Cleaning Articles with Bacillus subtilis for Moraxella Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current household and commercial cleaning articles are ineffective in controlling Moraxella sp., which cause hygienic problems, health risks, and malodors due to their tolerance to detergents, desiccation, and UV light, and existing solutions like antibiotics are expensive and unsuitable for everyday use.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a textile, foam, or sponge layer with a concentration of Bacillus subtilis microbial organisms, which exhibit Moraxella sp. inhibiting activity, reducing their abundance and associated negative effects in a long-term polymer-matrix test.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional detergents, desiccation, or UV light are used to control Moraxella sp., then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but Moraxella sp. tolerance and survival remain high due to their adapted resistance mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (antimicrobial agent, enzyme, or organic acid) that mediates between the cleaning article and Moraxella sp., providing effective control without requiring extreme conditions that Moraxella can tolerate. This intermediary directly targets and eliminates or inhibits Moraxella sp. on the cleaning article surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical or biological parameters of the cleaning article by incorporating specific substances (antimicrobial agents, enzymes, or organic acids) that alter the environment to be hostile to Moraxella sp., thereby overcoming their tolerance to conventional physical cleaning methods.
2Reliability
If extended heat treatment (microwave) is applied to inhibit Moraxella sp., then microbial control is improved, but the cleaning article is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal system (microwave heating) with a chemical or biological system (antimicrobial agents, enzymes, or organic acids) that can control Moraxella sp. without subjecting the cleaning article to damaging high temperatures, thus preserving article integrity while achieving microbial control.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If antibiotics are used to control Moraxella sp., then hygienic problems are reduced, but cost and suitability for everyday use worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive, readily available substances (antimicrobial agents, enzymes, or organic acids) that can be easily applied to disposable or frequently replaced cleaning articles, making the solution cost-effective and suitable for everyday use, unlike expensive antibiotics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates substances that provide self-service antimicrobial action, where the cleaning article itself contains or releases agents that actively control Moraxella sp. during normal use, eliminating the need for separate antibiotic treatments and reducing overall costs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The use of Bacillus subtilis effectively inhibits Moraxella sp. growth, significantly reducing malodor and health risks, as measured by a 40-fold reduction in metagenomic proportion and improved VDA 270-method odor grades, making the cleaning articles safer and more hygienic.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating a textile, foam, or sponge layer with a concentration of Bacillus subtilis microbial organisms, which exhibit Moraxella sp. inhibiting activity
Data Source
AI summary
Household and/or commercial cleaning articles including a textile layer, a foam or sponge layer, and/or an abrasive layer, which show Moraxella sp. inhibiting activity of a ratio of less than 0.025 (i.e. 40-fold) in a long-term polymer-matrix test. The result is the reduction of negative effects normally associated with Moraxella sp. in such articles.