Photo-regenerable oxygen scavenging packaging

Abstract

Photo-regenerable oxygen scavenging packaging is generally disclosed. Some example embodiments may comprise tantalum oxide and/or manganese oxide arranged to act as a photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger. The tantalum oxide, if present, may operate as an oxygen scavenger when the tantalum oxide exists as tantalum (IV) oxide. Subjecting the tantalum oxide to light may transform at least a portion of the tantalum oxide existing as tantalum (V) oxide to tantalum (IV) oxide. The manganese oxide, if present, may operate as an oxygen scavenger when the manganese oxide exists as manganese (II) oxide. Subjecting the manganese oxide to light may transform at least a portion of the manganese oxide existing as manganese (III) oxide to manganese (II) oxide. Some example containers may include a structure defining an interior volume and a photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger disposed in fluidic communication with the interior volume.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A container comprising:
 a structure at least partially defining an interior volume for receiving contents therein, the interior volume being configured to be substantially fluidicly isolated from an ambient environment; and   a photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger disposed in fluidic communication with the interior volume, the oxygen scavenger comprising one or more of tantalum oxide and manganese oxide;   wherein the tantalum oxide, if present, operates as an oxygen scavenger when the tantalum oxide exists as tantalum (IV) oxide;   wherein subjecting the tantalum oxide, if present, to light transforms at least a portion of the tantalum oxide existing as tantalum (V) oxide to tantalum (IV) oxide;   wherein the manganese oxide, if present, operates as an oxygen scavenger when the manganese oxide exists as manganese (II) oxide; and   wherein subjecting the manganese oxide, if present, to light transforms at least a portion of the manganese oxide existing as manganese (III) oxide to manganese (II) oxide.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the interior volume is configured to receive contents comprising one or more of a beverage, a food, and a pharmaceutical therein. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 7 , further comprising a light source arranged to project light onto at least a portion of the photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the light source is configured to emit light comprising wavelengths between about 380 nm and about 750 nm. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the light source is configured to emit light comprising wavelengths of about 632 nm. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the light source is configured to emit light comprising wavelengths between about 200 nm and about 500 nm. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the light source is configured to emit light comprising wavelengths of about 352 nm. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 7 , further comprising an oxygen sensor configured to detect the oxygen within the interior volume. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , further comprising a light source and a purge system configured for automatic operation upon detection, by the oxygen sensor, of a predetermined oxygen concentration in the interior volume. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the structure comprises one or more walls interposing the interior volume and the ambient environment; and   wherein the photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger is disposed on an interior surface of one or more of the walls.   
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the structure comprises one or more of a bottle, a jar, a drum, a box, a pouch, a bag, and a carton. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger is disposed on an interior surface of the structure. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 7 , further comprising a port configured to engage one or more of a vacuum line and a purge line. 
     
     
         20 . A method of preparing an oxygen-scavenging packaging material, the method comprising:
 disposing a photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger on a surface of a substrate, the photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger comprising one or more of tantalum oxide and manganese oxide;   wherein the tantalum oxide, if present, operates as an oxygen scavenger when the tantalum oxide exists as tantalum (IV) oxide;   wherein subjecting the tantalum oxide, if present, to light transforms at least a portion of the tantalum oxide existing as tantalum (V) oxide to tantalum (IV) oxide;   wherein the manganese oxide, if present, operates as an oxygen scavenger when the manganese oxide exists as manganese (II) oxide; and   wherein subjecting the manganese oxide, if present, to light transforms at least a portion of the manganese oxide existing as manganese (III) oxide to manganese (II) oxide.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein disposing comprises one or more of electrodeposition, dip coating, spin coating, spray coating, vacuum thermal evaporation deposition, sputtering, and reactive sputtering. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising prior to disposing the photo-regenerable oxygen scavenger on the surface of a substrate, preparing the surface of the substrate by removing at least some impurities from the surface. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein preparing the surface comprises cleaning the surface using one or more of a solvent and ultrasound. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising constructing a container comprising
 the substrate.   
     
     
         25 . A method of regenerating an oxygen scavenging material, the oxygen scavenging material comprising one or both of tantalum oxide and manganese oxide, the tantalum oxide scavenging oxygen as tantalum (IV) oxide to form tantalum (V) oxide, and the manganese oxide scavenging oxygen as manganese (II) oxide to form manganese (III) oxide, the method comprising:
 subjecting the oxygen scavenging material to light comprising wavelengths of about 200 nm to about 750 nm;   to regnerate at least a portion of the one or more of tantalum oxide and manganese oxide by converting tantalum (V) oxide to tantalum (IV) oxide and converting manganese (III) oxide to manganese (II) oxide;   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising, after subjecting the oxygen scavenging material to light, using the oxygen scavenging material to scavenge additional oxygen. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising, prior to subjecting the oxygen scavenging material to light, at least partially removing previously held contents of the container. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein subjecting the oxygen scavenging material to light comprises exposing the oxygen scavenging material to sunlight. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein subjecting the oxygen scavenging material to light comprises operating a light source to direct light onto the oxygen scavenging material. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising purging an atmosphere adjacent the oxygen scavenging material during at least a portion of subjecting the oxygen scavenging material to light using one or more of ambient air and a purge gas comprising less oxygen than the ambient air. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising exposing the oxygen scavenging material to a vacuum during at least a portion of subjecting the oxygen scavenging material to light. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein subjecting the oxygen scavenging material to light is one or more of manually and automatically initiated based at least in part upon a detected oxygen concentration in a substantially enclosed environment containing the oxygen scavenging material. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein:
 for converting tantalum (V) oxide, the light comprises wavelengths of about 380 nm to about 750 nm; and   for converting manganese (III) oxide, the light comprises wavelengths of about 200 nm to about 500 nm.   
     
     
         34 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein a container comprises the oxygen scavenging material. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the oxygen scavenging material is disposed on a surface of the container. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the container is a metal container. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the container is a polymer container. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the polymer is polycarbonate. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising, after subjecting the oxygen scavenging material to light, placing the contents into the container to scavenge oxygen from at least adjacent the contents. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the contents comprise one or more of a beverage, a food, and a pharmaceutical. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising placing contents within the container to scavenge oxygen from at least adjacent the contents. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein:
 for converting tantalum (V) oxide, the light comprises a wavelength of about 632 nm; and   for converting manganese (III) oxide, the light comprises a wavelength of about 352 nm.