Ethylene removal agent

Abstract

A composite particle comprising a fluorinated surface and a discontinuous layer of gold nanoparticles disposed on the fluorinated surface, articles that include such particles, and methods of using the particles and the articles for removal of ethylene.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composite particle comprising:
 a fluorinated surface; and   a discontinuous layer of gold nanoparticles disposed on the fluorinated surface.   
     
     
         2 . The composite particle of  claim 1 , wherein the discontinuous layer of gold nanoparticles comprises a plurality of island-like regions of the gold nanoparticles. 
     
     
         3 . The composite particle of  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the fluorinated surface is a fluorinated coating on a core particle. 
     
     
         4 . The composite particle of  claim 3 , wherein the core particle comprises any of carbonaceous material, zeolite, or metal oxide. 
     
     
         5 . The composite particle of  claim 3 , wherein the core particle comprises activated carbon. 
     
     
         6 . The composite particle of any preceding claim, wherein the composite particle has an aspect ratio up to 1:10000. 
     
     
         7 . The composite particle of any preceding claim, wherein the composite particle has a size in a range of from 0.1 micrometer to 10000 micrometers. 
     
     
         8 . The composite particle of any preceding claim, wherein the fluorinated surface comprises polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         9 . The composite particle of any preceding claim, wherein the core particle is suitable for removing moisture. 
     
     
         10 . The composite particle of any preceding claim, wherein the core particle is an adsorbent for volatile organic compounds. 
     
     
         11 . The composite particle of any preceding claim, wherein the discontinuous layer of gold nanoparticles is in a range of 0.05 wt % to 5 wt % relative to the composite particle. 
     
     
         12 . The composite particle of any preceding claim, having a powder volume resistivity value of at least 10 6  ohm.cm. 
     
     
         13 . An article comprising:
 a substrate;   a plurality of composite particles disposed on a surface of the substrate, disposed within the substrate, or both;   wherein individual composite particles in the plurality of composite particles comprise:
 a fluorinated surface; and 
 a discontinuous layer of gold nanoparticles disposed on the fluorinated surface. 
   
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 13 , wherein the substrate is in a form of any of a sheet, a film, a nonwoven web, or a plurality of particles. 
     
     
         15 . An article comprising:
 a container;   a plurality of composite particles disposed within the container;   wherein individual composite particles in the plurality of composite particles comprise:
 a fluorinated surface; and 
 a discontinuous layer of gold nanoparticles disposed on the fluorinated surface. 
   
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the container comprises any of a permeable bag, a tube defining an inlet and an outlet, or a nonwoven web. 
     
     
         17 . A method of removing ethylene, the method comprising:
 placing an ethylene removal agent in proximity to an ethylene-generating source, wherein the ethylene removal agent comprises:
 a plurality of composite particles, wherein individual composite particles in the plurality of composite particles comprise: 
 a fluorinated surface; and 
 a discontinuous layer of gold nanoparticles disposed on the fluorinated surface. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the ethylene removal agent and the ethylene-generating source are within a closed system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the closed system includes means for augmenting gas flow from the ethylene generating source to ethylene removal agent. 
     
     
         20 . The method of any one of  claims 17  to  19 , wherein the ethylene-generating source is any of harvested fruits, harvested vegetables, or harvested flowers. 
     
     
         21 . A refrigeration system, comprising the composite particle of any one of  claims 1  to  12 .