Chemical Formulations and Their Use in Neutralizing or Eliminating Odors

Abstract

The present invention is a chemical formulation and method of using the chemical formulation to neutralize or eliminate odors on a surface. In one aspect, the chemical formulation is an aqueous solution of multivalent citrate salts that may further comprise a surfactant, a fragrance and/or a coloring agent. The method comprises the steps of applying this formulation in sufficient volume to saturate the surface and, after the formulation has had time to react thereby neutralizing or eliminating the odor and absorbing or drying the formulation from the surface. In another aspect, the formulation of multivalent citrate salts may be applied in solid form to an odorous aqueous solution or may be used to coat an absorbent matrix for use in receiving an odorous aqueous solution.

1 . A method for reducing or eliminating odors on a surface, said method comprising:
 applying an aqueous solution of multivalent citrate salts for a time and in a volume sufficient to saturate said surface; and   absorbing or drying said aqueous solution from said saturated surface after said time   thereby reducing or eliminating said odor from said surface.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said aqueous solution of multivalent citrate salts comprises divalent, trivalent or a combination of both divalent and trivalent citrate salts. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said multivalent citrate salts are alkali metal citrate salts. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein said alkali metal is lithium, sodium or potassium. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein said multivalent alkali metal citrate salts may be multivalent lithium citrate salts, multivalent sodium citrate salts, multivalent potassium salts, a combination of multivalent lithium and sodium citrate salts, a combination of multivalent sodium and potassium citrate salts, a combination of multivalent lithium and potassium citrate salts or a combination of multivalent lithium, sodium and potassium citrate salts. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of said multivalent citrate salts in said aqueous solution is from about 0.09 molar to about 0.9 molar. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of said multivalent citrate salts in said aqueous solution is from about 0.1 molar to about 0.5 molar. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said aqueous solution of multivalent citrate salts further comprises a surfactant. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein said surfactant is an alcohol. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein said alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, primary butanol, secondary butanol and tertiary butanol. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein said surfactant comprises about 0.9% to about 9.0% volume/volume of said aqueous solution of multivalent citrate salts. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein said surfactant comprises about 2.0% to about 5.0% volume/volume of said aqueous solution of multivalent citrate salts. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said aqueous solution of multivalent citrate salts further comprises a fragrance. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said fragrance is natural or synthetic. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said aqueous solution of multivalent citrate salts further comprises a color. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said odor is the result of smoke, decomposition, excrement biological excretion or microorganisms. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein said decomposition is decomposing plant or animal matter. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein said excrement is from an animal, bacteria or fungi. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein said excrement is feces or urine. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein said smoke is the result of burning wood, tobacco or cannabis. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein said biological excretion is from an animal or a fungus. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein said excretion is from a scent gland or anal gland of an animal. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein said animal is a cat, a dog or a skunk. 
     
     
         24 . A composition comprising an aqueous solution of multivalent citrate salts and a surfactant. 
     
     
         25 . A composition according to  claim 24 , wherein said aqueous solution of multivalent citrate salts comprises divalent, trivalent or a combination of both divalent and trivalent citrate salts. 
     
     
         26 . A composition according to  claim 24 , wherein said multivalent citrate salts are alkali metal citrate salts. 
     
     
         27 . A composition according to  claim 26 , wherein said alkali metal of said alkali metal citrate salts is lithium, sodium or potassium. 
     
     
         28 . A composition according to  claim 26 , wherein said multivalent alkali metal citrate salts may be multivalent lithium citrate salts, multivalent sodium citrate salts, multivalent potassium salts, a combination of multivalent lithium and sodium citrate salts, a combination of multivalent sodium and potassium citrate salts, a combination of multivalent lithium and potassium citrate salts or a combination of multivalent lithium, sodium and potassium citrate salts. 
     
     
         29 . A composition according to  claim 24 , wherein said concentration of said multivalent citrate salts in said aqueous solution is from about 0.09 molar to about 0.9 molar. 
     
     
         30 . A composition according to  claim 24 , wherein the concentration of said multivalent citrate salts in said aqueous solution from about 0.1 molar to about 0.5 molar. 
     
     
         31 . A composition according to  claim 24 , wherein said surfactant is an alcohol. 
     
     
         32 . A composition according to  claim 31 , wherein said alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, primary butanol, secondary butanol and tertiary butanol. 
     
     
         33 . A composition according to  claim 24 , wherein said surfactant comprises about 0.9% to about 9.0% volume/volume of said aqueous solution of multivalent citrate salts. 
     
     
         34 . A composition according to  claim 24 , wherein said surfactant comprises about 2.0% to about 5.0% volume/volume of said aqueous solution of multivalent citrate salts. 
     
     
         35 . A composition according to  claim 24 , further comprising a fragrance. 
     
     
         36 . A composition according to  claim 35 , wherein said fragrance is natural or synthetic. 
     
     
         37 . A composition according to  claim 24 , further comprising a coloring agent. 
     
     
         38 . A method for reducing or eliminating body odors, said method comprising:
 applying a solid, semi-solid or aqueous composition of multivalent citrate salts on a body area where said body odor occurs   thereby reducing or eliminating said odor from said body area.   
     
     
         39 . A composition comprising multivalent citrate salts and an absorbent matrix. 
     
     
         40 . A composition according to  claim 39 , wherein said absorbent matrix is clay or bentonite. 
     
     
         41 . A method for preparing an absorbent matrix that reduces or eliminates odors when it comes into contact with an aqueous odorous solution, said method comprising:
 applying an aqueous solution of multivalent citrate salts to an absorbent granular matrix forming a modified matrix;   drying said modified matrix; and   mixing said dried modified matrix to remove clumping.   
     
     
         42 . A method for preparing an absorbent matrix that reduces or eliminates odors when it comes into contact with an aqueous odorous solution, said method comprising:
 applying solid multivalent citrate salts to an absorbent matrix forming a modified matrix; and   mixing said modified matrix so that said solid citrate salts are in contact with said absorbent matrix.