Odor Control System with Silica Gel and Menthol
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing absorbent articles have limited effectiveness in reducing a wide variety of malodors, as current odor control systems primarily act on specific malodorous compounds rather than addressing the malodors holistically, and lack materials that both counteract malodors within the article and affect nose receptors to reduce odor perception.
Innovation Solution
An odor control system comprising two classes of materials: one class, including silica gel and mesoporous zeolites, acts on malodors or malodorous substances within the article, while the second class, featuring menthol and its derivatives, affects nose receptors to reduce odor perception, providing a synergistic effect in malodor reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional odor control materials (silica, zeolites) are used to act on malodors, then malodor reduction is achieved, but the variety of malodors that can be counteracted is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The odor control system is segmented into two distinct functional classes: materials that act on malodors (silica gel, zeolites, aldehydes) and materials that act on nose receptors (menthol, camphor, eucalyptol). This segmentation allows each class to specialize in specific mechanisms, collectively covering a broader spectrum of malodor types while maintaining reliable effectiveness through synergistic interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite odor control systems combining multiple materials from both classes. The composite approach integrates malodor-targeting materials (silica gel with pH < 7, mesoporous zeolites, aldehydes) with nose-receptor acting materials (menthol, menthyl acetate, camphor, p-menthane), creating a synergistic effect that expands the range of counteracted malodors while preserving reliability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If odor control materials act on nose receptors to reduce odor perception, then odor control is improved, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments odor control into two independent functional pathways: one targeting malodor molecules directly (silica gel adsorption, zeolite absorption, aldehyde reactions) and another targeting nose receptors (menthol, camphor, eucalyptol). This segmentation simplifies the overall mechanism by allowing each pathway to operate independently while contributing to the final odor control effect.
Solution Approach 2:
Materials acting on nose receptors function as intermediaries that modulate the perception of malodors rather than directly eliminating them. These intermediaries (menthol, camphor, eucalyptol) bind to or interact with odor receptors in the nose, creating a synergistic effect that reduces odor perception without requiring complex chemical reactions with the malodor molecules themselves.
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 combined system effectively reduces malodors by neutralizing them within the article and blocking nose receptors, resulting in enhanced odor control that surpasses the performance of individual materials, with silica gel stabilizing volatile compounds and menthol derivatives inhibiting nose detection, leading to improved user experience and product shelf life.
Implementation Method 1
silica gel having a pH of less than 7... reduces odor by acting on malodors or a malodorous substance in the absorbent article
Implementation Method 2
mesoporous zeolites having pores sizes of from 20 to 500 Å... reduces odor by acting on malodors or a malodorous substance in the absorbent article
Implementation Method 3
The second class of odor control material is selected from the group consisting of menthol, menthyl acetate, 3-buten-2-one, 3-methyl-4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-yl), 4-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohen-1-en-1-yl)but-3-en-2-one... which acts on nose receptors to help reduce the perception of malodor
Data Source
AI summary
Absorbent articles provided with an odor control system. The odor control system includes at least two classes of odor control materials, wherein one class acts on malodors or a malodorous substance in the absorbent article and a second class acts on nose receptors. The classes of odor control materials may be selected to provide a synergistic effect in terms of malodor reduction.