Solidifying agent and simple and portable toilet

Abstract

To provide a solidifying agent used for a simple toilet or a portable toilet which is free from leakage, can suppress generation of odor, and is used in a disaster or outdoors.SOLUTION: The solidifying agent for sawdust 40L contains a water-absorbing polymer in an amount of 600g or more and 800g or less. Even when the present solidifying agent is used for a portable toilet, the amount of the solidifying agent is sufficient for gelling urine for one time for an adult, and a portable toilet having a weight equal to or less than that of a 100g can be produced. In addition, since the solidifying agent of the present invention uses sawdust, it is excellent not only in water absorbing property but also in antibacterial property and deodorizing property, and can be used without stress even when used as a portable toilet at the time of disaster.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable toilet or a portable toilet for use in emergencies such as disasters, outdoors, or while driving, and to a solidifying agent for use therein. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for disaster preparedness supplies in preparation for natural disasters such as earthquakes and heavy rains. Portable toilets, which can be used when flush toilets become unusable due to a water outage, are particularly important, as they affect the health of disaster victims. This has led to a recognition of the need for such supplies not only by local governments but also by individuals. Portable toilets are also required not only during disasters, but also during outdoor activities such as mountain climbing, camping, and fishing, when permanent toilets are not available. Truck drivers and other drivers who drive long distances also need portable toilets when they encounter unexpected traffic jams.

[0003] Portable toilets or portable toilets cannot be used for final disposal of excrement, such as incineration, immediately after use, and must be stored or carried. As a result, problems have been pointed out, such as leakage of excrement such as urine without solidifying, and the leakage of odors. Furthermore, for use in emergencies such as disasters or outdoors, simple assembly and use are also required. Patent Documents 1 to 4 propose portable toilets and portable toilets to meet various needs.

[0004] The invention described in Patent Document 1 discloses a portable toilet containing, as a solidifying agent, a particulate water-absorbent resin composition containing a crosslinkable polymer made of a water-soluble vinyl monomer and an antibacterial agent. Patent Document 2 discloses a portable toilet set with a simple configuration containing cypress powder. Patent Document 3 discloses a portable toilet for urination that has an improved fit during use due to an improved opening shape. Patent Document 4 discloses a portable toilet for vehicles that can be assembled in a short time and can be used stably. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2024-40122 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-38909 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-192902 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-12491 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The invention described in Patent Document 1 contains a water-soluble antibacterial agent such as didecyldimethylammonium chloride, and is therefore thought to have antibacterial effects, but no consideration has been given to its deodorizing effects. Furthermore, the polymer absorbs moisture from the air over time, causing the polymers to stick together, resulting in the problem of long-term storage. The invention described in Patent Document 2 uses a treatment agent containing cypress powder, and is therefore thought to have deodorizing effects, but has the problem of requiring a large amount of treatment agent to absorb urine. Furthermore, even if urine is absorbed, there is also the problem of leakage from the bag when pressure is applied. The inventions described in Patent Documents 3 and 4 have an ingenious shape and are easy to use, but no consideration has been given to leakage or odors.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a solidifying agent that is designed to prevent problems of leakage and odor when used as a portable toilet in the event of a disaster or outdoors, and to provide a portable toilet and a portable toilet that use the solidifying agent. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] Previously, inventors have developed environmentally friendly solidifying agents using sawdust and gelling agents. However, further improvements were needed in terms of reducing leakage and odor. For both portable and simple toilets, it is very important from a hygienic standpoint that urine and other waste products completely gel after use to prevent odors. In particular, portable toilets used outdoors require that urine and other waste products completely gel after use, eliminating the risk of leakage, and that the toilet be easy to carry both when not in use and after use.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide the following solidifying agent and a portable toilet and a portable toilet using the same. (1) A solidification agent for use in portable or portable toilets, which is composed of sawdust and a water-absorbing polymer, and is characterized by containing 600 g or more and 800 g or less of high-molecular-weight water-absorbing polymer per 40 L of sawdust. By blending 600g to 800g of high-molecular-weight absorbent polymer with 40L of sawdust, even a small amount of solidifying agent, specifically 50g to 80g, can completely gel the amount of water (200 to 400mL, the amount of urine excreted in one adult's urination). Furthermore, sawdust not only has excellent moisture absorption capabilities, but the components contained in sawdust also have antibacterial properties and, due to its aromatic fragrance, deodorizing properties. Furthermore, by adhering to the surface of excrement, it can be concealed, reducing psychological resistance even when portable toilets require multiple uses. Furthermore, because sawdust and absorbent polymer are mixed together, even if the polymers absorb moisture from the air, they do not adsorb to each other, preventing deterioration in quality over long-term storage.

[0010] (2) The solidification agent according to (1), characterized in that the sawdust is made from thinned wood. The effective use of thinned wood is an initiative that leads to the protection of terrestrial ecosystems, which is one of the goals to be achieved in the SDGs, and more specifically to sustainable forest management. Furthermore, cypress, cedar, and Japanese cypress obtained from thinned wood are rich in components with antibacterial properties and have a fragrant aroma, making them excellent raw materials for solidification agents.

[0011] (3) A portable toilet containing a solidifying agent according to (1) or (2), characterized in that it has a receiving section on top of the bag-shaped excrement storage section and weighs 100g or less including the solidifying agent. It is important for a portable toilet not only to be able to sufficiently gelatinize excrement after use, but also to be lightweight and easy to carry when not in use. Portable toilets using this solidifying agent are extremely light, weighing less than 100g including the container, so they are easy to carry when hiking or engaging in other outdoor activities. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view showing the exterior of a portable toilet container. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The inventors of the present invention previously developed a product with an inappropriate ratio of gelling agent to sawdust, resulting in portability issues. Specifically, gelation did not occur properly, sometimes causing leakage. In the case of portable toilets, adding a large amount of solidifying agent would solve the leakage problem, but this would increase the weight and size, making the toilet difficult to carry. By examining the ratio of gelling agent to sawdust, the inventors were able to solve the problems of leakage and odor and develop a solidifying agent that is easy to carry, thereby completing the present invention. Furthermore, the solidifying agent they developed is extremely easy to use, as it can process excrement with a small volume, making it ideal for use in portable toilets set up during disasters.

[0014] The solidifying agent of the present invention is a composition comprising a mixture of sawdust and a gelling agent. The use of sawdust, which is highly absorbent, has the advantage of reducing the psychological burden on users because the sawdust conceals excrement. In particular, in portable toilets such as those found in evacuation shelters during disasters, where multiple people use the same portable toilet, it is psychologically very important that excrement is not visible.

[0015] The sawdust used is the product of processing thinned wood. The woody aroma of sawdust from thinned cypress and cedar provides a deodorizing effect. Furthermore, cypress contains volatile terpenes and phenols such as cadinol, cedar contains sesquiterpenes, and hiba contains hinokitiol, all of which are known to have antibacterial properties against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Therefore, using sawdust with antibacterial properties not only suppresses odors but also prevents infectious diarrhea and abdominal pain caused by E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, which are problems in evacuation shelters. Furthermore, using sawdust from thinned wood is highly significant from the perspective of environmental conservation through forest management and forest development.

[0016] The following will explain the present invention by showing examples. Portable toilets used in evacuation shelters and other facilities are made by constructing a toilet bowl or toilet bowl from cardboard, placing a polyethylene bag or similar inside the toilet, and then pouring a solidifying agent into the bag. Portable toilets, on the other hand, have the solidifying agent sealed in a container made of polyethylene or similar. After use, the solidifying agent is disposed of together with the excrement in the polyethylene bag or container by incineration. Therefore, they are very hygienic. Furthermore, the gelling agent used in the solidifying agent does not emit harmful gases when incinerated, so no harmful gases are emitted when incinerated.

[0017] While the type of tree from which the sawdust used as a solidification agent is derived does not matter, using thinned wood as a material is extremely significant from the perspective of environmental conservation. Furthermore, thinned wood is primarily derived from cedar, cypress, Japanese cypress, etc., and therefore has a very strong aromatic fragrance. Furthermore, as mentioned above, sawdust derived from either cedar, cypress, or Japanese cypress has antibacterial properties. The size of the sawdust is also not particularly limited, but a size of approximately 1mm to 3mm is usually sufficient. The smaller the sawdust, the larger the surface area, which increases the absorption rate and improves the surface coverage effect when treating feces.

[0018] A suitable gelling agent used as a solidifying agent is a water-absorbent polymer. The water-absorbent polymer should have the ability to absorb and retain liquids up to 20 times its own weight, and is preferably a particulate polymer with gelling properties. It must also have the property of gelling immediately after urination. Examples of such water-absorbent polymers that can be preferably used include starch-acrylic acid (salt) graft polymers, saponified starch-acrylonitrile copolymers, crosslinked products of sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and acrylic acid (salt) polymers. In the following embodiments, a crosslinked acrylic acid polymer with partial sodium salt, which is a (meth)acrylate-based compound, is used as the water-absorbent polymer.

[0019] The average adult's urine output per urination is approximately 200-400 mL, with a total daily output of 1000-2000 mL. Portable toilets installed in toilet bowls are not designed to replace the solidifying agent in a plastic bag after each use, but rather are used and replaced several times. If gelling is not occurring properly, it is possible to add more solidifying agent as needed, or to allow the gel to fully form before disposal. However, since it is not possible to add solidifying agent to portable toilets, the solidifying agent must be provided in a single dose to ensure sufficient gelling.

[0020] Weight and size are very important when considering carrying it as a portable toilet. When used outdoors, such as on mountain climbs, even if the gelling ability is sufficient, a heavy weight per unit would be a significant burden for the user. Initially, a solidifying agent was manufactured by mixing 300g of high-molecular-weight absorbent polymer with 40L of sawdust. However, when used as a portable toilet, the gelling was insufficient and leakage sometimes occurred. We investigated the formulation of a solidifying agent that would be light enough to carry around and would not cause leakage as a portable toilet.

[0021] Weight and size are crucial when considering portability. Even if the disposal capacity is sufficient, a portable toilet exceeding 100g per unit would be too heavy for outdoor use, such as hiking. Size also needs to be as compact as possible. Therefore, we investigated the amount of sawdust and superabsorbent polymer that would gel a maximum of 400mL of urine (a single urine volume) while weighing less than 100g. We found that a solidifying agent of 100g or less would not cause leakage if 600g or more of superabsorbent polymer was used for 40L of sawdust. Furthermore, using a polymer heavier than 800g per 40L of sawdust would increase the gelling capacity but make the device too heavy for portability. Therefore, a ratio of 600g to 800g of superabsorbent polymer per 40L of sawdust is preferable.

[0022] As shown in this embodiment, the portable toilet contains a solidifying agent sufficient to solidify a single volume of urine, yet weighs less than 100 g when unused and is about the same size as a pack of pocket tissues when folded, making it convenient for outdoor use such as hiking. The container shown in the following embodiment weighs approximately 10 g, so even if 50 to 90 g of solidifying agent is added, the portable toilet weighs less than 100 g. 50 g of solidifying agent is sufficient to gel 300 mL, the average volume of urine per use, without causing leakage. Furthermore, 90 g of solidifying agent contains enough solidifying agent to withstand two uses.

[0023] Furthermore, with this formulation, even when used in portable toilets, a very small amount of solidifying agent is needed to gel urine. The ability to gel excrement with a small amount of solidifying agent is extremely effective in the event of a disaster when portable toilets need to be used for an extended period of time, as it reduces the amount of waste that needs to be incinerated.

[0024] An embodiment of the portable toilet will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

[0025] Portable toilets can be used with containers having the following structure (Figure 1). Portable toilet 1 has a receptacle 3 on the open top side of a bag-shaped waste collection section 2. Because waste collection section 2 and receptacle 3 are to be incinerated and disposed of after use, they must be made of a waterproof material that does not emit toxic gases when incinerated. For example, polyethylene, vinyl, etc. can be used. Furthermore, because waste collection section 2 stores gelled waste until it is incinerated, it must be made of a waterproof material and have a certain thickness so that it is not easily punctured or broken. Furthermore, waste collection section 2 is preferably made of an opaque material so that the waste cannot be seen from the outside.

[0026] The excrement storage section 2 has a bag-like structure measuring approximately 12 to 15 cm wide and 25 to 30 cm long. When not in use, it can be folded into thirds and is about the size of a pocket tissue even with the solidifying agent inside. Therefore, it is very compact and can be easily carried even when used outdoors. As mentioned above, the solidifying agent is used in an amount of 50 to 90 g, which is a blend ratio that can sufficiently gel the amount of urine excreted in one urination. Therefore, the weight of the portable toilet is less than 100 g, so it is not a burden to carry multiple portable toilets for one day's worth.

[0027] A zipper 4 is provided at the top of the excrement storage section 2, 3 to 5 cm below the opening. When not in use, it blocks moisture from the outside air to prevent the solidifying agent from gelling, and after use, it seals the gelled excrement to prevent it from leaking out. The zipper may be doubled to improve sealing. Also, although the system shown here uses a zipper for opening and closing, it may also be opened and closed using a reusable cable tie or the like.

[0028] The receiving part 3 is shaped to fit snugly when placed against the genitals. In particular, the receiving part 3 is made of a soft material to improve the fit, taking into consideration that it will be used by women. The portable toilet shown in the embodiment has a very simple structure, yet is easy to use. Furthermore, even though it contains a solidifying agent that is sufficient to gel the amount of urine excreted by an adult in one urination, it is extremely lightweight at less than 100g, making it easy to use. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 1...portable toilet, 2...excrement collection section, 3...receiving section, 4...zipper

Claims

1. A solidification agent for use in portable toilets or portable toilets, comprising: It is made of sawdust and water-absorbing polymer. For 40L of sawdust, A solidifying agent comprising 600 g or more and 800 g or less of a high molecular weight absorbent polymer.

2. 2. The solidifying agent according to claim 1, wherein the sawdust is made from thinned wood.

3. A receiving portion is provided on the upper portion of the bag-shaped excrement storage portion, 3. The portable toilet containing a solidifying agent according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the weight of the portable toilet containing the solidifying agent is 100 g or less.

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