Cucurbituril Mixture for Malodour Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing malodour counteracting methods, such as biocides and reactive chemicals, are not environmentally neutral and can be toxic, while absorbents and adsorbents lack selectivity and are ineffective in moist conditions, and cyclodextrin-based host-guest complexes have poor predictability and stickiness issues.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising a mixture of cucurbiturils (CB[5], CB[6], and CB[8]) is used to form complexes with malodour molecules, effectively suppressing complex malodours under moist conditions by physically binding them, thereby reducing their perception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If absorbents and adsorbents are used to suppress malodour, then malodour molecules are trapped and their vapour pressure is depressed, but these materials are not selective and may also bind desirable fragrance molecules, and water vapours may displace the malodour in moist conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the malodour suppression function into multiple specialized components by using a mixture of different cucurbituril compounds (CB[5], CB[6], CB[7], CB[8]), each with distinct cavity sizes that can selectively bind to malodour molecules of different sizes and shapes, providing both selectivity and effectiveness in moist conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The cucurbituril compounds provide localized binding sites with specific cavity structures that are optimized for malodour molecule accommodation, creating selective binding regions that differentiate between malodour and fragrance molecules based on molecular fit and chemical compatibility
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cyclodextrin is used to form host-guest complexes with malodour, then malodour binding occurs during drying, but the system becomes sticky at low water levels and aqueous solutions require significant amounts of preservatives
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the problematic aqueous cyclodextrin system with solid cucurbituril compounds that do not require water-based formulations, eliminating the need for preservatives and avoiding stickiness issues while maintaining effective malodour binding capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite mixture of multiple cucurbituril compounds with different cavity sizes (CB[5], CB[6], CB[7], CB[8]) to create a synergistic system that overcomes the limitations of single-component cyclodextrin systems, providing improved selectivity and performance without the associated drawbacks
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a single type of cucurbituril is used to bind malodour, then specific malodour molecules can be trapped, but complex malodours consisting of multiple components with diverse chemistries cannot be effectively suppressed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a universal malodour suppression system by combining multiple cucurbituril compounds with different cavity sizes and binding characteristics, enabling the system to handle a wide range of malodour molecules with diverse chemistries, sizes, and shapes through a single multifunctional composition
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 cucurbituril mixture efficiently counteracts complex malodours even in high humidity environments, providing superior malodour suppression compared to cyclodextrin and other cucurbituril systems, with a significant decrease in malodour intensity perception.
Implementation Method 1
Absorption of the malodour molecule in the cyclodextrin cavity results in efficient mitigation of malodour. The malodour binding process occurs during drying
Implementation Method 2
Guest molecules are a special class of absorbents, characterized in that each molecule has a well-defined cavity instead of a distribution of pores
Implementation Method 3
The cucurbituril host-guest complexes overcome many of the disadvantages associated with cyclodextrin complexes
Implementation Method 4
The smell of malodour may be pungent and even minute amounts of such molecules can create uncomfortable impressions to consumers
Data Source
AI summary
The use of compositions including two or more cucurbiturils in counteracting malodour in a moist environment. The two or more cucurbiturils are selected from CB[5], CB [6], CB [7] and CB[8]. Also provided is a method for counteracting malodour in a moist environment, including application of a composition including a mixture of two or more cucurbiturils selected from CB[5], CB[6], CB[7] and CB[8].