Description

ISINGLASS-BASED FINE POWDER COMPOSITION FOR USE IN THE PRODUCTION OF COMPLETELY BIODEGRADABLE

DISPOSABLE TABLEWARE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to an isinglass-based fine powder composition for use in the production of completely biodegradable disposable tableware, and, more particularly, to a composition for use in the production of completely biodegradable disposable tableware, in which isinglass or a mixture of isinglass and starch paste is used as a binding agent, so that tableware can be produced at a high forming rate in the production of the tableware due to the gradual setting speed of the isinglass, thereby increasing the production efficiency of the tableware, so that it is possible to form tableware having complicated shapes, and so that the tableware is easily, naturally and completely decomposed through simple burial after use, thus being harmless to the environment. Background Art

[2] As humans' lives and culture become complicated and diversified due to the overall development of industry and economy, various types of disposable tableware capable of allowing time to be saved are produced and used. The types of tableware include disposable containers such as spoons, cups, dishes, lunch boxes, etc.

[3] Most such disposable tableware is produced using synthetic resin (polystyrene, etc.), pulp or the like.

[4] However, products made from synthetic resin have shortcomings in that they contain ingredients toxic to the human body and in that they are a major cause of environmental pollution due to the problem of handling after use, attributable to an increase in the use thereof, and thus the use thereof is limited.

[5] Meanwhile, most paper products using pulp are produced using imported pulp.

They have an economic problem resulting from the importation of pulp, an environmental damage problem in that forests are destroyed to obtain wood, which is the material for pulp, so as to produce pulp, that is, the pulp material, and an environmental pollution problem resulting from the handling of additives added during a production process.

[6] Although reclaimed pulp is used instead of virgin pulp, a secondary environmental pollution problem arises due to the use of energy required for the reclamation of pulp and the handling and discarding of additives added during various kinds of reclamation processes.

[7] Meanwhile, in order to overcome the structural problem of pulp material, the pulp material is produced with the surface thereof coated with a waterproof material such as vinyl. The pulp material has problems in that it is regarded as a major cause of environmental pollution, so that the use of the pulp material coated with waterproof material is limited due to environmental restrictions, and there is inconvenience in which shops using such tableware must separate the pulp material after use.

[8] The reasons why the use of the above-described disposable tableware is limited are that most conventional disposable tableware is not biodegradable, so that soil is polluted in the case where the conventional disposable tableware is buried in the ground, so that environmental pollutants, such as dioxins, are discharged in the case where the conventional disposable tableware is burned.

[9] Of course, although biodegradable disposable tableware or the like is being produced in order to solve the above-described problems, this disposable tableware has problems in that the period of decomposition thereof is long, the manufacturing cost thereof is high, and thus it is not practical.

[10] Prior art technologies are described in detail below.

[11] Recently, research into the replacement of polystyrene with natural high-polymer material that can be obtained from the starch of grain, wheat flour or the epidermis of grain has been actively conducted.

[12] Examples of using grain powder include a method of forming, freezing and coating the dough of a mixture of wheat flour, starch, baking powder and salt (Korean Patent Publication No. 1996-6565), and a method of maturing, extruding, forming and freeze- drying dough that is obtained by mixing primary ingredients, including the starch of grain and wheat flour, and auxiliary ingredients, including sugar, spice, and yeast, with refined water at an appropriate temperature (Korean Patent Unexamined Publication No. 1999-47173).

[13] Meanwhile, examples of using the epidermis of grains include a method of producing products by stirring, forming and coating the pulverized epidermis of rice, barley, millet, and Indian millet, water, and starch (Korean Patent Application No. 1999-55567), and a method of producing products by adding edible glue to vegetable particles obtained by pulverizing cornstalks and various testae and used as base material, stirring them, and compressing them using a forming agent (Korean Patent Application No. 1999-37967).

[14] However, prior art products manufactured using the above-described technologies have shortcomings in that the use of products manufactured using the above-described technologies is limited because they are heavy, easily damaged, and contract in response to variations in external temperature.

[15] Although, in order to overcome the above-described problems, a naturally occurring

high polymer material must be used as a main ingredient, there are many cases where additives that are not biodegradable are inevitably used.

[16] In particular, the case where starch paste or the like is used has a shortcoming in that a decrease in production efficiency results, since the starch paste sets considerably rapidly and rapidly loses its binding property when it is set somewhat, with the result that forming is not freely performed using it.

[17] Meanwhile, although a preceding technology (Korean Patent Application No.

1999-37967) using edible glue is characterized in that any edible forming glue, such as oxhide glue, starch glue, bone glue or insect glue, can be used, the edible glue has a shortcoming in that production efficiency is decreased, since the edible glue is set considerably rapidly and rapidly loses its binding property when it is set somewhat, with the result that forming is not freely performed using it. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[18] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an isinglass-based fine powder composition for use in the production of completely biodegradable disposable tableware, which allows tableware to be produced at a high forming rate due to the gradual setting speed of isinglass in the production of disposable tableware, thereby increasing production efficiency, which enables tableware having complicated shapes to be formed due to the gradual setting speed, and which allows tableware to be easily and naturally dissolved through simple burial after the use of disposable tableware. Technical Solution

[19] In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a composition, in which isinglass can be easily converted into a gel state because it is water-soluble, and the setting time of isinglass is longer than those of other natural glues, such as oxhide glue, starch paste, bone glue, and insect glue, so that formability is provided to a composition, including isinglass, so as to allow the composition to be freely formed for a sufficient time period. Accordingly, tableware can be produced at a high forming rate in the production of the tableware due to the gradual setting speed of isinglass, thereby increasing production efficiency and enabling the forming of tableware having complicated shapes. Furthermore, the composition is characterized in that it is completely decomposed even through simple burial after use, so that it is not only harmless to the environment but is also converted into compost.

[20] With regard to a detail composition ratio, the present invention characterized in that

10 to 30 weight percent isinglass and the remaining weight percent natural cellulose

are included.

[21] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in order to adjust the setting time of isinglass, starch paste is added, and thus 10 to 30 weight percent isinglass, 5 to 15 weight percent starch paste and the remaining weight percent natural cellulose are included.

[22] The natural cellulose is one or more selected from the group consisting of wood, grass, grain husks, fruit peel, and grain powder. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[23] The construction and operation of an embodiment of the present invention are described in detail below.

[24] Fine power for use in the production of completely biodegradable disposable tableware according to the present invention is characterized by including 10 to 30 weight percent isinglass and the remaining weight percent natural cellulose. That is, the present invention is characterized in that isinglass can be easily converted into a gel state because it is water-soluble, and the setting time of isinglass is longer than those of other natural glues, such as oxhide glue, starch paste, bone glue, and insect glue, so that formability is provided to a composition, including isinglass, so as to allow the composition to be freely formed for a sufficient time period. Accordingly, tableware can be produced at a high forming rate in the production of the tableware due to the gradual setting speed of isinglass, thereby increasing production efficiency and enabling the forming of tableware having complicated shapes. Furthermore, it is completely decomposed even through simple burial after use, so that it is not only harmless to the environment but is also converted into compost.

[25] The isinglass used in the present invention is glue that is made from the bladders of fish. Isinglass is a traditional natural organic bonding agent that has been used to additionally adhere wood or to adhere the hone pieces of mother-of-pearl work for a long time in the production of woodwork because it has adhesive force (bonding force) stronger than that of oxhide glue.

[26] Isinglass was the most widely used kind of Korean traditional glue before oxhide glue or chemical glue was generalized. A process of producing isinglass is performed by eliminating impurities, such as protein or fat, from raw materials, immersing them in the washing water of rice or boiling them in water using a low fire, and then drying them in the shade, in a manner similar to that for oxhide glue. Isinglass is stored in a solid state, and is liquefied by melting solid isinglass using a fire at the time of use. When solid isinglass is melted, the solid isinglass is heated in a water bath without coming into direct contact with flame. Thereafter, it is used after being filtered using a clean and coarse cloth.

[27] In particular, isinglass made from the air bladders of sciaenoid fish have advantages in that it exhibits a sufficiently strong binding force to be traditionally used to manufacture Korean bows or fans and in that it has a sufficient setting period to enable elaborate work.

[28] The heating temperature, the heating time and the amount of water added, which are employed to liquefy the isinglass, are all known to those sufficiently skilled in the art that they can perform work using isinglass. Since the isinglass is glue that has been traditionally and widely used in Korea, it is familiar to Koreans. The present invention is not limited to particular liquefaction conditions for isinglass. In particular, the setting time can be somewhat freely controlled by controlling the concentration through the control of the amount of water.

[29] The isinglass occupies 10 to 30 weight percent in the fine powder composition for use in the production of disposable biodegradable tableware according to the present invention. The reasons why the percentage of isinglass is limited as stated above is that, in the case where the percentage of the isinglass is less than 10 weight percent, problems may arise in that forming is not freely performed due to the poor fluidity of the composition according to the present invention, and the composition is thus easily broken due to weak binding force, and, in contrast, in the case where the percentage of the isinglass exceeds 30 weight percent, problems may arise in that the unit cost of products is not economic, and thus practicality is lowered.

[30] In the fine powder composition for use in the production of completely biodegradable disposable tableware according to the present invention, the remaining ingredient, other than the isinglass, is natural cellulose. This natural cellulose in itself does not exhibit any binding force, and is material that is set using another glue and then constitutes a hard portion capable of improving physical properties.

[31] The natural cellulose is one or more selected from the group consisting of wood, grass, grain husks, fruit peel, and grain powder.

[32] The wood is the thin skins or broken pieces of one or more selected from the group consisting of the various woods of a pine tree and a black oak, preferably sawdust.

[33] The grass is the thin skins or broken pieces of one or more grasses selected from the group consisting of rice straw, beanstalks, and sesame stalks.

[34] The grain husks are one or more selected from the group consisting of bean hull, rice bran, millet husks, and Indian millet husks.

[35] The fruit peel is one or more selected from the group consisting of the peels of fruit or seeds such as oil- seed cakes, the peels of oranges, and the peels of apples.

[36] The grain powder is one or more selected from the group consisting of rice flour, corn flour, and wheat flour.

[37] The remaining ingredients described above, other than the grain powder, can be

obtained as by-products in the production or reproduction process of various agricultural processed products. An advantage resides in that such by-products are reused in the production of disposable tableware, which is discarded after a single use.

[38] Although the grain powder may be any kind of grain powder, it is preferable to reuse grain powder the quality of which was partially deteriorated or the product value of which was reduced, from an economic standpoint.

[39] Furthermore, in the present invention, a composition can be obtained by mixing isinglass with starch paste.

[40] The reason why the starch paste is added is that not only is binding force not significantly reduced when the starch paste is mixed with the isinglass, but also the starch paste, together with the isinglass, acts to reduce setting time compared to the case where the isinglass is used alone, so that it is possible to adjust the setting time, thereby being capable of producing disposable tableware economically.

[41] In the case where less than 5 weight percent starch paste is used, a problem may arise in that the economic effect is reduced because the effect of counteracting the setting time extension function of the isinglass is small. In the case where greater than 15 weight percent starch paste is used, a problem may arise in that it is difficult for the setting time extension function of the isinglass to occur because the amount of isinglass used is small.

[42] The present invention, composed as described above, ensures a long setting time, and thus allows artistic tableware to be formed, in which case the tableware is formed in the state in which the degree of dryness of the isinglass is equal to or greater than 20, and thus the isinglass is converted into gel. Such tableware may be used in the state in which it is completely dried after being formed.

[43] Furthermore, the present invention, composed as described above, ensures a long setting time, and thus can be used to produce moldings, which have formative beauty as interior construction material. In this case, work may be conducted in the state where the degree of dryness is adjusted to 20 or greater and material is in a gel state.

[44] Furthermore, in the present invention, the composition is formed into powder, in which the degree of dryness of the isinglass is about 10-20, and the powder is fed to a high-temperature compression molding machine and is compression-molded into disposable tableware in large quantities. In the case where disposable tableware is produced as described above, the tableware is composed of natural materials, so that it can be easily and naturally dissolved and decomposed through simple burial, thus not causing environmental pollution. Furthermore, such tableware does not affect the cultivation of crops in land or the appearance of land because the tableware easily loses its shape and collapses thanks to the use of isinglass, and the natural cellulose itself, which forms most of the composition, can function as compost. Accordingly, even in

the case where such tableware is buried in farmland or the like, it promptly loses its shape and is gradually converted into compost, so that it has an advantage in that it can be reused as compost without hindering the cultivation of the crops in a rice field or a dry field.

[45] That is, in the case of the tableware produced according to the present invention, all of the ingredients of the tableware are natural materials, so that the tableware is completely and naturally dissolved and decomposed after 3-4 months when it is left in the external atmosphere. As a result, there is no problem of environmental pollution.

[46] In particular, the composition of the present invention is converted into ceramic through high-temperature compression by pressing upper and lower molds, which are formed to conform to the shape of specific tableware so as to produce disposable tableware in large quantities, using a press machine, so that the tableware has an advantage in that it can be used to cook food in a microwave oven while preventing the food from being burned.

[47] The fine powder composition of the present invention is fed into the cavity of molds, which are formed to conform to the shape of specific tableware, and is compression-molded. The compression conditions, under which disposable tableware can be converted into ceramic in the compression molding, include a temperature range of 15O-18O7C, and a compression pressure range of 1000-1500 tons based on a mold having dimensions of 1300 mm- 1300 mm.

[48] The temperature can be maintained because the mold is equipped with a heating device, and the compression pressure changes in linear proportion to the change in the size of a mold.

[49] The reasons why the temperature and pressure conditions are numerically limited are that conversion into ceramic does not occur at the lower limit and the composition is burned during molding at the upper limit.

[50] Preferred embodiments and comparative examples of the present invention are described below.

[51] Since the following embodiments are provided only to illustrate the present invention, they must not be deemed to limit the range of the present invention. In particular, in the following embodiments, isinglass or starch paste does not have a dryness degree range of 10-20, unlike that in mass production, but is used in a gel state, having a dryness degree greater than 20. The embodiments were worked with the content of water adjusted to the same level by an operator.

[52]

[53] (Embodiment 1)

[54] A composition according to the present invention was obtained by mixing 20 weight percent isinglass with 60 weight percent rice husks and 20 weight percent

finely sliced rice straw, which are forms of natural cellulose.

[55] The ingredients were kneaded and then formed into an arbitrary shape. [56] [57] (Embodiment 2) [58] This embodiment was implemented in the same manner as Embodiment 1, except that 15 weight percent isinglass and 5 weight percent starch paste were used.

[59] [60] (Embodiment 3) [61] This embodiment was implemented in the same manner as Embodiment 1, except that 10 weight percent isinglass and 10 weight percent starch paste were used.

[62] [63] (Embodiment 4) [64] This embodiment was implemented in the same manner as Embodiment 1, except that 5 weight percent isinglass and 15 weight percent starch paste were used.

[65] [66] (Comparative example) [67] This embodiment was implemented in the same manner as Embodiment 1, except that oxhide glue was used instead of isinglass.

[68] [69] (Experimental example) [70] Dishes (bowl-shaped) each having a wave-shaped wrinkled structure at the brim thereof were produced by hand using the compositions of Embodiments 1 to 4 and the comparative example.

[71] During the production, the freedom of forming (formability) and the time taken for setting were measured. The formability is represented using the averages of values that are obtained when 10 adult women evaluate the feel based on five assessment grades (very good (5), good (4), ordinary (3), bad (2), and very bad (I)) while touching the dishes, and the actual times taken for setting were measured. The results are listed in the following Table 1.

[72] [73] Table 1

[74] As shown in Table 1, according to the present invention, it could be found that, using isinglass, sufficient setting time was provided, particularly for the production of pieces of handicraft for which importance is attached to individuality, rather than mass production using molds, at the time of production of tableware, and formability was satisfactory.

[75] Furthermore, when the starch paste was used, it was found that the setting time of the isinglass could be adjusted.

[76] When the oxhide glue was used instead of the isinglass, it was found that setting time was reduced to 50% or less of the setting time that was taken when using oxhide glue. That is, it could be found that setting time was very short, so that it could be seen that a forming process was not efficiently performed.

[77] The present invention is not limited to the above-described specific preferred embodiments, but those skilled in the art can make various variations and modifications without departing from the gist of the present invention set forth in the attached claims. Such variations and modifications fall within the scope of the attached claims.

[78] The above-described present invention is an invention that provides a composition for use in the production of completely biodegradable disposable tableware, in which isinglass or a mixture of isinglass and starch paste is used as a binding agent, so that tableware can be produced at a high forming rate in the production of the tableware due to the gradual setting speed of the isinglass, thereby increasing the production efficiency of the tableware, so that it is possible to form tableware having complicated shapes, and so that the tableware is easily, naturally and completely decomposed through simple burial after use, thus not only being harmless to the environment but also being reused as compost.