An aqueous composition for reduction of malodour from surfaces comprising a bacillus bacterial spore and an amino carboxylic acid

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aqueous composition for reduction of malodour particularly primary malodur 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 chelating agent.

Description

[0001] P00001047 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.

[0006] 5 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.

[0007] Background of the Invention

[0008] 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 germs. Soft surfaces include those in the homes like upholstery, curtains,

[0009] 15 bedsheets, blankets, towels and mops used for cleaning and more importantly clothes worn by people.

[0010] Freshness of such surfaces after cleaning is often perceived by 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,

[0011] 20 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 primary malodour.

[0012] 30 Soft surfaces like clothes, towels, think bedsheets etc can be made fresh and free of malodur by the traditional laundering process that involves washing them in by hand using a bucket along with a laundry detergent composition or by cleaning them in a washing machine. There are other soft surfaces like quilts, pillows, cushions used in sofas, heavy curtains etc which are difficult to P00001047 CPL

[0013] 2 wash through a regular laundering process. Such surfaces when stained with e.g. maolodur producing food stains have to be cleaned “in situ” i.e by applying or spraying a composition on to the stain and then mechanically scraping the stain off after some time. Such processes are often inefficient in reducing maldour.

[0014] 5 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 especially for primary malodours.

[0015] The present inventors have surprisingly found that a combination of a bacillus bacterial spore and select chelating agent in an aqueous surfactant containing composition was very effective in such malodour reduction.

[0016] Summary of the Invention

[0017] The first aspect of the present invention relates to an aqueous composition for reduction of malodour from surfaces comprising

[0018] 15 (i) 0.000005 to 1 wt% of a Bacillus bacterial spore;

[0019] (ii) 0.005 to 2 wt% a chelating agent comprising at least an amino carboxylic acid and / or its salt;

[0020] (iii) a non-ionic surfactant; and

[0021] (iv) 80 to 99 wt% water;

[0022] 20 wherein Bacillus bacterial spore comprises Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus subtilis.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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 followed by the step of cleaning the surface with a detergent composition.

[0025] 30 Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to use of a composition of the first aspect for reducing malodour from a surface. P00001047 CPL

[0026] 3

[0027] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0028] 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 necessarily "consisting of” or "composed of'. Thus, the term "comprising" is meant not to be

[0029] 5 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

[0030] 15 "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%”.

[0031] The present invention delivers the benefit of removal of primary malodour from surfaces. The

[0032] 20 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

[0033] 25 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.

[0034] The composition of the invention is especially useful for reducing primary malodour found on soft and hard surfaces in the homes. The malodour may be of food origin like those from eggs, garlic,

[0035] 30 onion, fish, and meat; or odour from people like those from sweat, urine, and feces.

[0036] The composition of the invention comprises a Bacillus bacterial spore. As per the present invention, the composition comprises a combination of bacterial spores of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus subtilis, preferably Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus subtilis. By a combination P00001047 CPL

[0037] 4 of bacterial spores, as per this invention, is meant that the spores of the bacteria may be included in the composition.

[0038] Yet another preferred aspect relates to a composition which additionally comprises one or both

[0039] 5 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.

[0040] 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

[0041] 15 15% of the total number of the bacterial spores.

[0042] 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

[0043] 20 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.

[0044] 25 The composition of the invention comprises a chelating agent of the amino carboxylate class. It is preferably one or more of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), methyl glycine di-acetic acid (MGDA), and L-Glutamic acid N, N di-acetic acid (GLDA), . It is more preferably 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 most preferred chelating agent is one or both of MGDA and GLDA. The composition comprises 0.005 to 2 wt%, preferably 0.01 to 1.5 wt% chelating agent by weight of the composition.

[0045] The composition of the invention preferably comprises 0.05 to 20 wt%, more preferably 0.1 to 15

[0046] 35 wt%, further more preferably 0.1 to 5 wt% and most preferably 0.1 to 3 wt% of a nonionic P00001047 CPL

[0047] 5 surfactant. Preferred non-ionic surfactant is an alcohol ethoxylate or an alkyl polyglycoside. 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. Further more preferably it is a C8 to C18 primary linear alcohol ethoxylates with an average of from 3 to

[0048] 5 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

[0049] 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

[0050] 10 chain is derived from natural fatty alcohols. The preferred alkyl polyglycoside is alkyl polyglucoside.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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

[0053] 20 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.

[0054] The composition of the invention preferably 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

[0055] 25 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.

[0056] 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

[0057] 30 cleaning the composition may be delivered on to the surface as a spray from a spray device.

[0058] 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. 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 P00001047 CPL

[0059] 6 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.

[0060] The device thus comprises a container from which the composition may be sprayed. It is delivered

[0061] 5 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.

[0062] 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

[0063] 15 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.

[0064] 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

[0065] 20 with the present invention is preferably a trigger spray bottle or a squeeze foam bottle.

[0066] 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

[0067] 30 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.

[0068] 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 P00001047 CPL

[0069] 7 step of contacting the surface with a composition of the invention followed by the step of cleaning 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

[0070] 5 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.

[0071] 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

[0072] 15 malodour.

[0073] Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to use of the composition of the invention for removing malodour from a surface.

[0074] The invention will now be illustrated with the help of the following non-limiting examples.

[0075] Examples

[0076] 20

[0077] Examples A-C, 1 : Effect of combination of the actives as per the invention on degradation of primary malodour

[0078] Combination of actives as shown in Table - 1 below was taken and the effect on degradation of primary malodour was measured using the procedure as given below.

[0079] Malodor Assay protocol

[0080] 10 cm x 10 cm autoclaved Polyester Swatches were taken in GC vials. 100 pl of 0.05% BSA was added. After incubation for 5 minutes, a Synthetic Dank Musty Malodor mix (SDMO) was added to the vial. Various actives as shown in the table were then added. The vials were tightly sealed and left for incubation at 25 °C for 24 hours. The gas in the headspace in the vial was then

[0081] 30 analysed using GC-MS to quantify malodour reduction. The relative concentration of various malodour molecules remaining in the headspace as indicated by peak area of the GC-MS is shown in table -1 below. P00001047 CPL

[0082] Table - 1

[0083] Bacillus refers to a mixture of bacillus spores (at 0.05 % by weight of the sample) included in

[0084] 5 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.

[0085] GLDA refers to L-glutamic acid N, N-diacetic acid tetrasodium salt at 0.32 wt%.

[0086] The data in the table - 1 above indicates that the combination of actives as claimed in the present 10 invention is capable of degrading primary malodour molecules even after 24 hours of interaction.

[0087] Examples D,E, 2: Compositions as shown in Table -2 below were prepared. They were tested for malodour molecule 1-octen-3-ol using SDMO as in the table -1 above using the Malodour assay protocol detailed hereinabove. The data is summarized in Table -2 below.

[0088] 15

[0089] Table - 2 P00001047 CPL

[0090] 9

[0091] In the above table Bsstands for Bacillus subtilis.

[0092] Bmix refers to a mixture of bacillus spores (at 0.005 wt.%) 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

[0093] 5 included; where Bm is Bacillus megaterium, Bs is Bacillus amyloliquifaciens, Bp is Bacillus pumilus, and Bt is Bacillus thuringiensis.

[0094] The data in table -2 above indicates that composition comprising mix of bacillus as per the present invention (Example - 2) is superior to use of one type of bacillus alone (Example - E).

[0095] 10

Claims

P00001047 CPL10Claims1. A aqueous composition for reduction of malodour from surfaces comprising(i) 0.000005 to 1 wt% of a Bacillus bacterial spore;(ii) 0.005 to 2 wt% a chelating agent comprising at least an amino carboxylic acid and / or its salt;(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 thuringiensis.

3. 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 wherein chelating agent is selected from one or both of trisodium methyl glycine diacetate (MGDA) and L-glutamic acid N, N-diacetic acid tetrasodium salt (GLDA).

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

6. A composition as claimed in claim 5 wherein the alcohol ethoxylate is Cs to Cis primary linear alcohol ethoxylates with an average of from 3 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

7. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising 90 to 98 wt% water.

8. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims having a pH in the range of 4 to 9.P00001047 CPL119. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the surface is a soft surface, preferably a fabric.

10. 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.

11. 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 9 followed by the steps of cleaning the surface with a detergent composition.

12. Use of a composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9 for reducing malodour from a surface.

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