Lower alkyl carboxylic acid moieties for preventing oxidative corrosion of metals and organoleptic stabilizer for food and beverages

Abstract

Compositions and methods are disclosed for preventing the oxidative corrosion of metal surfaces by exposing a metal surface to an anti-corrosion agent characterized as a lower alkyl carboxylic acid or salts and/or other derivatives that conserve or embody the lower alkyl carboxylic acid moiety present in their molecular structures as an active anti-corrosion agent. The anti-corrosion agent may be used in combination with a material capable of forming a moisture retentive barrier over the metal surface. The compositions and methods of the invention provide a practical, non-toxic way of ensuring anti-corrosion protection for metals, or devices containing exposed metals, stored or operated in water or in the presence of water vapor. Exemplary, non-exhaustive uses of the invention include employing the composition as lubricant for the surface of a metal or as a pump oil or brake fluid; using the composition as an undercoating for painting, electro-plating or electro-polishing procedures; and providing a protective coating for any metal or metal-containing machine or device, form automotive assembly plant metal press machines to electronic circuit boards.

1 . A method for preventing oxidative corrosion of a metal, comprising: 
 applying an anti-corrosion composition to a surface of metal or a device containing a metal susceptible to oxidative corrosion, said composition comprising an effective amount of an anti-corrosion agent comprising a lower alkyl carboxylic acid moiety selected from the group consisting of formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, 2-methyl propionic acid, salts thereof, and mixtures thereof, wherein said composition forms an anti-corrosive, moisture retentive barrier over said surface.    
     
     
         2 . A composition for preventing oxidative corrosion of a metal, comprising: 
 an effective amount of an anti-corrosion agent comprising a lower alkyl carboxylic acid moiety selected from the group consisting of formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, 2-methyl propionic acid, salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.    
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , further comprising a material capable of forming a moisture retentive barrier over a surface of said metal.  
     
     
         4 . A method for preventing oxidative degradation of a substance, said method comprising the steps of: 
 preparing an anti-corrosion composition, said composition comprising an effective amount of an anti-corrosion agent, said agent comprising a C1-C6 carboxylic acid moiety, said composition further comprising a material capable of acting in conjunction with said anti-corrosion agent to prevent said oxidative degradation; and    mixing said composition with a preparation of said substance.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said C1-C6 carboxylic acid moiety is in the form of a propionic anion.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said substance is a grain product.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said substance is a plastic material.  
     
     
         8 . A method of preparing a food and/or beverage preservative, comprising: 
 adding a food grade polymer to an ingestible solvent under conditions sufficient to hydrate said polymer; and    adding an anti-corrosion agent to said hydrated polymer to form a preservative composition, said anti-corrosion agent comprising a lower alkyl carboxylic acid moiety.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the food grade polymer is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, methyl ethyl cellulose, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the lower alkyl carboxylic acid moiety comprises a C1-C6 alkyl carboxylic acid.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the lower alkyl carboxylic acid moiety comprises a lower alkyl carboxylic acid anion.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the lower alkyl carboxylic acid moiety is derived from a C1-C6 carboxylate.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the lower alkyl carboxylic acid moiety selected from the group consisting of formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, 2-methyl propionic acid, salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the lower alkyl carboxylic acid moiety comprises sodium propionate.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the anti-corrosion agent is at least partially incorporated into the structure of the hydrated polymer.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the anti-corrosion agent is added in less than or equal to the stoichiometric amount necessary for reaction with the hydrated polymer molecules.  
     
     
         17 . A food and/or beverage preservative prepared according to the method of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         18 . The preservative of  claim 17 , wherein the preservative is measured effective as a mold inhibitor according to the Rose Bengeo test when applied to the food and/or beverage product in an amount of 0.2 weight percent.  
     
     
         19 . A food and/or beverage preservative comprising a food grade polymer hydrated with an ingestible solvent and an anti-corrosion agent comprising a lower alkyl carboxylic acid moiety.  
     
     
         20 . The preservative of  claim 19 , wherein said ingestible solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, ingestible primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols, ingestible diols, ingestible glycols, ingestible glycerols, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The preservative of  claim 19 , wherein the food grade polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycols, methoxypolyethylene glycols, polyalkylene glycols, polypeptides, homoglycans, and heteroglycans.  
     
     
         22 . The preservative of  claim 19 , wherein the food grade polymer is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, methyl ethyl cellulose, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The preservative of  claim 19 , wherein the lower alkyl carboxylic acid moiety comprises a C1-C6 alkyl carboxylic acid.  
     
     
         24 . The preservative of  claim 19 , wherein the lower alkyl carboxylic acid moiety comprises a lower alkyl carboxylic acid anion.  
     
     
         25 . The preservative of  claim 19 , wherein the lower alkyl carboxylic acid moiety is derived from a C1-C6 carboxylate.  
     
     
         26 . The preservative of  claim 19 , wherein the lower alkyl carboxylic acid moiety selected from the group consisting of formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, 2-methyl propionic acid, salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         27 . The preservative of  claim 19 , wherein the lower alkyl carboxylic acid moiety comprises sodium propionate.  
     
     
         28 . The preservative of  claim 27 , where the sodium propionate comprises 20% to 50% by weight of the preservative.  
     
     
         29 . The preservative of  claim 27 , where the sodium propionate comprises up to about 60% by weight of the preservative.  
     
     
         30 . The preservative of  claim 19 , wherein the anti-corrosion agent further comprises one or more compounds from the group consisting of 2,4-trans, trans-hexadienoic acid and its alkali salts, benzoic acid and its salts, and mixtures thereof.