Abstract:
A container comprising a polyester composition with enhanced mechanical properties is provided. The polyester composition comprises a polyester and a creep control agent. In particular embodiments, the polyester composition comprises a polyester, a creep control agent, and a gas barrier enhancing additive. In particular embodiments, the creep control agents are molecules or polymers comprising dianhydrides, bis-lactams, bis-oxazoles, and epoxides.
Abstract:
A method of making a beverage in a beverage making machine includes filling a beverage diluent receptacle with a beverage diluent liquid, a beverage making cartridge further comprising at least one of a beverage ingredient, and the beverage diluent receptacle, and storing the beverage making cartridge in a refrigerated appliance separate from the beverage making machine, wherein at least the beverage diluent liquid is chilled. The method further preparing a beverage by retrieving the beverage cartridge form the refrigerated appliance, inserting the beverage making cartridge, into the beverage making machine, and dispensing selectively a predefined ratio of the beverage ingredient and a beverage diluent liquid to form the beverage.
Abstract:
A bio-based polyethylene terephthalate polymer comprising from about 25 to about 75 weight percent of a terephthalate component and from about 20 to about 50 weight percent of a diol component, wherein at least about one weight percent of at least one of the terephthalate and/or the diol component is derived from at least one bio-based material. A method of producing a bio-based polyethylene terephthalate polymer comprising obtaining a diol component comprising ethylene glycol, obtaining a terephthalate component comprising terephthalic acid, wherein at least one of the diol component and/or the diol component is derived from at least one bio-based material, and reacting the diol component and the terephthalate component to form a bio-based polyethylene terephthalate polymer comprising from about 25 to about 75 weight percent of the terephthalate component and from about 20 to about 50 weight percent of the diol component.
Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a process for production of glucose having purity greater than 98% from pretreated cellulosic biomass comprising 50-95% cellulose, using thermo-chemical and enzymatic treatments. The process of the disclosure involves mild acid and/or alkali treatment of the pretreated cellulosic biomass for production of treated cellulosic biomass residue comprising polysaccharides containing greater than 98% glucose. The treatment results in high purity cellulose that is highly amenable to enzymatic hydrolysis and yields glucose having purity greater than 98%. The process of the disclosure also involves membrane separation of enzymes and oligosaccharides for recycling and separation of glucose to avoid product feedback inhibition.
Abstract:
A container comprising a polyester composition with enhanced carbon dioxide and oxygen barrier properties is provided. The polyester composition comprises a polyester and a gas barrier enhancing additive. In a particular embodiment, the gas barrier enhancing additive comprises a compound having the chemical formula: X—(X1)s—COO—(X2)t—X3—(X4)u—OOC—(X5)v—X6 or X—(X1)s—OOC—(X2)t—X3—(X4)u—COO—(X5)v—X6.
Abstract:
A method of making a beverage in a beverage making machine includes inserting at least one of a first beverage making cartridge, into the beverage making machine, the first beverage making cartridge includes a gas source portion which includes a solid gas source that through sublimation emits a gas, and pressurizing a gas storage tank arranged to store the gas. The method further includes inserting at least one of a second beverage making cartridge, into the beverage making machine, the second beverage making cartridge includes at least one of a beverage ingredient, supplying a beverage diluent liquid into a beverage diluent receptacle, dissolving the gas, from the gas storage tank, into the beverage diluent liquid; and dispensing selectively a predefined ratio of the beverage ingredient and the beverage diluent liquid to form a beverage.
Abstract:
A container comprising a polyester composition with enhanced mechanical properties is provided. The polyester composition comprises a polyester and a creep control agent. In particular embodiments, the polyester composition comprises a polyester, a creep control agent, and a gas barrier additive. In particular embodiments, the creep control agents are molecules or polymers comprising dianhydrides, bis-lactams, bis-oxazoles, and epoxides.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system and method of selling goods or services, or collecting recycle refuse using mechanized mobile merchantry, comprising positioning, by self-propelling, at least one of a mechanized mobile merchantry within a geographical boundary, allowing interaction with consumers, and effectuating selling of goods or services, or collection of recycle refuse with consumers. Other exemplary embodiments can include signaling a mechanized mobile merchantry with a consumer's mobile device to direct the merchantry to self-propel to the consumer's location, and utilizing usage logs and algorithms to optimize functionality of a fleet of merchantry and reposition the merchantry, as necessary, within a geographical boundary, to increase sales and consumer convenience. The present invention also relates to a waste collection system with option to deliver new food and beverage items includes a customer service robot comprising a slave computer and one or more waste receptacles to collect waste material. The customer service robot includes at least one robotic arm having at least three degrees of motion to facilitate collection from, e.g., tables and the like. The customer service robot is also capable of interfacing with a recycling unit and a master computer to control disposal of the collected waste.
Abstract:
This disclosure provides economical and effective methods and apparatus for repairing scratches and scuffs on refillable bottle surfaces that minimally contaminates the bottle during the refurbishing process. In one aspect, the method comprises the steps of: a) adding at least one fluid into the polymeric packaging material such as a bottle to form at least a partially filled packaging material; and b) applying at least one heat source to an exterior surface of the at least partially filled packaging material to form a repaired polymeric packaging material. Apparatus and recycling systems that incorporate this method are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A system for producing a customized beverage or beverage concentrate is disclosed. The system comprises a personalization server and a distribution machine communicatively coupled to the personalization server. The personalization server is configured to receive need and want information associated with a consumer, analyze the need and want information, apply a plurality of rules to the analyzed need and want information, and produce one or more customized beverage or beverage concentrate recipes based on the analysis of the need and want information and the application of the plurality of rules. The distribution machine is configured to receive the one or more customized beverage or beverage concentrate recipes from the personalization server and produce and deliver at least one customized beverage or beverage concentrate based on the one or more customized beverage or beverage concentrate recipes to the consumer by combining one or more beverage ingredients.