Patent ID: 6517728
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: A23L,C09K,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of lowering the concentration of ground state molecular oxygen present in an atmosphere or liquid, said method comprising the steps of:(i) exposing the atmosphere or liquid in substantial darkness to a solid phase composition free of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, said composition comprising a source of labile hydrogen or electrons and at least one reducible organic compound; and (ii) treating the solid phase composition with visible or ultraviolet light of a predetermined intensity or wavelength or &ggr;-rays, corona discharge, an electron beam or heat so as to reduce the reducible organic compound to a reduced form oxidizable by ground state molecular oxygen such that the amount of ground state molecular oxygen present in the atmosphere or liquid is subsequently lowered through oxidation of the reduced form of the reducible organic compound; wherein the oxidation of the reduced form of the reducible organic compound occurs regardless of the presence of a transition metal catalyst and wherein the lowering of the amount of ground state molecular oxygen continues over a period of at least 1 hour when conducted at room temperature; and wherein the source of labile hydrogen or electrons is provided by the reducible organic compound and the reducible organic compound is dispersed in, dissolved in or covalently bonded to a polymer which does not readily donate hydrogen or electrons to the reducible organic compound.