CA1048406A

CA1048406A - Method of deodorizing diapers and human excreta

Info

Publication number: CA1048406A
Application number: CA75234482A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Una L. Hart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1975-08-29
Filing date: 1975-08-29
Publication date: 1979-02-13

Abstract

METHOD OF DEODORIZING DIAPERS AND HUMAN EXCRETA
Abstract of the Disclosure A method of deodorizing diapers and human excreta is provided which comprises applying to the diapers or the excreta a chemical composition which in its simplest form consists of an acidic material, an antibacterial material, and a solvent. The impregnating composition may also contain a chelating agent and a wetting agent. The exact nature of the acids, antibacterial agents, solvents, chelating agents, and wetting agents is described. The treatment of diapers results in a marked decrease in offensive odors from excreta, thus making the changing of soiled diapers less unpleasant.

Description

104840fi BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One of the common pathological conditions of a baby's skin is "ammonia dermatitis" or diaper rash. It is described in the medical literature as being "characterized by an erythematous, vesicular or ulcerated eruption in the 5 diaper area caused by the liberation of ammonia from urine or urea splitting organisms". (Lawrence B. Slobody, M.D., Clinical Pediatrics, McGraw Hill, New York, 1955, p. 428.) The urea splitting organisms are some 200 species of bacteria which contain the enzyme urease. (James B. Summer and 10 G. Fred Somers, The Chemistry and Methods of Enzymes, 3rd Ed., Academic Press, New York, 1953, p. 156.) This enzyme catalyzes the splitting of urea, which is nonirritating to the skin, to ammonia which is a skin irritant because it is strongly alkaline, i.e., it has a pH considerably above 15 7 and thus causes a chemical irritation of the skin.
Similarly, there can be irritation by alkaline residues left in improperly rinsed diapers. In the common household laundry detergents, alkaline compounds such as sodium triphosphate, polyphosphate, carbonate and meta- 20 silicate are present. When the diaper is washed using a product containing one or more of these compounds and inadequately rinsed, these materials are left in the diaper.
When such a diaper is moistened by perspiration or by urine, these compounds dissolve to produce an alkaline 25 solution which irritates the baby's skin.

-2-`- 1048406 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One of the objectional odors from soiled diapers is ammonia which is produced from urea in urine by bacteria often present in diapers. A feature of the present invention resides in applying to the soiled diaper and to excreta, a hypertonic solution including a weak organic acid which will not irritate the skin, and preferably one which is odorless. Certain acid salts could be used, preferably salts of strong acids and weak bases.
A further feature of the present invention relates to the provision of a method for the purpose described in which the hypertonic solution used in the method includes an effective antibacterial agent so that the growth of bacteria will be inhibited, thereby limiting the production of ammonia in badly contaminated diapers. The antibacterial agent is necessary to prevent the formation of large amounts of ammonia and the subsequent neutralization of all the mild acid present in the treating solution, there being a limit to the amount of mild acid which may be used.
An added feature of the present invention is to provide a method of the type described in which the hypertonic treating compositis~n includes a chelating agent. Such an agent provides an aid to bacteriostasis. Although the chelating agents used do not function effectively in acid solution, they increase in effectiveness as the pH decreases.
A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a wetting agent in the treating solution. The wett7ng agent permits the spray to penetrate the diaper and to evenly distribute the product on the diaper. As a result, the spray may be applied to the diapers in small amounts and still be effective.
A principal object is to provide a method of deodorizing soiled diapers which comprises applying thereto a deodorizing amount of a hypertonic solution consisting essentially of: 5 to 50% by weight of an acidic material or mixture thereof, said acidic material being selected from the group consisting of 5 to 15% by weight of Group A, 5 to 20% by weight of Group B, 10 to 15%
by weight of Group C? and 5 to 20% by weight of Group D wherein Group A is an organic acid selected from the group consisting of citric, malic and tartaric acid; Group B is an organic acid selected from the group consisting of succinic and mandelic acid; Group C is an organic acid seiected from the group consisting _3_ A~ `

of benzoic, fumaric, lauric and stearic acid, and Group D is an acidic salt selected from the group consisting of sodium dihydrogen phosphate and ammonium sulfate; O. 5 to 5% by weight of an antibacterial agent selected from the group consisting of hexachlorophene, 4,3',4~-trichlorosalicylanilide,

3,4~,5-tribromosalicylanilide, 6-acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-m-dioxane, bithionol, formaldehyde, thymol and phenethyl alcohol (B); and a diluent selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, and isopropanol.

A;~ n These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The first ingredient of the treating solution is acid. 5 While a strong mineral acid such as hydrochloric or sulfuric acid would neutralize alkaline compounds, such acids should be avoided because they themselves are skin irritants. Lower molecular weight aliphatic acids could also be used, but they have odors which make them less desirable. The acid 10 should preferably be organic or weak inorganic acid such as citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, mandelic acid, furmaric acid, benzoic acid, lauric acid, stearic acid, sodium dihydrogen phosphate and ammonium sulfate. The amount of the organic acid will vary. The 15 very water soluble acids such as citric, malic and tartaric are to be used in a concentration by weight of 5% - 10%;
the moderately soluble acids such as succinic and mandelic acids in a concentration by weight of 5% - 20%, and the slightly soluble acids such as benzoic, fumaric, lauric, 20 and stearic acids in a concentration by weight of 10% - 50%.
The concentration of weight of the acidic salts is to be between 5% - 20%.
The acids may be used singly or in combinations.
For example, a very soluble or moderately soluble acid may 25 be combined with a slightly soluble one so that there will be reserve acidity. The water soluble acids should be used in the concentration ranges previously defined and the slightly soluble one in such an amount that the total concentration of acid is between 25% - 50% by weight. 30 ~048406 The amount of acid which may be used is quite naturally limited. As has been indicated, the acid must be weak, and if in an aqueous medium, should not be applied to the diaper in sufficient quantity to wet it. Thus, while the acid in the product may be sufficient to neutralize the 5 residual alkaline compounds in the diapers resulting from incomplete removal of laundry agents, it may not be present in sufficient quantity to neutralize all the ammonia produced by bacteria in badly contaminated diapers. To counteract this bacterial action, it is necessary to kill the ammonia 10 producing bacteria or at least to inhibit their growth.
Therefore, an effective antibacterial agent is incorporated in the spray.
As examples of antibacterial agents which are used, the following may be listed: hexachlorophene, 6-acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-m-dioxane, formaldehyde, thymol and phenethyl alcohol (B). More than one antibacterial agent may be used, provided that they are compatible.
As an aid to stain removal and to antibacterial action, chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic 20 acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid and their sodium salts may be added. Chelating agents such as the type described above generally do not function efficiently in acidic solution, but as the pH rises, they will become effective. 25 The addition of a wetting agent improves the hypertonic treating solution which is designed to be sprayed on the diaper in small amounts. Obviously the amount of solution should be small or the diaper will be wet. The purpose of the surfactant, then, is to insure the even 30 distribution of spray on the diaper by reducing the surface tension of the liquid. Useful surfactants are nonylphenoxypoly (2-12) ethyleneoxyethanol benzene alkyl (C4-C15) sulfonate and sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate.
Suitable solvents are water, ethanol, isopropanol, 5 and mixtures of these. In the case of the latter two, they will also exert an antibacterial action.
The following solutions and suspensions illustrate the treating solutions. The solutions are simply prepared by dissolving the solutes in the solvent, the suspensions 10 are prepared by mixing the ingredients and milling as required in a colloid mill. These solutions and suspensions are to be used on soiled diapers and excreta; spraying is a convenient method to use.
EXAMPLES: 15 1. 5 g. Citric acid 0.5 g. 6-Acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-m-dioxane 94.5 g. Water 2. 8 g. Malic acid 1 g. 3,4'5-Tribromosalicylanilide 20 91 g. 95% Ethanol 3. 15 g. Mandelic acid 2 g. g-Acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-m-dioxane 2 g. Phenethyl alcohol (B) 81 g. 95~ Ethanol 25

4. 15 g. Lauric acid 0.5 g. Trioxane 1 g. 4,3',4'-Trichlorosalicylanilide

5 g. Glycerol monostearate 8 g. Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate 70.5 g. Water 5. 5 g. Mandelic acid 1 g. Hexachlorophene 10 g. Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate 84 g. Water

6. 50 g. Lauric acid 5 1 g. 3,4',5-Tribromosalicylanilide 5 g. Sorbitan trioleate 4 g. Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate 40 g. Water

7. 5 g. Sodium dihydrogen phosphate 10 1 g. 6-Acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-m-dioxane 94 g. Water

8. 10 g. Citric acid 0.5 g. 6-Acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-m-dioxane 1 g. Disodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 88.5 g. Water

9. 5 g. Malic acid 5 g. 40% Formalin solution 4 g. Tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate 86 g. Water 20

10. 5 g. Succinic acid 3 g. 6-Acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-m-dioxane 1 g. Disodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 91 g. Water

11. 15 g. Mandelic acid 25 ` 5 g. 3,4',5-Tribromosalicylanilide 2 g. Nonylphenoxypoly (2-12) ethyleneoxyethanol 78 g. Isopropanol 104~406

12. 5 g. Tartaric acid 2 g. Bithionol 2 g. Hexachlorophene 0.5 g. Nonylphenoxypoly (2-12) ethyleneoxyethanol 90.5 g. 95~ ethanol 5

13. 10 g. Benzoic acid 1 g. Hexachlorophene 0.5 g. Trioxane 0.5 g. Nonylphenoxypoly (2-12) ethyleneoxyethanol 88 g. Isopropanol 10

14. 5 g. Citric acid 2 g. 6-~cetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-m-dioxane 5 g. Disodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 2 g. Sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate 86 g. Water 15

15. 10 g. Tartaric acid 3 g. 3,4',5-Tribromosalicylanilide 3 g. Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid 2 g. Nonylphenoxypoly (2-12) ethyleneoxyethanol 20 g. Starch 20 62 g. Talc

16. 10 g. Mandelic acid 2 g. 4,3',4-Trichlorosalicylanilide 1 g. Pentasodium diethylenetriaminepentaacetate 3 g. Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate 2 g. Glycerol monostearate 0.5 g. Benzene alkyl (C4-C15) sulfonate 81.5 g. Water 1C)484~)6

17. 20 g. Succinic acid 2 g. Hexachlorophene 3 g. Thymol 2 g. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 15 g. Kaolin 5 58 g. Talc

18. 15 g. Lauric acid 5 g. Phenethyl alcohol (B) 0.5 g. Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid 5 g. Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate 5 g. Glycerol monostearate 69.5 g. 95% ethanol

19. 5 g. Tartaric acid 15 g. Stearic acid ~` 2 g. 3,4',5-Tribromosalicylanilide 15 5 g. Tetraethyleneglycol monostearate 2 g. Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate 71 g. Water

20. 15 g. ~andelic acid 25 g. Benzoic acid 20 l g. 6-Acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-m-dioxane 1 g. Nonylphenoxypoly (2-12) ethyleneoxyethanol 58 g. Isopropanol Emulsifying agents such as glycerol monostearate, tetraethylene glycol monostearate, polyoxyethylene (20) 25 sorbitan monostearate, and sorbitan trioleate may also be ! added to stabilize aqueous suspensions of insoluble acids and antibacterial agents. They may be used singly or in pairs.
A perfume may be added, but this is an optional ' ingredient. 30 _g_

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
l. A method of deodorizing soiled diapers which comprises applying thereto a deodorizing amount of a hypertonic solution consisting essentially of:
(a) 5 to 50% by weight of an acidic material or mixture thereof, said acidic material being selected from the group consisting of 5 to- 15% by weight of Group A, 5 to 20% by weight of Group B, 10 to 50% by weight of Group C, and 5 to 20% by weight of Group D wherein Group A is an organic acid selected from the group consisting of citric, malic and tartaric acid;
Group B is an organic acid selected from the group consisting of succinic and mandelic acid; Group C is an organic acid selected from the group consisting of benzoic, fumaric, lauric and stearic acid, and Group D is an acidic salt selected from the group consisting of sodium dihydrogen phosphate and ammonium sulfate;
(b) 0. 5 to 5% by weight of an antibacterial agent selected from the group consisting of hexachlorophene, 4,3',4'-trichlorosalicylanilide, 3,4',5-tribromosalicylanilide, 6-acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-m-dioxane, bithionol, formaldehyde, thymol and phenethyl alcohol (B); and (c) a diluent selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, and isopropanol.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said solution further includes 0. 5 to 5% of a chelating agent selected from the group consisting of ethylene-diaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid and the sodium salt thereof.
3. The method of Claim 1 wherein said solution further includes 0.5 to 2% by weight of a wetting agent selected from the group consisting of nonylphenoxy-polyethyleneoxyethanol having 2 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide, benzene alkyl sulfonate wherein said alkyl has from 4 to 15 carbon atoms and sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate.
4. A method of deodorizing human excreta which comprises applying to said excreta a deodorizing amount of a hypertonic solution consisting essentially of:
(a) 5 to 50% by weight of an acidic material or mixture thereof, said acidic material being selected from the group consisting of 5 to 15% by weight of Group A;
5 to 20% by weight of Group B; 10 to 50% by weight of Group C, and 5 to 20% by weight of Group D; wherein Group A
is an organic acid selected from the group consisting of citric, malic and tartaric acid; Group B is an organic acid selected from the group consisting of succinic and mandelic acid; Group C is an organic acid selected from the group consisting of benzoic, fumaric, lauric and stearic acid;
and Group D is an acidic salt selected from the group consisting of sodium dihydrogen phosphate and ammonium sulfate;
(b) 0.5 to 5% by weight of an antibacterial agent selected from the group consisting of hexachlorophene, 4,3',4'-trichlorosalicylanilide, 3,4',5-tribromosalicyl-anilide, 6-acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-m-dioxane, bithionol, formaldehyde, thymol and phenethyl alcohol (B); and (c) a diluent selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol and isopropanol.