An aqueous composition for reduction of malodour from surfaces comprising a bacillus bacterial spore and an alkane diol

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aqueous composition for reduction of malodour, particularly secondary malodour, or dank malodour from surfaces. It is especially useful for malodour reduction from soft surfaces like fabric which may be sprayed with the aqueous composition and allowed to remain thereon. Optionally such fabric may thereafter be laundered using any known laundering process to deliver enhanced malodour reduction benefits. This is achieved through use of an aqueous surfactant containing composition that comprises a bacillus bacterial spore along with select alkane diol.

Description

[0001] P00000996 CPL

[0002] 1

[0003] AN AQUEOUS COMPOSITION FOR REDUCTION OF MALODOUR FROM SURFACES

[0004] Field of the Invention

[0005] The present invention relates to an aqueous composition for reduction of malodour from surfaces. Particularly, it relates to malodour reduction from soft surfaces like fabric which may be sprayed with the aqueous composition and allowed to remain thereon. Optionally such fabric may thereafter be laundered using any known laundering process to deliver enhanced malodour reduction benefits.

[0006] Background of the Invention

[0007] Hard and soft surfaces in the homes including clothing need to be cleaned regularly to maintain a fresh and pleasant environment. Hard surfaces like floors, walls, toilets, furniture and utensils in the kitchen are often cleaned with compositions that may contain harsh chemicals to render the surfaces fresh and free from germs. Soft surfaces include those in the homes like upholstery, curtains, bedsheets, blankets, towels and mops used for cleaning and more importantly clothes worn by people.

[0008] Freshness of such surfaces after cleaning is often perceived as absence of malodour. Malodour may be of many types. Two main types of malodour are primary malodour and secondary malodour. Primarly malodour is the odour inherently present in certain foods like onion, garlic, eggs etc. If surfaces are stained by such foods, they instantly give off their primary odour which is perceived by most humans as unpleasant and are called primary malodour. Secondary malodour is produced by decaying organic matter like that produced due to degradation of foods waste in the garbage bins, and degradation of other organic soil in the implements like sponges used in the kitchen and mops used for cleaning surfaces in the homes. They develop over time on such surfaces (several hours to days) due to degradation of organic matter by microorganisms like bacteria and fungus present in them. Another type of secondary malodour is what is known as dank malodour perceived from clothes that have dried very slowly in high moist conditions to a relatively high residual moisture content on such clothes. The present inventors were working to find a solution to reduce malodour from surfaces especially the secondary malodour.

[0009] Soft surfaces like clothes, towels, thin bedsheets etc can be made fresh and free of malodur by the traditional laundering process that involves washing them by hand using a bucket along with a laundry detergent composition or by cleaning them in a washing machine. There are other soft P00000996 CPL

[0010] 2 surfaces like quilts, pillows, cushions used in sofas, heavy curtains etc which are difficult to wash through a regular laundering process. It is difficult to reduce malodour from such surfaces.

[0011] There is thus a need in the art for a composition that can be applied or sprayed on to surfaces which may or may not thereafter be subjected to a laundering process to deliver efficient malodour reduction benefit.

[0012] The present inventors have surprisingly found that a combination of a bacillus bacterial spore and select alkane diols in an aqueous surfactant containing composition was very effective in such malodour reduction.

[0013] Summary of the Invention

[0014] The first aspect of the present invention relates to an aqueous composition for reduction of malodour from surfaces comprising

[0015] (i) 0.000005 to 1 wt% of a Bacillus bacterial spore;

[0016] (ii) 0.01 to 2 wt% a C3- C9 alkane diol;

[0017] (iii) a non-ionic surfactant; and

[0018] (iv) 80 to 99 wt% water wherein Bacillus bacterial spore comprises Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus subtilis.

[0019] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a spray device comprising a spray pump and a container containing a composition of the first aspect, said device capable of spraying said composition.

[0020] Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of reducing malodour from a surface comprising the step of contacting the surface with a composition of the first aspect.

[0021] Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to use of a composition of the first aspect for reducing malodour from a surface.

[0022] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0023] For the avoidance of doubt, any feature of one aspect of the present invention may be utilised in any other aspect of the invention. The word "comprising" is intended to mean "including" but not P00000996 CPL

[0024] 3 necessarily "consisting of” or "composed of'. Thus, the term "comprising" is meant not to be limiting to any subsequently stated elements, but rather to optionally also encompass nonspecified elements of major or minor functional importance. In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive. Whenever the words "including" or "having" are used, these terms are meant to be equivalent to "comprising" as defined above. It is noted that the examples given in the description below are intended to clarify the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to those examples per se. Except in the examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and / or use are to be understood as modified by the word "about". Unless specified otherwise, numerical ranges expressed in the format "x to y" are understood to include x and y. When for a specific feature multiple preferred ranges are described in the format "x to y", it is understood that all ranges combining the different endpoints are also contemplated. Unless specified otherwise, amounts as used herein are expressed in percentage by weight based on total weight of the composition and is abbreviated as “wt%”.

[0025] The present invention delivers the benefit of removal of malodour from surfaces. The malodour sought to be removed are preferably secondary malodour i. e malodour produced over a prolonged period of time as a result of microbial degradation of material. Material which can decay and cause malodour include food, garbage bins, drainage in the kitchen. Bodily excrement in the toilet drains could decay over time and deliver such malodour. Used clothes which have not been washed and contain sweat and sebum may decay to produce such secondary malodour. Dank malodour is another form of malodur which is generated from fabric which have not been dried to the desired low moisture or been dried slowly over a course of several days. Dank malodur believed to be caused by microbial decay of carbonaceous reside on the fabric at or above a certain moisture conent. The surfaces may be hard surfaces like those on floors, walls, toilets, furniture and utensils in the kitchen. They may be made of wood, metal, ceramic, concrete, plastic, glass or a composite material. Alternately the surfaces may be soft surfaces like those in upholstery, curtains, bedsheets, blankets, towels and mops used for cleaning and more importantly clothes worn by people. They may be made from cotton, fabric made from synthetic polymer fiber or combinations of these or other fibers like wool, silk or similar material. Most preferably the fabric is made of cotton, synthetic polymer or combinations of these. The composition of the invention is especially useful for cleaning a soft surface preferably a fabric.

[0026] The composition of the invention comprises a Bacillus bacterial spore. The composition comprises a combination of bacterial spores of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium, P00000996 CPL

[0027] 4 and Bacillus subtilis more preferably Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus subtilis. By a combination of bacterial spores, as per this invention, is meant that the spores of the bacteria may be included in the composition.

[0028] Yet another preferred aspect relates to a composition which additionally comprises one or both of Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus thuringiensis. An especially preferred aspect of the present invention relates to a combination of bacterial spores which comprises Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus thuringiensis.

[0029] It is preferred that each of the bacterial spores are present in 1 to 70%, more preferably in 5 to 40% of the total number of the the bacterial spores. An even more preferred aspect of the invention relates to the bacterial spores Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus subtilis being included in 5 to 40% of the total number of the bacterial spores. An especially preferred aspect of the invention relates to the bacterial spores Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus thuringiensis each being included in 1 to 30%, preferably 5 to 20%, most preferably 5 to 15% of the total number of the bacterial spores.

[0030] The bacterial spore is included in 0.000005 to 1%, preferably 0.00005 to 0.75%, further more preferably 0.0001 to 0.5% by weight of the composition. The bacterial spores for inclusion in the composition of the invention can be in powder form having a count of around 1011cfu / g, but there could be other methods of growing and introducing the spores in the composition which are well known to a person skilled in the art. Thus, in the composition, the bacterial spore is preferably included in 103to 1011cfu / g, more preferably 104to 109cfu / g, and most preferably 105to 108cfu / g of the composition.

[0031] The composition of the invention comprises 0.01 to 2 wt% a C3- C9 alkane diol. Preferred alkanediols are selected from one or more of propanediol, hexanediol and octanediol. Preferred alkanediols as per the present invention are substituted along a linear alkyl chain. It is preferred that the two alcohol groups are substituted at the 1 ,2 or 1 ,3 or 2,3 positions. The alkane diol is preferably included in 0.02 to 2 wt%, more preferably in 0.05 to 2 wt% by weight of the composition.

[0032] The composition of the invention preferably comprises 0.05 to 20 wt%, more preferably 0.1 to 15 wt%, further more preferably 0.1 to 5 wt% and most preferably 0.1 to 3 wt% of a nonionic surfactant. Preferred non-ionic surfactant is an alcohol ethoxylate or an alkyl polyglycoside. Suitable nonionic surfactants include addition products of ethylene oxide and / or propylene oxide with fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty amines. More preferably it is a fatty alcohol ethoxylate. P00000996 CPL

[0033] 5

[0034] Further more preferably it is a C8 to C18 primary linear alcohol ethoxylates with an average of from 3 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

[0035] The non-ionic surfactant may be an alkyl polyglycosides, The alkyl chain length is generally defined as an average alkyl chain length. The alkyl chain length of the alkyl poly glycoside preferably comprises between 4 and 18 carbon atoms. The alkyl chain is preferably a linear alkyl chain. The alkyl chain is preferably derived from fatty alcohols, more preferably the alkyl chain is derived from natural fatty alcohols. The preferred alkyl polyglycoside is alkyl polyglucoside.

[0036] It is preferred that the composition comprises not more than 3 wt%, more preferably not more than 2wt%, further more preferably not more than 1 wt%, most preferably not more than 0.1 wt% surfactant other than non-ionic surfactant. Optimally surfactant other than non-ionic surfactant is absent from the composition. Such other surfactant may be anionic or amphoteric in nature.

[0037] The composition of the invention preferably comprises a chelating agent. It is preferably selected from an amino carboxylate compound. Preferred amino carboxylates are selected from one or more of trisodium methyl glycine diacetate (MGDA), L-glutamic acid N, N-diacetic acid tetrasodium (GLDA and ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA). The preferred chelating agent is one or both of MGDA and GLDA. The composition preferably comprises 0.005 to 2 wt%, more preferably 0.01 to 1.5 wt% chelating agent by weight of the composition.

[0038] The composition is in aqueous form and comprises 80 to 99 wt% water preferably 90 to 98 wt%. The composition of the invention preferably has a pH in the range of 4 to 9. In one aspect it may be in the range of 4 to 6. In another aspect it may be in the range of 8 to 9. pH is measured by taking the aqueous composition and measuring the pH using a pH meter at 25 °C.

[0039] The composition is preferably delivered on the surface desired to be made odour free by applying it on to the surface using a brush, mop or by direct pouring on to the surface. To ensure enhanced cleaning the composition may be delivered on to the surface as a spray from a spray device. The composition when delivered through a spray device may be in the form of a mist, foam, or spray. It is also possible to deliver the product to the consumer as a concentrated composition. The concentrated composition may be diluted by the consumer before adding to the device for delivery on to the surface. The concentrated composition may be diluted by the consumer with water in a weight ratio in the range of 1 :2 to 1 :20. P00000996 CPL

[0040] 6

[0041] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a spray device comprising a spray pump and a container containing the composition of the invention, the device capable of spraying said composition.

[0042] The device thus comprises a container from which the composition may be sprayed. It is delivered to the surface using a spray device. The spray device may comprise a bottle having a nozzle and a spray pump dispenser. The invention thus provides a cleaning system comprising a spraying device. The spraying device comprises a container holding the composition, a spray head, and a liquid supply arrangement for transferring the composition from the container to the spray head to form the spray.

[0043] The spraying device used in the present invention preferably comprises a container having an internal volume of 25 to 1000 ml, more preferably of 50 to 800 ml, even more preferably 60 to 750 ml and most preferably of 75 to 500 ml. The spraying device preferably comprises a positive displacement pump that acts directly on the composition. The pump draws the composition up into the liquid supply arrangement and transfers the composition to the spray head, from which it is discharged in the form of a spray, preferably through a nozzle.

[0044] In the spraying device the dispensing of the aqueous composition is preferably powered by a user's efforts, i.e, the liquid cleaning composition is not dispensed under pressure by simply actuating a valve and requires manual triggering. The spraying device employed in accordance with the present invention is preferably a trigger spray bottle or a squeeze foam bottle.

[0045] In another preferred embodiment, the spray device is configured to mix the liquid cleaning composition with air before it is dispensed from the spray head. The composition can be placed into the reservoir of a plastic squeeze bottle which contains a foaming spray head or other foam producing means. Squeezing the container causes the composition to leave the reservoir and enter an air-mixing or foaming chamber via an internal dip tube. The foam produced in the foaming chamber is often passed through a homogenizing element interposed between the airmixing chamber and the discharge orifice to homogenise and control the consistency of the discharged foam. Further compression of the foam discharges the foam from a discharge cap as a uniform non-pressurised aerated foam. Alternatively the side walls of the container may be rigid and the dip tube may be fitted with a pump that is actuated by a push button. When composition is drawn by the pump through to the air mixing or foaming chamber, the desired foam is produced. In the case of a fabric which may be washed by hand washing or by using a washing machine, the present invention relates to a method of reducing malodour from a surface comprising the step of contacting the surface with a composition of the invention followed by the step of cleaning P00000996 CPL

[0046] 7 the fabric with a detergent composition. Thus when a fabric is found to have some malodour the consumer may apply or spray the composition of the invention on to fabric. Thereafter the fabric is cleaned by the usual process of washing fabric / clothes in a washing machine or by hand washing method. Said usual process generally comprises soaking the fabric / clothes in a detergent solution for a predetermined amount of time. There after the clothes are washed using agitation by hand or in the washing machine. The clothes are then squeezed to be free of the wash liquor and the rinsed once or many times using fresh water before the clothes are dried either in a high temperature dryer or by laying out to dry at ambient temperature on a clothes line.

[0047] For surfaces like hard surfaces in the homes or for soft surfaces which cannot be washed in the regular washing process like in a washing machine, like in the case of upholstery on furniture like sofas, heavy curtains, blankets etc. the present invention also relates to applying or spraying the composition on to the desired surface and then wiping the surface with a wipe or a mop. This action may be repeated desired number of times before the surface appears to be free of malodour.

[0048] Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to use of the composition of the invention for removing malodour from a surface.

[0049] The invention will now be illustrated with the help of the following non-limiting examples.

[0050] Examples

[0051] Examples A - D, 1-4: Effect of combination of actives as per the invention as compared those outside the invention on malodour reduction.

[0052] Combination of actives as shown in Table - 1 below were prepared. They were tested for malodour reduction using the methodology as give below:

[0053] Autoclaved 10x10 cm polyester swatches are taken in a sterile petri plate. Cleaning compositions were prepared and swatches were soaked for 15 minutes. After incubation, the swatches were washed with hard water (2 rinses) to mimic real life scenario and was left to air dry in petriplates inside the LAF. 200 .l of inoculum which includes culture mix ( M.osloensis and S.hominis), tryptone, mucin and BSA was inoculated dropwise covering all places on the swatch. The swatches were allowed to dry in LAF for 15 mins.

[0054] With the help of sterile forceps each swatch was put into sterile black screw cap bottle. 7ml of hard water was added to it. Bottles were air tightly closed and incubated at 37 °C. The bottles P00000996 CPL

[0055] 8 were then sniffed by 10 trained panelists after storage for 48 hours and the average malodour score along with standard deviation was calculated.

[0056] The data is summarized in table -1.

[0057] Table - 1 :

[0058] In the above table Bastands for Bacillus amyloliquifaciens.

[0059] Bmix refers to a mixture of bacillus spores included in the following amounts: Ba, Bm, and Bs at 5 to 40%, and Bp and Bt at 5 to 15% of the total number of the bacterial spores included; where Bm is Bacillus megaterium, Bs is Bacillus subtilis, Bp is Bacillus pumilus, and Bt is Bacillus thuringiensis. P00000996 CPL

[0060] 9

[0061] The data in the table - 1 above indicates that compositions as per the invention (Examples 1-4) deliver superior malodour reduction as compared to subset combinations (Examples A - D) not containing either the bacillus spore or the alkane diol.

[0062] Examples E, F, 4: Effect of the composition as per the invention compared to that outside the invention on extended malodour reduction.

[0063] Compositions as shown in Table - 2 were prepared and malodour was measured as mentioned previously for Table - 1 over extended period of time (24, 48 and 72 hours). The data is summarised in Table -1 below:

[0064] Table - 2:

[0065] The data in Table - 2 above indicates that composition as per the invention comprising the bacillus spores (Example - 4,) delivers extended malodour reduction for up to 72 hours as compared to sample without the bacillus spores (Example F)

Claims

P00000996 CPL10Claims1. An aqueous composition for reduction of malodour from surfaces comprising(i) 0.000005 to 1 wt% of a Bacillus bacterial spore;(ii) 0.01 to 2 wt% a C3- C9 alkane diol;(iii) a non-ionic surfactant; and(iv) 80 to 99 wt% water; wherein Bacillus bacterial spore comprises Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus subtilis.

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the Bacillus bacterial spore additionally comprises one or both of Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus thuringiensis3. A composition a claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the Bacillus bacterial spores comprises Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus thuringiensis.

4. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising 0.005 to 2 wt% a chelating agent.

5. A composition as claimed in claim 4 wherein the chelating agent is selected from one or more of trisodium methyl glycine diacetate (MGDA) and L-glutamic acid N, N-diacetic acid tetrasodium salt (GLDA), or ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA).

6. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said non-ionic surfactant is an alcohol ethoxylate or an alkyl polyglycoside.

7. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims having a pH in the range of 4 to 9.

8. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the surface is a soft surface, preferably a fabric.P00000996 CPL119. A spray device comprising a spray pump and a container containing a composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, said device capable of spraying said composition.

10. A method of reducing malodour from a surface comprising the step of contacting the surface with a composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the surface is thereafter cleaned with a detergent composition.

12. Use of a composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8 for reducing malodour from a surface.

Images