Chemical compositions and methods for absorbing water vapour and combating malodour within a cavity

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of absorbing water vapour and malodour from a cavity, for example a drawer or wardrobe or the inside of a shoe. This is achieved by placement in the cavity of a package permeable to water vapour and retaining a particulate dehumidifying compound, a particulate odour-combating compound, and a filler comprising starch or a starch derivative or cellulose or a cellulose derivative, or which acts as a thickener or gelling agent for the water inside the package.

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         19 . A particulate composition comprising a dehumidifying compound, an odour-combating compound, and a filler comprising starch on a starch derivative or a cellulose derivative, in admixture.  
     
     
         20 . A particulate composition comprising a dehumidifying compound, an odour-combating compound and a filler which acts as a thickener or gelling agent for the water inside the package, in admixture.  
     
     
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         22 . The particulate composition of  claim 19 , wherein the dehumidifying compound is present in an amount of at least 10 wt. % to about 95 wt. %.  
     
     
         23 . The particulate composition of  claim 22 , wherein the dehumidifying compound is present in an amount of at least 20 wt. % to about 85 wt. %.  
     
     
         24 . The particulate composition of  claim 23 , wherein the dehumidifying compound is present in an amount of at least 40 wt. % to about 75 wt. %.  
     
     
         25 . The particulate composition of  claim 22 , wherein the dehumidifying compound comprises an inorganic compound.  
     
     
         26 . The particulate composition of  claim 25 , wherein the dehumidifying compound is selected from calcium chloride and magnesium chloride.  
     
     
         27 . The particulate composition of  claim 19 , wherein the odour-combating compound is selected from zeolites, inorganic carbamates, clays, cyclodextrins and diatomaceous earths.  
     
     
         28 . The particulate composition of  claim 27 , wherein the odour-combating compound is a zeolite.  
     
     
         29 . The particulate composition of  claim 27 , wherein the odour-combating compound is present in an amount of at least 0.1 wt. % to about 25 wt. %.  
     
     
         30 . The particulate composition of  claim 29 , wherein the odour-combating compound is present in an amount of at least 0.5 wt. % to about 20 wt. %.  
     
     
         31 . The particulate composition of  claim 30 , wherein the odour-combating compound is present in an amount of at least 1 wt. % to about 10 wt. %.  
     
     
         32 . The particulate composition of  claim 19 , wherein the filler is present in an amount of no more than 80 wt. %.  
     
     
         33 . The particulate composition of  claim 20 , wherein the dehumidifying compound is present in an amount of at least 10 wt. % to about 95 wt. %.  
     
     
         34 . The particulate composition of  claim 33 , wherein the dehumidifying compound is present in an amount of at least 20 wt. % to about 85 wt. %.  
     
     
         35 . The particulate composition of  claim 34 , wherein the dehumidifying compound is present in an amount of at least 40 wt. % to about 75 wt. %.  
     
     
         36 . The particulate composition of  claim 33 , wherein the dehumidifying compound comprises an inorganic compound.  
     
     
         37 . The particulate composition of  claim 36 , wherein the dehumidifying compound is selected from calcium chloride and magnesium chloride.  
     
     
         38 . The particulate composition of  claim 20 , wherein the odour-combating compound is selected from zeolites, inorganic carbamates, clays, cyclodextrins and diatomaceous earths.  
     
     
         39 . The particulate composition of  claim 38 , wherein the odour-combating compound is a zeolite.  
     
     
         40 . The particulate composition of  claim 20 , wherein the odour-combating compound is present in an amount of at least 0.5 wt. % to about 20 wt. %.  
     
     
         41 . The particulate composition of  claim 40 , wherein the odour-combating compound is present in an amount of at least 1 wt. % to about 10 wt. %.  
     
     
         42 . The particulate composition of  claim 41 , wherein the filler is present in an amount of no more than 80 wt. %.