Odor-Inhibiting Hygienic Compositions Using Chelation and Membrane Lysing Agents

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing odor-inhibiting compositions for hygienic articles face a trade-off between improving odor control and maintaining desirable properties like centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) and absorbance against pressure (AAP), as adding odor control agents often reduces these absorbency properties.

Innovation Solution

A binary or ternary mixture of odor control agents, including a chelation agent and a membrane lysing compound, is used in conjunction with water-absorbing polymer particles, allowing for reduced impact on absorbency properties while enhancing odor control efficacy, with specific agents like EDTA, 1,2-decanediol, and cetrimonium chloride being employed at optimized concentrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If odor control agents are added to improve odor-inhibiting ability, then odor control efficacy is improved, but centrifuge retention capacity and absorbance against pressure deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveodor control efficacyVSAvoidabsorbency properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The odor control function is segmented into two distinct mechanisms: chelation agents that bind metal ions catalyzing bacterial growth, and membrane lysing compounds that directly disrupt bacterial cell membranes. This segmentation allows each agent to work through a different pathway, reducing the need for high concentrations of a single agent and thereby preserving absorbency properties while achieving effective odor control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite odor control system combining two types of chemical agents with different mechanisms of action. The chelation agent (e.g., EDTA, sodium triphosphate) works synergistically with the membrane lysing compound (e.g., cetrimonium chloride, 1,2-decanediol) to provide comprehensive odor inhibition through multiple pathways, allowing effective odor control at lower overall concentrations that do not compromise CRC and AAP

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the amount of odor control agents is increased, then odor-inhibiting ability is improved, but other desirable properties of the composition deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveammonia breakthrough timeVSAvoidcomposition properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the concentration parameters of odor control agents within specific ranges (chelation agent: 0.1-2.0 wt%, membrane lysing compound: 0.1-5.0 wt%) to achieve effective odor control (ammonia breakthrough time >45 hours) while maintaining desirable composition properties. This parameter optimization allows effective odor inhibition without excessive amounts of additives that would compromise other properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 composition achieves significant ammonia breakthrough time exceeding 45 hours at 23 °C with minimal impact on CRC and AAP, demonstrating high odor control efficacy without compromising absorbency properties.

Implementation Method 1

a first odor control agent comprising a chelation agent, wherein the chelation agent is selected from a group consisting of: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), nitrilotris(methylene)triphosphonic acid, sodium triphosphate pentabasic, N-carboxymethylated polyethyleneimine, and 1-hydroxyethane 1,1-diphosphonic acid or salts thereof

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChelation:

Implementation Method 2

the second odor control agent is a membrane lysing compound selected from a group consisting of: 1,2-decanediol, cetrimonium chloride, cocamidopropyl betaine, poly(t-butylaminoethylmethacrylate), behentrimonium, and 1,2-pentanediol

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMembrane lysing:

Implementation Method 3

water-absorbing polymer particles; a first odor control agent comprising a chelation agent; and a second odor control agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3893948B1Odor-inhibiting compositions and hygienic articles incorporating the same
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 BASF SE

AI summary

Disclosed herein are embodiments of odor-inhibiting compositions and hygienic articles incorporating the same. In some embodiments, an odor-inhibiting composition comprises water-absorbing polymer particles; a first odor control agent comprising a chelation agent; and a second odor control agent.