Patent ID: 6569479
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: C08K,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of reducing the amount of acetaldehyde in a beverage in a polyester-based container processed from polyester-based materials containing ethylene glycol linkages, said container not including added oxidizable polymers so that only the acetaldehyde, naturally formed during the processing of said polyester-based materials containing ethylene glycol linkages to form said container, undergoes oxidation in the side-walls of the container to form acetic acid, comprising the steps of:incorporating an oxidation catalyst into the polyester-based materials during the formation of the container, in sufficient quantities such that the oxidation catalyst is active for the oxidation of acetaldehyde to acetic acid during filling and storage of the beverage in the container; filling the container with the beverage in the presence of the active oxidation catalyst; and storing the beverage in the container in the presence of the active oxygen catalyst to thereby cause oxygen that permeates into the polyester container to react with the formed acetaldehyde in the container to convert said acetaldehyde to acetic acid, thus preventing off taste and reducing the amount of oxygen permeation into the container, thus increasing beverage shelf-life; said container being permeable to oxygen and acetaldehyde in the absence of said active oxygen catalyst, wherein said container is a mono-layer construction with the catalyst dispersed throughout sidewalls of the container, the sidewalls being in direct contact with the beverage.