Patent ID: 7229066

Claim:
A method of preparing a vaporized preservative substantially free of droplets to the external surface of a perishable product for extending the shelf life of the product thereof, the method comprising the steps of: a. Separating a carrier gas into a first gas stream and a second gas stream; b. Mixing the first gas stream with a liquid preservative under conditions in which the liquid is atomized by the gas to form an atomized mixture comprising the carrier gas and the liquid preservative, the preservative in droplet form; c. Mixing the atomized mixture with the second gas stream under conditions in which the liquid preservative is substantially vaporized to form a vaporized mixture of the carrier gas, the vaporized preservative and residual droplets of the preservative; and d. Separating the residual droplets from the vaporized mixture in a separation zone, the zone comprising: a. A housing having an upper section and a lower section, the upper section equipped with an entry port and the lower section equipped with an exit port; and b. A discharge conduit for removing the vaporized mixture free of a substantial amount of residual droplets from the housing, the discharge conduit in a sealed relationship with the exit port and extending into and in open communication with the upper section of the housing, the residual droplets gravitationally separated from the carrier gas and vaporized preservative within the housing.