(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2007/0261436A1 Sundaram Et Al
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US 20070261436A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2007/0261436A1 Sundaram et al. (43) Pub. Date: Nov. 15, 2007 (54) DRY ICE PRODUCTS AND METHOD OF Related U.S. Application Data MAKING SAME (60) Provisional application No. 60/765,040, filed on Feb. (76) Inventors: Meenakshi Sundaram, Burr Ridge, IL 3, 2006. (US); Pasi Ihatsu, Kontiolahti as. (FI); Yves P. Bourhis, Westmont, IL (US) Publication Classification Correspondence Address: (51) Int. Cl. AIR LIQUIDE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY F25. I/02 (2006.01) DEPT. (52) U.S. Cl. ................................. 62/604; 62/384; 62/605 27OO POST OAKBLVD. SUTE 18OO (57) ABSTRACT HOUSTON, TX 77056 (US) Solid carbon dioxide with enhanced sensory properties, such as color and scent. Additives are incorporated into Solid (21) Appl. No.: 11/537,993 carbon dioxide by any variety of processes. The additives are selected on the basis of desired visual or olfactory (22) Filed: Oct. 2, 2006 effects. ADDITIVE SOURCE CO2 RECOVERY MODULE EXPANSION TANK Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2007 Sheet 1 of 6 US 2007/0261436A1 100 COMBINE ADDITIVE 104 WITH LIQUID CO2 FLOWLIQUID CO2 IADDITIVE 106 INTO A DRY ICE PRESS EXPAND LIQUID CO2 IADDITIVE 108 IN THE DRY ICE PRESS TO CREATE A SOLID FIG. 1 Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2007 Sheet 2 of 6 US 2007/0261436A1 200 N PUMPLIQUID CO2 INTO A 202 LOW-PRESSURE EXPANSION TANK ADD AN ADDITIVE TO THE LIQUID CO2 204 IN THE LOW-PRESSURE EXPANSION TANK FLOWLIQUID CO2 IADDITIVE 206 INTO A DRY ICE PRESS EXPAND LIQUID CO2 IADDITIVE 208 IN THE DRY ICE PRESS TO CREATE A SOLID FIG. 2 Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2007 Sheet 3 of 6 US 2007/0261436A1 s o Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2007 Sheet 4 of 6 US 2007/0261436A1 s s CD Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2007 Sheet 5 of 6 US 2007/0261436A1 y N st AY - S. ? S5 5 S;CC OO CN Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2007 Sheet 6 of 6 US 2007/0261436A1 S. 9 US 2007/0261436A1 Nov. 15, 2007 DRY ICE PRODUCTS AND METHOD OF MAKING 0011) Another embodiment of the invention provides a SAME method for preparing a cooling agent by providing a liquid carbon dioxide source, expanding liquid carbon dioxide CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED from the liquid carbon dioxide source to form solid carbon APPLICATIONS dioxide, and combining one or more additives with the Solid carbon dioxide. The one or more additives provide color or 0001) This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. odor to the solid carbon dioxide. S 119(e) to provisional application No. 60/765,040, filed Feb. 3, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated 0012 Another embodiment of the invention provides a herein by reference. system for preparing a cooling agent including a liquid carbon dioxide expanding unit, a liquid carbon dioxide BACKGROUND Source in fluid communication with the liquid carbon diox ide expanding unit, and at lease one additive source in fluid 0002) 1. Field of the Invention communication with one of the liquid carbon dioxide source and the liquid carbon dioxide expanding unit. The at least 0003 Embodiments of the invention relates to chemicals one additive source contains at least one of an odorant and and the making and using of the same; more specifically the a colorant. invention relates to dry ice products. 0013 Another embodiment of the invention provides 0004 2. Description of the Related Art witches brew, including a beverage and one or more pieces 0005 Solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) is generally used in of cooling agent in a container (e.g., a bowl or cauldron). chilling and cooling applications in the food industry, but it The one or more pieces of cooling agent includes dry ice and also has applications in the entertainment area. It is well one or more additives. The one or more additives provide known in the art to cool products, such as foods, during color or odor to the solid carbon dioxide and may be processing with some type of refrigerant to slow down the embedded in or adsorbed to the solid carbon dioxide. In one growth of unwanted microbes and enzymatic reactions in embodiment, the witches brew includes one or more car foods. For instance, the shelf life and quality of food bonated fruit juices or a mixture of one or more fruit juices products are improved by processing, transporting, and combined with one or more carbonated beverages. storing under refrigerated conditions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 0006 Dry ice sublimes by going directly from a solid to a gas without passing through the liquid stage. The cold 0014 For a further understanding of the nature and temperature of dry ice and the fact that it leaves no residue objects of the present invention, reference should be made to makes it an excellent cooling agent in Some applications. the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with Food products that must remain frozen can be packed with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are dry ice during transportation. The contents will be frozen given the same or analogous reference numbers and when they reach their destination and there will be no messy wherein: liquid residue as found with traditional water ice. 0015 FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a process for forming a dry 0007. In the entertainment area dry ice may be used to ice product containing an additive chemical, according to produce Smoke like fog in fog machines and food grade dry one embodiment of the invention; ice may be used to cool drinks and produce entertaining effects in punchbowls, such as in “witches brew” popular on 0016 FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a process for forming a dry Halloween. ice product containing an additive chemical, according to another embodiment of the invention; 0008 Conventional dry ice is an odorless and colorless solid. Therefore, there remains a need to provide dry ice 0017 FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of one embodi having improved sensory appeal Such as dry ice in different ment of the invention for incorporating an additive into dry colors and with different scents. ice and forming pressed blocks of dry ice; 0018 FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of another SUMMARY embodiment of the invention for incorporating an additive 0009 Embodiments of the invention generally provide into dry ice and forming pressed blocks of dry ice; for Solid carbon dioxide with enhanced sensory properties, 0019 FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of one embodi Such as color and scent. One embodiment of the invention ment for forming extruded pellets of dry ice containing an provides a cooling agent including Solid carbon dioxide and additive chemical; and one or more additives. The one or more additives provide color and/or odor to the solid carbon dioxide. 0020 FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment for forming extruded pellets of dry ice con 0010 Another embodiment of the invention provides a taining an additive chemical. method for preparing a cooling agent by providing a liquid carbon dioxide source, combining one or more additives DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED with liquid carbon dioxide from the liquid carbon dioxide EMBODIMENTS Source, and expanding the liquid carbon dioxide with the one or more additives to form solid carbon dioxide. The one or 0021. The words and phrases used herein should be given more additives provide color or odor to the solid carbon their ordinary and customary meaning in the art by one dioxide. skilled in the art unless otherwise further defined. US 2007/0261436A1 Nov. 15, 2007 0022. In the following, reference is made to embodiments 0.025 Various food additives listed as GRAS can be of the invention. However, it should be understood that the dissolved directly into the carrier chemical and then mixed invention is not limited to specific described embodiments. with liquid CO or CO in "snow' form before being Instead, any combination of the following features and extruded as pellets or blocks. Another embodiment of the elements, whether related to different embodiments or not, is invention can involve mixing one or more food additives contemplated to implement and practice the invention. Fur with water, and then adding the resulting Solution to the thermore, in various embodiments the invention provides carrier chemical to a final concentration without affecting numerous advantages over the prior art. However, although the freezing point of the carrier chemical. embodiments of the invention may achieve advantages over 0026 GRAS chemical additives may include flavoring other possible solutions and/or over the prior art, whether or agents, flavor enhancers, intensifiers, emulsifiers, binders, not a particular advantage is achieved by a given embodi fillers, gelling agents, plasticizers, stabilizers, Suspending ment is not limiting of the invention. Thus, the following agents, whipping agents, Sweetening agents, flavoring aspects, features, embodiments and advantages are merely agents, colors, enzymes, antioxidants, sequestrants, wetting illustrative and are not considered elements or limitations of agents, Surfactants, curing and pickling agents, firming the appended claims except where explicitly recited in a agents, fumigants, humectants, leavening agents, processing claim(s). Likewise, reference to “the invention' shall not be construed as a generalization of any inventive subject matter aids, Surface active agents, Surface finishing agents, syner disclosed herein and shall not be considered to be an element gists, and texturizers. or limitation of the appended claims except where explicitly 0027. The dry ice product can be manufactured in the recited in a claim(s). form of blocks, pellets, flakes, powders, and other possible 0023 Dry ice may be produced by a controlled expansion forms containing carbon dioxide and terpene.