Prevention of ice nucleation by polyglycerol
US6616858B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 30, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 9, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC09K5/20
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Linear polymers of glycerol can prevent or delay ice nucleation in a variety of contexts. Polyglycerol can also be employed in combination with other ice control agents, such as polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl acetate copolymers and antifreeze proteins, to provide antinucleation effects that are superior to those of either polyglycerol or the co-antinucleator alone. Polyglycerol has a number of advantageous physical and toxicological properties, such as extreme water solubility, non-toxicity to human beings, non-toxicity to animal tissues and organs in vitro even at extreme concentrations, minimal foaming tendency, minimal retention on hydrophobic surfaces, and stability in solution without the need for periodic heating to reactivate its antinucleation properties.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.