Compositions and methods for differential release of 1-methylcyclopropene

Abstract

A clathrate of 1-methylcyclopropene with α-cyclodextrin, obtained as a solid particulate product, is modified by comminuting, classifying, or both to obtain a modified particulate. When subjected to identical atmospheric disgorgement conditions of humidity and temperature, identical masses of the modified and unmodified particulates exhibit different rates of 1-methylcyclopropene disgorgement. Specifically, we have found that a smaller mean particle size is inversely related to a greater rate of 1-methylcyclopropene release.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An application composition for providing 1-methylcyclopropene upon exposure to water, the application composition comprising:
 a modified particulate; and   a binder, a wax, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The application composition of  claim 1 , the application composition comprising one or more emulsifiers, one or more colorants, one or more fatty acids, one or more excipients, an oil, an alcohol, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The application composition of  claim 1 , the application composition comprising coconut oil, palm oil, canola oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, olive oil, peanut oil, cottonseed oil, linseed oil, hazelnut oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, almond oil, avocado oil, cochineal red, stearic acid, glyceryl stearate, one or more ceteareth surfactants, cetearyl alcohol, cetyl palmitate, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropyl alcohol, glycerol, propylene glycol, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The application composition of  claim 1 , the application composition comprising the binder, wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of a polyvinylpyrrolidone, a polysaccharide, a polyalkylene oxide, a polysaccharide derivative, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The application composition of  claim 1 , the application composition comprising the wax, wherein the wax is selected from candelilla wax, beeswax, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The application composition of  claim 1 , the application composition comprising an excipient selected from an alpha cyclodextrin, a beta-cyclodextrin, a cyclodextrin derivative, dextrose, sucrose, glucose, dextrins, carboxymethyl cellulose, carrageenan, cellulose, cellulose acetate, starch, a derivative of starch, ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, gelatin, mannitol, xylitol, sorbitol, xanthan gum, sorbitan, a sorbitan derivative; an alkali metal halide, one or more salts selected from aluminum, potassium, sodium, potassium, calcium, barium, magnesium, or zinc halides, silicates, oxides, hydroxides, stearates, ascorbates, citrates, sulfates, carbonates, phosphates, and casseinates, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, talc, graphite, ascorbic acid, citric acid, stearic acid, acacia, a carbomer, polyvinyl alcohol, vinyl alcohol copolymers, acrylic acid and methacrylic acid polymers and copolymers, lignosulfonates, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The application composition of  claim 1 , the application composition comprising:
 about 5 weight percent to about 50 weight percent of the modified particulate;   about 10 weight percent to about 80 weight percent of the binder, the wax, or the combination thereof; and optionally   about 10 weight percent to about 60 weight percent of an oil, an alcohol, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         8 . A method of forming a marking instrument, the method comprising:
 applying pressure to the application composition of  claim 1 , thereby shaping the application composition to form the marking instrument; and   optionally disposing the marking instrument in a dispenser,   wherein the marking instrument includes an abradable surface.   
     
     
         9 . A marking instrument consisting of the application composition of  claim 1 , wherein the application composition is shaped such that a length of the marking instrument in a first dimension exceeds lengths of the marking instrument in the two dimensions orthogonal to the first dimension, and wherein the marking instrument includes an abradable surface. 
     
     
         10 . An application stick comprising:
 the marking instrument of  claim 9 ; and   a receptacle defining a hollow, the hollow being open at one end,   wherein at least part of the marking instrument is disposed within the hollow.   
     
     
         11 . A method of slowing ripening or spoilage of produce in a container, the method comprising:
 providing the marking instrument of  claim 9 ;   urging the abradable surface against an application surface, wherein the application surface is selected from an interior surface of the container, a surface of an item within the container, or a combination thereof;   moving the marking instrument with respect to the application surface whereby a portion of the application composition transfers to and adheres to at least a portion of the application surface to provide a marked application surface;   disposing the produce within the container; and   sealing the container.   
     
     
         12 . A tablet composition for providing 1-methylcyclopropene upon exposure to water, the tablet composition comprising:
 a modified particulate; and   an excipient.   
     
     
         13 . The tablet composition of  claim 12 , wherein the excipient is selected from an alpha cyclodextrin, a beta-cyclodextrin, a cyclodextrin derivative, dextrose, sucrose, glucose, dextrins, carboxymethyl cellulose, carrageenan, cellulose, cellulose acetate, starch and its derivatives, ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, gelatin, mannitol, xylitol, sorbitol, xanthan gum, sorbitan and sorbitan derivatives, ascorbic acid, citric acid, stearic acid, acacia, a carbomer, carnauba wax, beeswax, candelilla wax, polyvinyl alcohol and vinyl alcohol copolymers, acrylic acid and methacrylic acid polymers and copolymers, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), lignosulfonates, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol polymers and copolymers, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, talc, graphite, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The tablet composition of  claim 12 , wherein the excipient is a salt comprising:
 a cation selected from aluminum, potassium, sodium, calcium, barium, magnesium, zinc, and any combination thereof; and   an anion selected from a halide, a silicate, oxide, hydroxide, stearate, ascorbates, citrate, sulfate, carbonate, phosphate, casseinate, and any combination thereof.   
     
     
         15 . A method of making a tablet, the method comprising compressing the tablet composition of  claim 12  in a tablet press to form a tablet. 
     
     
         16 . A method of slowing the ripening or spoilage of produce in a container, the method comprising:
 disposing the tablet of  claim 15  within the container;   disposing the produce within the container; and   sealing the container.   
     
     
         17 . A capsule comprising:
 a shell defining an enclosed interior cavity; and   a release composition disposed within the enclosed interior cavity,   wherein the release composition comprises a modified particulate and optionally an excipient.   
     
     
         18 . The capsule of  claim 17 , wherein the shell comprises a gelling agent selected from gelatin, cellulose acetate, carbohydrates, polysaccharides, derivatives of polysaccharides, dextrose, sucrose, glucose, dextrins, carboxymethyl cellulose, carrageenan, cellulose, cellulose acetate, starch and its derivatives, ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, gelatin, mannitol, xylitol, sorbitol, xanthan gum, sorbitan and sorbitan derivatives, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The capsule of  claim 17 , wherein the shell comprises a water-soluble or water-swellable polymer comprising the polymerized residues of vinyl alcohol, vinyl pyrrolidone, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The capsule of  claim 17 , wherein the release composition comprises the modified particulate and the excipient, wherein the excipient is selected from an alpha cyclodextrin, a beta-cyclodextrin, a cyclodextrin derivative, dextrose, sucrose, glucose, dextrins, carboxymethyl cellulose, carrageenan, cellulose, cellulose acetate, starch and its derivatives, ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, gelatin, mannitol, xylitol, sorbitol, xanthan gum, sorbitan, sorbitan derivatives, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, one or more salts selected from aluminum, potassium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, or zinc halides, silicates, oxides, hydroxides, stearates, ascorbates, citrates, sulfates, carbonates, phosphates, and casseinates, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, talc, graphite, ascorbic acid, citric acid, stearic acid, acacia, a carbomer, carnauba wax, beeswax, candelilla wax, polyvinyl alcohol, vinyl alcohol copolymers, acrylic acid and methacrylic acid polymers and copolymers, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), lignosulfonates, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol polymers and copolymers, and any combination thereof.