Stable emulsion formulations of encapsulated volatile compounds

Abstract

The present invention is based on the discovery of a stable water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion. The double emulsion composition disclosed may contain molecular complex of volatile compounds for example 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). In addition, the double emulsion composition disclosed can provide prolong or controlled release of the volatile compounds.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition comprising an aqueous phase containing salt (APCS). 
     
     
         22 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 21 , wherein the APCS comprises water. 
     
     
         23 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 21 , wherein the APCS comprises water at an amount selected from the group consisting of more than 20% water by weight, more than 30% water by weight, more than 50% water by weight, and more than 60% water by weight (based on the weight of the composition). 
     
     
         24 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 21 , wherein the APCS comprises one or more salts. 
     
     
         25 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 24 , wherein no chloride salt is used. 
     
     
         26 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 24 , wherein the salt is a non-deliquescent salt. 
     
     
         27 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 24 , wherein the salt comprises magnesium sulfate or ammonium sulfate. 
     
     
         28 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 27 , wherein the ratio of dry weight of the salt to weight of the aqueous phase of the aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition is at least 0.25. 
     
     
         29 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 27 , wherein the ratio of the dry weight of salt to the weight of water is selected from the group consisting of 0.05 or higher; or 0.1 or higher; or 0.2 or higher; or 0.3 or higher; or 0.35 or higher. 
     
     
         30 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 21 , wherein the molecular complex of an encapsulated volatile compound comprises a cyclopropene molecular encapsulating agent complex. 
     
     
         31 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 21 , wherein the APCS comprises 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). 
     
     
         32 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 31 , wherein the 1-MCP is present in a molecular complex distributed throughout the aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition. 
     
     
         33 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 32 , wherein the molecular complex comprises alpha-cyclodextrin. 
     
     
         34 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 21 , wherein the aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition comprises at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, or at least 60% by weight of a complex of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and alpha-cyclodextrin. 
     
     
         35 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 21 , wherein the aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition comprises an oil phase comprising an oil medium. 
     
     
         36 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 35 , wherein the oil medium is selected from the group consisting of soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, cotton seed oil, hydrogenated cotton seed oil, white mineral oil, hydrotreated middle petroleum distillate, hydrotreated light petroleum distillate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         37 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 35 , wherein the aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition comprises 10-20%; 20-40%; 40-60%; 15-30%; or 30-55% by weight of the oil phase. 
     
     
         38 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 31 , wherein the 1-MCP is present at a concentration of <4 g/L of the emulsion composition. 
     
     
         39 . The aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition of  claim 21 , wherein no appreciable amount of calcium chloride is present in the aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition. 
     
     
         40 . An aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition comprising i) an aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition comprising an aqueous phase containing salt (APCS) and ii) a second aqueous phase.