| abstract |
Oxygen is removed or maintained in a sealed container by electrochemically reducing the oxygen to water using an enzymatic O 2 scavenging system based on a laccase enzyme. Activation of the O 2 scavenging system typically occurs by water (liquid or vapor) adsorption; in preferred embodiments, ascorbate and isoascorbate (and their corresponding acids) are especially advantageous for their dual role as reductant and hygroscopic agent. The capacity of the O 2 scavenging system can be manipulated by altering the concentration of reductant that is included in the O 2 scavenging composition. The O 2 scavenging system can be prepared in a variety of formats (e.g., inks, labels, packets, liners, patches, caps, within the packaging material itself) and is readily produced by apparatuses conventionally used in the industry on a high speed continuous basis. |