JPH01139140A - Drying agent for pressed flower and production of pressed flowers - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To advance drying of flowers with minimum fading and excellent color tone and to preserve pressed flowers in a good state, by using specified hydrated magnesium sulfate as a drying agent for pressed flowers. CONSTITUTION:First of all, the flowers are subjected to primary drying with the magnesium sulfate having much water of crystallization, of formula MgSO4.n<1>H2O (where, 2<=n<1=5). Successively, the flowers are subjected to secondary drying with the magnesium sulfate having no or comparatively little water of crystallization, of formula MgSO4.n<2>H2O (where, 0<=n<2=3 and n<2n<1>). By using these drying agents, the fading of the pressed flowers is minimized and the color tone of the pressed flowers, especially the vividness of green color, is excellent. And, the color tone is maintained during preservation by releasing very small amt. of moisture. Furthermore, the magnesium sulfate is not deliquescent and can be reutilized by easily releasing the moisture by heating.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pressed flower desiccant and a method for drying pressed flowers. In the present specification, the term "flowers" used as materials for pressed flowers includes all parts of plants such as leaves, flowers, petals, etc. that are the objects of so-called pressed flowers or pressed leaves. Furthermore, "primary drying" in claim 3 means a dehydration drying operation, and "drying" in claim 2 means
and “secondary drying” in claim 3,
This refers not only to dehydration and drying operations, but also to operations for maintaining a dry state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As a method for producing pressed flowers, it has been known since ancient times to sandwich flowers between sheets of paper such as magazines, books, newspapers, etc. and leave them to dry for a long period of time. However, this method has drawbacks such as significant discoloration of the pressed flowers, uneven hue of the obtained pressed flowers, and ink transfer from the paper sheets.

In recent years, pressed flowers have been manufactured using hygroscopic paper or highly hygroscopic chemical substances such as silica gel and calcium chloride. However, paper, silica gel, and the like have a low moisture absorption capacity, particularly a low initial moisture absorption capacity, resulting in a long drying period, resulting in easy discoloration and uneven coloration of pressed flowers. Calcium chloride has excellent moisture absorption ability, but if moisture absorption progresses excessively, it begins to deliquesce. And the moisture absorption amount is 7
If it exceeds 0% by weight, water droplets may be generated, and if a fractionation window is not used for management, a large amount of water may be applied to the pressed flowers that have warped and dried. Moreover, calcium chloride has a major drawback in that the small amount of hydrogen chloride generated causes the pressed flowers to noticeably bleach or discolor.

Means for Solving the Problems The present inventor has conducted various studies in view of the current state of technology as described above, and has discovered that a specific hydrated magnesium sulfate is extremely useful as a desiccant for pressed flower moons. .

That is, the present invention provides a desiccant for pressed flowers and a method for drying pressed flowers as described below.
Pressed flower moon desiccant containing magnesium sulfate expressed as 0≦n≦5) as an active ingredient; ■Characterized by drying flowers with magnesium sulfate expressed as Mg5O・n1HO (2≦n1≦5) Pressed flower production method; ■After primary drying of flowers with magnesium sulfate represented by Mg5O・n1H2O (2≦n1≦5), Mg
SO4・n2H2O (0≦n2≦3, however, n2 x nl)
A method for drying pressed flowers, which comprises performing secondary drying of the flowers after the primary drying using magnesium sulfate represented by:

The magnesium sulfate used as the pressed flower moon desiccant in the present invention is represented by 2Mg5O.nH2O (0≦n≦5).

In the pressed flower drying method according to the present invention, first, M.n.
Primary drying of flowers is carried out using magnesium sulfate which has a large amount of crystallized water expressed as HO (2≦n1≦5). Usually, magnesium sulfate for primary drying is impregnated into paper (Japanese paper, Western paper), cloth, foamed plastic sheet, etc. in the form of an aqueous solution, and used after being dried. More specifically, flowers are sandwiched between such impregnated materials and held under or without load. The number of days required for primary drying in this embodiment varies depending on the type of flower, temperature, humidity, degree of pressure, etc., but is usually about 2 to 3 days in summer and 3 to 5 days in winter.

The amount of magnesium sulfate impregnated into the sheet is usually Mg
50・3H2, it is about 30 to 50 g/proof. Note that the primary desiccant can also be used in the form of powder, granules, tablets, and the like. During primary drying, nl in the above formula
If magnesium sulfate is anhydrous or has a low crystallization water content of less than 2, drying may proceed too rapidly and the pressed flowers may fade and lose their color tone.

After the above-mentioned primary drying, some flowers can be directly produced as dried pressed flowers, but depending on the type of flower, further drying may be required. In such a case, M・n
Secondary drying is then performed using anhydrous or relatively low amount of crystallized water magnesium sulfate represented by 2HO (0≦n2≦3, where n2<n') as a drying agent. For secondary drying, the magnesium sulfate may be placed in a paper bag, plastic bag, etc., and the primary dried flowers may be dried in a closed space. Alternatively, a magnesium sulfate-impregnated sheet may be used as in the case of primary drying. During secondary drying, in the above formula, n2
When using magnesium sulfate with a high amount of water of crystallization (1 - 3 times), drying progresses slowly and requires a long time, which is economically disadvantageous.

Incidentally, FIG. 1 shows the relationship between water of crystallization and water absorption capacity of magnesium sulfate used in the present invention. The temperature during the test was 2
5° C. and relative humidity 90%.

The vertical axis of the graph indicates the amount of water absorbed per weight of magnesium sulfate. The present invention effectively utilizes such a difference in water absorption amount.

Note that the desiccant that has absorbed moisture and become moist when used in the present invention is easily heated and dehydrated by any heating means such as an electric iron or a microwave oven, and then regenerated. Moreover, since the pressed flowers obtained by the method of the present invention have stable quality (color tone, etc.), they can be stored for a long period of time on a desiccant sheet filled with or supported with anhydrous magnesium sulfate.

Effect of the invention According to the present invention, the following remarkable effects are achieved.

(1) Discoloration of pressed flowers during drying can be minimized. Also, the significant discoloration observed when using calcium chloride does not occur.

(2) Therefore, the color tone of the obtained pressed flowers is excellent. In particular, the vividness of the green color is outstanding compared to products produced by conventional methods.

(3) Magnesium sulfate with a specific amount of crystallization water used as a desiccant is presumed to release very small amounts of water when kept dry. This small amount of moisture release also seems to contribute to maintaining the excellent color tone of the pressed flowers after drying.

(4) The desiccant of the present invention is easy to handle because it does not deliquesce or become "sticky" due to water even when saturated with water.

(5) The desiccant itself is easily dehydrated by heating and can be reused.

(6) Pressed flowers can be produced under optimal conditions by appropriately selecting and combining the amounts of crystallization water in the primary desiccant and secondary desiccant depending on the type of target flower.

EXAMPLES Examples will be shown below to further clarify the features of the present invention.

Example 1 10 sheets of dry paper soaked with magnesium sulfate (MgS Oa ・3H2O) (impregnated amount: 40 g/cI#, hereinafter referred to as dry sheet) were stacked and wrapped in Japanese paper, and then flowers were placed on top of them. By repeating the procedure of placing a small chrysanthemum (small chrysanthemum), covering it with a polyurethane mat, and then placing a drying sheet, multiple layers were stacked.

After wrapping these with a moisture-proof vinyl chloride resin sheet, press plates are placed on the top and bottom, and tightened with strings. Approximately 10 kg/cIII
A load was applied and maintained for 3 days.

In this way, bright green pressed flowers were obtained.

Furthermore, when pansies and cosmos were dried in the same manner, pressed flowers with bright colors were obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the relationship between water of crystallization and water absorption capacity of magnesium sulfate used in the present invention. (that's all)

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A desiccant for pressed flowers containing magnesium sulfate represented by MgSO_4·nH_2O (0≦n≦5) as an active ingredient. (2) MgSO_4・n^1H_2O (2≦n^1≦5
) A method for producing pressed flowers characterized by drying flowers using magnesium sulfate. (3) MgSO_4・n^1H_2O (2≦n^1≦5
) After primary drying of flowers with magnesium sulfate, MgSO_4・n^2H_2O (0≦n^2
≦3, provided that n^2<n^1) A method for producing pressed flowers, which comprises performing secondary drying of the flowers after the primary drying using magnesium sulfate.