Systems and methods for solvent-free delivery of volatile compounds

Abstract

Provided are systems and methods for solvent-free delivery of volatile compounds, where an energy source is used to release the volatile compounds. The systems and methods provided herein have at least one advantage of (1) no solvent (for example water) is required; (2) immediate release of volatile compounds (for example 1-MCP can be released from HAIP within milliseconds or seconds instead of minutes or hours of the existing method using water); and/or (3) instantly starting and stopping the delivery of the volatile compound.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for delivery of a volatile compound, comprising:
 (a) providing a molecular complex of the volatile compound and an inclusion complex;   (b) placing the molecular complex into a treatment compartment; and   (c) applying a means of an energy source to the treatment compartment, thereby releasing the volatile compound from the molecular complex without water.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the volatile compound is released from the molecular complex without water. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein loss of the volatile compound is less than 20%. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the volatile compound comprises a cyclopropene. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cyclopropene is of the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, phenyl, or naphthyl group; wherein the substituents are independently halogen, alkoxy, or substituted or unsubstituted phenoxy. 
       
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein R is C 1 -C 8  alkyl. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein R is methyl. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cyclopropene is of the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1  is a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 4  alkyl, C 1 -C 4  alkenyl, C 1 -C 4  alkynyl, C 1 -C 4  cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, phenyl, or naphthyl group; and R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  are hydrogen. 
       
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cyclopropene is 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the inclusion complex is selected from the group consisting of substituted cyclodextrins, unsubstituted cyclodextrins, crown ethers, zeolites, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the inclusion complex comprises a cyclodextrin. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cyclodextrin is selected from the group consisting of alpha-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin, gamma-cyclodextrin, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the treatment compartment is selected from the group consisting of a thermal desorption tube, a glass bottle, a Tedlar bag, and an aluminum cup, combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the energy source comprises at least one of electrical energy, magnetic energy, electromagnetic energy, ultrasonic energy, acoustic energy, and thermal energy. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the energy source comprises at least one energy characteristic of waveform, frequency, amplitude, or duration. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the means of energy source comprises heating to a temperature between 100° C. and 300° C. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the means of an energy source is configured to heat the treatment compartment to a temperature between 150° C. and 250° C. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the means of energy source is performed in an enclosed environment. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the means of energy source is performed in an environment at a temperature between −30° C. and 10° C. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the means of energy source is performed in a cold storage room or cold storage facility.