a larger foil pouch. In the foil pouch are 6 pecan sandy cookies. The foil pouch was vacuumed and then filled with a gas of 15.7 ppm hexanal in nitrogen. The hexanal contents were measured after 10 days and then after another 10 days. 3 liters of gas were used.

EXAMPLES

1	6 pecan sandy cookies in 3 liters of	10 days - 860 ppb
	air	hexanal at 40° C.
		20 days - 720 ppb
		hexanal at 40° C.
2	6 pecan sandy cookies with 1.0	10 days - 24 ppb
	gram of the activated carbon in air	hexanal at 40° C.
	The activated carbon is a 50 × 200	20 days - 15 ppb
	mesh coconut shell based activated	hexanal at 40° C.
	carbon
3	6 pecan sandy cookies with 2.0	10 days - 8 ppb
	grams of the activated carbon in air	hexanal at 40° C.
	The activated carbon is a 50 × 200	20 days - 6 ppb
	mesh coconut shell based activated	hexanal at 40° C.
	carbon
4	6 pecan sandy cookies with ½%	10 days - 750 ppb
	oxygen with the remainder being	hexanal at 40° C.
	nitrogen	20 days - 560 ppb
		hexanal at 40° C.
5	6 pecan sandy cookies with the gas	10 days - 2500 ppb
	containing hexanal	hexanal at 40° C.
		20 days - 2100 ppb
		hexanal at 40° C.
6	6 pecan sandy cookies with 2.0	10 days - 310 ppb
	grams of activated carbon with the	hexanal at 40° C.
	gas containing hexanal	20 days - 1700 ppb
	The activated carbon is a 50 × 200	hexanal at 40° C.
	mesh coconut shell based activated
	carbon
7	6 pecan sandy cookies with 2.0	10 days - 65 ppb
	grams of activated carbon	hexanal at 40° C.
	impregnated with .3 grams of	20 days - 98 ppb
	potassium metabisulfite in .7	hexanal at 40° C.
	grams of water with the gas
	containing hexanal
	The activated carbon is 50 × 200
	mesh coconut shell based activated
	carbon
8	6 pecan sandy cookies with 3.0	10 days - 100 ppb
	grams of silica gel (300 angstrom)	hexanal at 40° C.
	impregnated with .3 grams of	20 days - 140 ppb
	potassium metabisulfite in .7	hexanal at 40° C.
	grams of water with the gas
	containing hexanal
9	6 pecan sandy cookies with 2.0	10 days - 9 ppb
	grams of activated carbon	hexanal at 40° C.
	impregnated with .7 grams of 35%	20 days - 4 ppb
	hydrogen peroxide with the gas	hexanal at 40° C.
	containing hexanal
	The activated carbon is a 50 × 200
	mesh coconut shell based activated
	carbon
10	6 pecan sandy cookies with 3.0	10 days - 1,600 ppb
	grams of silica gel (300 angstrom)	hexanal at 40° C.
	Transo Pharm impregnated with .7	20 days - 10,000 ppb
	grams of 35% hydrogen peroxide	hexanal at 40° C.
	with the gas containing hexanal	(estimated)
11	3.0 grams Siliporite G5 XP	10 days - 1,900 ppb
	molecular sieve, particle size not	hexanal at 40° C.
	known	20 days - 1,600 ppb
	6 pecan sandy cookies with 3 liters	hexanal at 40° C.
	of gas containing hexanol
12	Hexanal gas blank, no cookies and	10 days - 9,200 ppb
	no moisture source for the water	hexanal at 40° C.
	activity	20 days - 7,000 ppb
		hexanal at 40° C.

The moisture source used in Examples 13-29 was 3.0 grams of a saturated calcium chloride solution in water to give a 32% RH. Testing was in a 3 liter foil lined 11″×16″ pouch. The dry ingredients were in Tyvek® packets. The ingredients in the Tyvek® packet and the wet blotter paper moisture source were sealed in the foil pouch and vacuumed. 3 liters of gas containing 15.7 ppm of hexanal with the remainder being nitrogen was injected into each foil test pouch. The test pouches were stored at room temperature. The analysis was conducted after 4 days.

EXAMPLES

13	.3 gram potassium metabisulfate	10,000 ppb hexanal
	with a moisture source
14	.3 gram potassium metabisulfate	14,000 ppb hexanal
	with a moisture source
15	2.0 grams of activated carbon	11 ppb hexanal
	impregnated with .4 grams water
	with a moisture source. The
	activated carbon is a 50 × 200
	mesh coconut shell based activated
	carbon
16	2.0 grams of activated carbon not	35 ppb hexanal
	impregnated but with a moisture
	source. The activated carbon is a
	50 × 200 mesh coconut shell based
	activated carbon
17	2.0 grams of activated carbon not	<5 ppb hexanal
	impregnated but with a moisture
	source. The activated carbon is a
	50 × 200 mesh coconut shell based
	activated carbon
18	3.5 grams of 3.0% hydrogen	5,800 ppb hexanal
	peroxide on blotter paper with a
	moisture source
19	.4 grams sodium percarbonate with	11,000 ppb hexanal
	a moisture source
20	3.0 grams molecular sieve with a	76 ppb hexanal
	moisture source
21	1.65 grams of: 15 grams activated	7 ppb hexanal
	carbon that is a 50 × 200 mesh
	coconut shell based activated
	carbon; 7.5 grams water; 2.2 grams
	iron; .09 grams sodium chloride
	with a moisture source
22	1.6 grams of: 10 grams activated	11 ppb hexanal
	carbon that is a 50 × 200 mesh
	coconut shell based activated
	carbon
23	1.9 grams of: 10 grams activated	58 ppb hexanal
	carbon + a solution of 2.5 grams of
	sodium bisulfite with 6.25 grams of
	water with a moisture source
24	.3 grams of sodium bisulfite with a	930 ppb hexanal
	moisture source
25	.3 grams of sodium sulfite with a	15,000 ppb hexanal
	moisture source
26	Blank	18,000 ppb hexanal
27	Blank	4,100 ppb hexanal
28	.2 grams of 300 A silica gel	1,800 ppb hexanal
	This is a very wide pore silica gel
	plus a moisture source
29	.3 grams calcium peroxide plus a	400 ppb hexanal
	moisture source

40° C. at set up and 10 days at 40° C. for reading results for Examples 30-49.

In Examples 30-49, the dry materials are in Tyvek® packets, for the tests with the cookies, the cookies are the moisture source with a water activity of 0.26. The tests with cookies only have the hexanal coming off the cookies. The tests without cookies have 3 liter of gas containing 15.7 ppm hexanal in nitrogen, the moisture source is 3 grams of a saturated calcium chloride solution with a water activity of 0.39, for the tests with cookies the pouches were injected with 3 liters of air. The tests were conducted in 11″×16″ foil pouches. The foil pouches were vacuumed and sealed and then injected with the gas, the pouches were set up and filled. The pouches were stored at 40° C. until the hexanal content was measured and is shown in each example.

EXAMPLES

30	2.0 dry activated carbon, the	7 ppb hexanal
	activated carbon is a 50 × 200
	mesh coconut shell based activated
	carbon
	6 pecan sandy shortbread cookies
31	2.0 grams activated carbon	6 ppb hexanal
	impregnated with .4 grams water,
	2.4 grams total. The activated
	carbon is a 50 × 200 mesh coconut
	shell based activated carbon
	6 pecan sandy shortbread cookies
32	4.0 grams of 5XP molecular sieve.	46 ppb hexanal
33	.5 grams sodium bisulfite	47 ppb hexanal
	6 pecan sandie shortbread cookies
34	.5 grams sodium bisulfite	17 ppb hexanal
	6 pecan sandie shortbread cookies
35	.5 grams sodium bisulfite	93 ppb hexanal
	Hexanal gas + moisture source, no
	cookies
36	.5 grams potassium carbonate	110 ppb hexanal
	6 pecan sandie shortbread cookies
37	.5 grams potassium carbonate	99 ppb hexanal
	6 pecan sandie shortbread cookies
38	.5 grams potassium carbonate	120 ppb hexanal
	Hexanal gas + moisture source, no
	cookies
39	.5 gram calcium peroxide	5,000 ppb hexanal
	6 pecan sandie shortbread cookies
40	.5 grams calcium peroxide	57 ppb hexanal
	Hexanal gas + moisture source, no
	cookies
41	.5 grams potassium metabisulfate	60 ppb hexanal
	6 pecan sandie shortbread cookies
42	.5 grams potassium metabisulfate	110 ppb hexanal
	6 pecan sandie shortbread cookies
43	.5 grams potassium metabisulfate	110 ppb hexanal
	Hexanal gas + moisture source, no
	cookies
44	1.0 gram 35% hydrogen peroxide	5,800 ppb hexanal
	on blotter paper
	6 pecan sandie shortbread cookies
45	1.0 gram 35% hydrogen peroxide	280 ppb hexanal
	on blotter paper
	Hexanal gas + moisture source, no
	cookies
46	Blank	630 ppb hexanal
	A blank is a foil pouch with only
	the cookies and injected with 3
	liters of air
	6 pecan sandie shortbread cookies
47	Blank	110 ppb hexanal
	A blank is a foil pouch with only the
	cookies and injected with 3 liters of
	air
	6 pecan sandie shortbread cookies
48	Blank	8,400 ppb hexanal
	A blank without cookies is a foil
	pouch with only the hexanal gas
	and a moisture source
	Hexanal gas + moisture source, no
	cookies
49	Blank	7,200 ppb hexanal
	A blank without cookies is a foil
	pouch with only the hexanal gas
	and a moisture source
	Hexanal gas + moisture source, no
	cookies

Testing for all tests of Examples 50A-57B were in a 3 liter foil lined pouch 11″×16″; the pouch was cut down from a larger size foil pouch. All testing was done with 6 pecan sandie shortbread cookies and 3 liters of gas containing 15.7 ppm of hexanal with the remainder being nitrogen. The test pouches were stored at 40° C. from filling until the analysis was done. The hexanal contents were measured after 112 days. The deposits label type were on a card board and dried at 120° C. until the deposit held together and was not too wet. The non cardboard deposits were placed in a Tyvek® pouch; no wet blotter paper was used. The foil pouch was vacuumed after the test ingredients were placed inside, then heat sealed. After this the vacuumed pouch was filled with 3 liters of gas containing 15.7 ppm hexanal with the remainder being nitrogen. The hexanal analyses were done. The 6 cookies and hexanal absorber were placed inside the foil lined pouch before it was vacuumed and sealed.

Label potassium metabisulfite and activated carbon cardboard type deposit.

• • 67% 30. grams liquid (fresh card liquid) 12% hydroxyl propyl cellulose solution in water
  • 33% 15. grams Impregnated carbon
    • 45. grams total

Impregnated Carbon

• • 62% 15. grams activated carbon

The carbon is a 50×200 mesh coconut shell based activated carbon.

• • 10% 2.25 grams potassium metabisulfite
  • 23% 5.25 grams water
    • 22.5 grams total

EXAMPLES

50A	9.1 gram deposit will give .3 grams	5 ppb hexanal
	of potassium metabisulfite and 2.0
	grams of carbon, the amount of 9.1
	grams was placed on cardboard
	and is used for the test, this was a
	label card type deposit
50B	Duplicate of cardboard card (retest)	18 ppb hexanal
51A	3.0 grams of the impregnated	190 ppb hexanal
	carbon with potassium
	metabisulfite in a Tyvek ® Packet
	Impregnated carbon
	67% 15. grams activated carbon
	10% 2.25 grams potassium
	metabisulfite
	23% 5.52 grams water
	22.5 grams total
51B	Duplicate of 51A (retest)	240 ppb hexanal
52A	67% 30. grams 12% hydroxyl	<5 ppb hexanal
	propyl cellulose solution in water
	33% 15. grams impregnated
	carbon
	45. grams total - use for deposit
	Impregnated carbon
	67% 15 grams activated carbon.
	The activated carbon is a 50 × 200
	mesh coconut shell based activated
	carbon.
	10% 2.25 grams potassium
	carbonate
	23% 5.25 grams water
	9.1 grams of deposit will give .3
	grams potassium carbonate and
	2.0 grams of activated carbon, the
	amount of 9.1 grams was placed on
	cardboard and used for the test;
	this was the label type deposit.
52B	Duplicate of 52A (retest)	<5 ppb hexanal
53A	3.0 grams of the impregnated	830 ppb hexanal
	carbon with potassium carbonate in
	a Tyvek ® packet.
	Impregnated carbon
	62% 15. grams activated carbon.
	The activated carbon is a 50 × 200
	mesh coconut shell based activated
	carbon.
	10% 2.25 grams potassium
	carbonate
	23% 5.25 grams water
53B	Duplicate of 53A (retest)	780 ppb hexanal
54A	Activated carbon standard, no	<5 ppb hexanal
	reactant, label type
	67% 30. grams 12% hydroxyl
	propyl cellulose solution in water
	33% 15. grams activated carbon
	impregnated. The activated carbon
	is a 50 × 200 mesh coconut shell
	based activated carbon.
	45. grams total
	Impregnated carbon
	74% 15. grams activate carbon.
	The activated carbon is a 50 × 200
	mesh coconut shell based activated
	carbon.
	26% 5.25 grams water
	20.25 grams total
	8.1 grams of deposit will give 2.0
	grams of activated carbon without a
	reactant, the amount of 8.1 grams
	was placed on cardboard and used
	for the test. This was a label type
	deposit.
54B	Duplicate of 54A (retest)	<5 ppb hexanal
55A	Activated carbon standard, wet	280 ppb hexanol
	carbon in packet form, 2.7 grams
	of impregnated activated carbon in
	a Tyvek ® packet.
	Impregnated carbon
	74% 15. grams activated carbon
	The activated carbon is a 50 × 200
	mesh coconut shell based activated
	carbon.
	26% 5.35 grams water
	20.25 grams total
55B	Duplicate of 56A (retest)	1900 ppb hexanal
56A	A Tyvek ® packet containing 2.0	3600 ppb hexanal
	grams of dry activated carbon
	without a reactant. The activated
	carbon is a 50 × 200 mesh coconut
	shell based activated carbon.
56B	Duplicate of 56A (retest)	3200 ppb hexanal
57A	Control blank [what is blank]	2000 ppb hexanal
57B	Duplicate of 57A	2100 ppb hexanal

Testing for Examples 59-65 will be with 6 pecan sandies cookies and 3 liters of gas containing 15.7 ppm hexanal. 40° C., readings taken at 10 days only, the deposits were made on cardboard and dried in the oven at 110° C. until dry and firm.

• • 8 days at 40° C.-1,800 ppb hexanal
  • 6 pecan sandie cookies
  • 3 liters of hexanal gas
  • 6 pieces of blotter paper 1″×1½″ soaked in water
  • 8 days at 40° C.

The deposits were on cardboard and dried in an oven at 110° C. until the deposit was firm and not too wet. The deposit was then placed in an 11′×16″ foil pouch with 6 pecan sandie shortbread cookies, which was vacuumed and heat sealed. Then this pouch was filled with 3 liter of gas 15.7 ppm hexanal with the remainder being nitrogen. The test pouches were stored at 40° C.

EXAMPLES

58	Hydrogen Peroxide and activated	4.1 ppb hexanal
	carbon The activated carbon is a 50 ×
	200 mesh coconut shell activated
	carbon.
	67% 30. grams 12% hydroxy propyl
	cellulose solution in water.
	33% 15 grams impregnated carbon
	Impregnated carbon
	70% 14. grams activated carbon
	The activated carbon is a 50 × 200
	mesh coconut shell based activated
	carbon.
	30% 6. grams 35% hydrogen
	peroxide
	20. gram total
	8.6 gram deposit will give .3 grams
	of pure hydrogen peroxide and 2.0
	grams of activated carbon
	8 days at 40° C.
59	Hydrogen peroxide and silica gel	1,800 ppb hexanal
	67% 30. grams 12% hydroxy propyl
	cellulose solution in water
	33% 15 grams impregnated silica
	gel is 45. grams total
	The hydrogen peroxide and silica
	gel comprise
	75% 15. grams silica gel
	25% 5. grams 35% H2O2
	20. grams total
	A 10.5 gram deposit will give .3
	grams pure hydrogen peroxide and
	2.6 grams of silica gel
	8 days at 40° C.
60	Potassium carbonate and activated	2.1 ppb hexanal
	carbon
	67% 30. 12% hydroxy propyl
	cellulose solution in water
	33% 15. grams impregnated
	carbon The activated carbon is a 50 ×
	200 mesh coconut shell based
	activated carbon.
	Impregnated carbon
	67% 15. grams activated carbon
	10% 2.25 grams potassium
	carbonate
	23% 5.25 grams water
	9.1 gram deposit will give .3 grams
	potassium carbonate and 2.0
	grams of activated carbon.
	8 days at 40° C.
61	Potassium carbonate and silica gel	1,000 ppb hexanal
	67% 30. grams 12% hydroxy propyl
	cellulose solution in water.
	33% 15. grams impregnated silica
	gel
	45. grams total
	Impregnated silica gel
	74% 21.4 grams silica gel
	7.8% 2.25 grams potassium
	carbonate
	18.2 5.25 grams water
	28.9 grams total
	A 12. gram deposit will give .3
	grams potassium carbonate and
	2.9 grams silica gel
	8 days at 40° C.
62	Activated carbon standard, no	2.3 ppb hexanal
	reactant
	67% 30. grams 12% hydroxy propyl
	cellulose in a water solution
	33% 15. grams activated carbon,
	impregnated
	Impregnated Carbon
	74% 15. grams carbon The
	activated carbon is a 50 × 200
	mesh coconut shell based activated
	carbon.
	26% 5.25 grams water.
	20.25 grams total
	8.1 grams of deposit will give 2.0
	grams of activated carbon without a
	reactant.
	8 days at 40° C.
63	2.0 grams of dry carbon	2300 ppb hexanal
	8 days at 40° C.
64	Blank, flushed but no absorber or	1800 ppb
	reactant

The cookies were purchased at the local supermarket the day of the test or the day before the test. Based on this the cookies were as fresh as they could be based on the fact that they came from a supermarket. The cookies have the normal cookie smell and after testing do not have an off odor.

The activated carbon or silica gel acts as an adsorber to attract the hexanal gas and adsorb the hexanal on the surface of the pores inside of the activated carbon. Then the reactants absorb the hexanal and react with the hexanal to convert the hexanal so that hexanal cannot be released by the activated carbon at a later time. Adsorbers being activated carbon, molecular sieve or silica gel. The reactants being potassium metabisulfite, hydrogen peroxide, potassium carbonate, calcium peroxide, potassium carbonate, sodium bisulfite and urea. The reactants can be used alone to absorb hexanal but the combination of an adsorber such as activated carbon and an absorber such as a reactant works the best to capture and hold on to the hexanal.

Dry activated carbon did work for adsorbing hexanal but activated carbon impregnated with water may have worked better. When the activated carbon was impregnated with a potassium metabisulfite solution the capacity for hexanal was improved. 300 angstrom silica gel impregnated with the potassium metabisulfite solution absorbed hexanal almost as well as the activated carbon impregnated with the potassium metabisulfite solution. Activated carbon impregnated with 35% hydrogen peroxide also absorbed hexanal very well. 300 angstrom silica gel impregnated with 35% hydrogen peroxide was almost as good at absorbing hexanal as the activated carbon impregnated with the 35% hydrogen peroxide. Silica gel impregnated with 35% hydrogen peroxide also absorbed hexanal but the 300 angstrom silica gel did have a higher capacity for hexanal. Molecular sieve also adsorbed hexanal well when used alone but with the impregnation of a potassium carbonate solution the capacity of hexanal was greater. We also tested activated carbon blended with a mixture of iron powder, sodium chloride and water to form iron oxide. This combination also worked for absorbing hexanal.

The chemistry of these hexanal absorbers worked well in both a granular blend in a packet or in moist deposit on a card to be used as a label or card. The wet activated label or card with the hexanal absorbing deposit can be more effective than the same chemistry in a packet form.