Abstract: The disclosure includes novel food coatings and methods of preserving foods and of protecting against damage and/or spoilage to improve appearance, shelf life, and marketability of the foods. The food coatings involve a chitosan solution including chitosan, an organic acid, and a sulfite salt. The food coatings are edible and may create a film on food that protects the food from discoloration, mold growth, and spoilage. The chitosan solution may be applied by spraying, immersion, wiping, fogging, etc. The chitosan solution is show to extend shelf-life of at least catfish, beef steak, hamburger, fruit, vegetables, and berries.

Abstract: The invention consists of novel food coatings, compositions, and products, and methods of preserving foods and of protecting against damage and/or spoilage to improve appearance, shelf life, and marketability of the foods.

Abstract: A hand held steamer having a housing with an opening for injecting steam into an interior of the housing. A core is positioned in the interior of the housing. The core has holes for receiving the steam into an interior of the core. Spacers center the core within the interior of the housing, thereby forming a chamber in the interior of the housing around an exterior of the core. A device in need of sanitization can be placed in the interior of the core. A source of dry vapor steam is attached to the opening in the housing and the steam is injected into the interior of the housing, around the exterior of the core, and into the interior of the core. The steam sanitizes the surface of the device without damaging the rest of the device, as a result of uniform distribution of steam around the device.

Abstract: A hand held steamer having a housing with an opening for injecting steam into an interior of the housing. A core is positioned in the interior of the housing. The core has holes for receiving the steam into an interior of the core. Spacers center the core within the interior of the housing, thereby forming a chamber in the interior of the housing around an exterior of the core. A device in need of sanitization can be placed in the interior of the core. A source of dry vapor steam is attached to the opening in the housing and the steam is injected into the interior of the housing, around the exterior of the core, and into the interior of the core. The steam sanitizes the surface of the device without damaging the rest of the device, as a result of uniform distribution of steam around the device.

Abstract: A method for sanitizing and disinfecting a surface using an aqueous solution of chitosan. The aqueous solution is heated to convert the aqueous solution to a steam vapor containing chitosan. The surface is treated with the steam, thereby disinfecting the surface and simultaneously depositing the chitosan from the steam onto the surface. The steam will also penetrate porous surfaces. An antimicrobial film of chitosan is thereby formed on the surface. The steam vapor sterilizes the surface and the chitosan film inhibits growth of bacteria and other microbes on the surface for several months. The steam containing the chitosan can be generated from an aqueous solution of chitosan heated in standard commercial and home-use steam generators. This chitosan vapor steam treatment of surfaces can be used on any hard surface or soft surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method in which one or more taggants that are intrinsically located—or extrinsically placed—in an article or product, such as carpet. The taggants are detected by x-ray fluorescence analysis to identify or verify the article or its point of manufacture. The taggants are manufactured as part of the article or the taggant is placed into a coating, label, or otherwise embedded within the article for the purpose of later verifying the presence or absence of these elements by x-ray fluorescence, thus determining the unique elemental composition of the taggant within the article.

Abstract: An apparatus and method in which one or more taggants that are intrinsically located—or extrinsically placed—in an article or product, such as carpet. The taggants are detected by x-ray fluorescence analysis to identify or verify the article or its point of manufacture. The taggants are manufactured as part of the article or the taggant is placed into a coating, label, or otherwise embedded within the article for the purpose of later verifying the presence or absence of these elements by x-ray fluorescence, thus determining the unique elemental composition of the taggant within the article.