Alternative food-grade luminescent materials available.

Natura Inc. (3900 Collins Rd., Suite 1007, Lansing, MI 48910) is marketing a patented series of chemical additives that have phosphorescent and luminescent properties. Luminate(tm) can be prepared from a select combination of food-grade amino acids, organic acids and inorganic salts. Made with such components, these additives are water soluble, non-toxic and biodegradable. Luminates are not bleached by sunlight and maintain their luminescent properties.

There are a variety of applications for the materials. In foods, Luminate has special optical effects when used in cake icing. It glows under ultraviolet (UV) light. It can be used in mixed beverages served in a bar equipped with UV light. In food packaging, Luminate can serve as an indicator of adhesive integrity. Currently, the best known photoindicators are aromatic chemicals. But they are not approved for direct contact with food. Luminate alone can function as an adhesive. It complies with regulations for direct contact with food.

Natura executives are interested in selling Luminate as an ingredient, licensing the technology for special applications or collaborating with others in possible joint ventures. Samples are available. In the labeling of meat and poultry, Luminate can serve as an invisible marker (under white light) that becomes visible under UV light. It would replace conventional food dyes visible under ordinary white light. Luminate could become part of a next generation of food-grade inks, free of hazardous and volatile organic chemicals, thus greatly reducing concern over the migration of undesired chemicals through the packaging material into the food itself. In food and pharmaceuticals, Luminate could serve as an indicator of manufacturing source, detectable under UV light for various tableted products, such as vitamin-mineral supplements, and prescription or OTC pharmaceuticals.

Luminates are available in a wide range of physical forms, including as a solution, sol-gel, fiber, cream, glass, granular solid and fine powder. You can modify the physical form by varying the content of organic acids, amino acids, inorganic salts and the amount of water used in the preparation. Luminates as a solid can fluoresce and phosphoresce. As a liquid or cream, they will only fluoresce. Luminates are water-soluble and stable, which allows them to be incorporated into water-based manufacturing processes and water-coating technologies. They can be made thermally stable up to 250 C with no decomposition. They can be incorporated by thermal processing into other heat-stable materials.

The glow-in-the dark emission properties of Luminate depend on the physical state, chemical composition, temperature and wavelength of the excitation source. Activation is best achieved with short or long wavelength UV light. In these instances, a product would take on blue, blue-green and green colors. Fibers, cream, sol-gel and solid forms exhibit both fluorescence and phosphorescence emission. Phosphorescence is characterized by the ability to give off light after the excitation source is turned off. For Luminates, the phosphorescence lasts between 5 sec and 30 sec. Fluorescence is observed when the material is being excited by the excitation source. Once the excitation source is turned off, light does not come from the sample.

Many other food, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic-grade additives can be mixed with Luminate at levels ranging from ppm to percent amounts to change emission properties. Depending on the functional group on the additive, you can incorporate a water-insoluble additive

into the material to enhance water solublity. Many additives increase the intensity of Luminate flourescence, and change the color of the emission, shortening the visible lifetime of the emission.

Further information. Ronald Carlotti or Joel Dulebohn; phone: [phone] or 517-336-4637; fax: [phone]; email [e-mail].