WO2010150074A2

WO2010150074A2 - Composition for use as sanitizing, antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicotic, antiviral and/or antiodour

Info

Publication number: WO2010150074A2
Application number: PCT/IB2010/001505
Authority: WO
Inventors: Renzo Leardini; Carlo Leardini
Original assignee: N.C.T. - New Chemical Technology S.R.L.
Priority date: 2009-06-23
Filing date: 2010-06-22
Publication date: 2010-12-29
Also published as: IT1399476B1; ITMI20100252A1; WO2010150074A3

Abstract

A composition comprising silver and at least one tourmaline, said composition having sanitizing, antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicotic, antiviral and/or antiodor properties. The antibacterial action of silver is enhanced by the concurrent presence of at least one tourmaline which, thanks to its ionizing properties, enables the composition to rapidly act upon substrates of various type, in particular upon water or air. Said composition can be incorporated into different materials (e.g. plastics, paints, varnishes or enamels, or also plasters, putties and the like), in order to give the latter sanitizing, antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicotic, antiviral and/or antiodor properties.

Description

"COMPOSITION FOR USE AS SANITIZING, ANTISEPTIC, ANTIBACTERIAL, ANTIMICOTIC, ANTIVIRAL AND/OR ANTIODOUR"

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a composition com- prising silver and at least one tourmaline for use as a sanitizing, antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicotic, antiviral and/or antiodor agent.

Said composition can be used for sanitizing, antibacterial, antimicotic, antiviral and/or antiodor treat- ments of a liquid, solid or gaseous material, in particular for treating water or air.

It is known about the use of silver solutions as antibacterial agents. Compared with other antiseptic agents, silver has the advantage of being effective against a wide range of bacteria, also at small concentrations and for a long period of time. Moreover, it is delicate on skin and is excellently tolerated since it is completely atoxic. Silver ions are particularly active and interact with the bacterial cell wall, they bind to microbial DNA and RNA causing the inhibition of bacterial replication and as a result the death of the microorganism. The antiseptic properties of silver are unquestionable, however applications exploiting this capability have been limited almost only to the treatment of wounds and infections. A limitation to the use of silver results mainly from the fact that it acts only by direct and prolonged contact with the substrate to be treated. The Applicant has faced the problem of providing a composition having sanitizing, antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicotic, antiviral and/or antiodor properties, which can be used in a wide range of applications and enables to obtain the desired effect in short times and on different substrates, both of liquid, solid or even gaseous type.

Surprisingly, the Applicant has found that a composition comprising silver and at least one tourmaline can solve the problem mentioned above. In particular, the Applicant has found that the antibacterial action of silver is enhanced by the concurrent presence of at least one tourmaline which, thanks to its ionizing properties, enables the composition to rapidly act upon substrates of various type, in particular upon water or air.

Moreover, said composition can be incorporated into various materials (e.g. plastics) in order to give the latter sanitizing, antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicotic, antiviral and/or antiodor properties. Moreover, coating materials such as paints, varnishes or enam- els, or also plasters, putties and the like, added with a composition according to the present invention can be used in particular for treating highly moist environments (such as e.g. kitchens, bathrooms, swim- ming pools, boats) subject to bacterial or micotic contaminations .

Furthermore, said composition can be useful for preparing medical products, e.g. gauzes, bandages, absorbing fabrics or plasters, for disinfecting and an- tiseptic treatment of injured skin, or also as a healing coadjuvant.

In a first aspect, the present invention therefore relates to a composition comprising silver and at least one tourma1ine . Silver can be present in the composition according to the present invention in the form of metal silver or of a compound containing silver in ionic form. In the case of a compound containing silver in ionic form, this can be preferably selected among silver ox- ides, hydroxides or salts. Particularly preferred are silver sulfate, silver chloride and silver nitrate. It should be noted that the amount of silver in the composition according to the present invention is expressed (except if expressly referred to otherwise) as the amount of silver actually present, whatever the specific form in which it is used.

Preferably, silver, as metal silver or as compound containing silver in ionic form, is used in nano and/or micro particle form, preferably in nano parti- cIe form having in general an average size from 10 nm to 2 μm, preferably from 17 nm to 500 nm. As far as tourmaline is concerned, it can be selected among e.g.: elbaite, uvite, achroite, rubellite, indi- colite, dravite, schorl, buergerite and liddicoatite, or mixtures thereof. Preferably, tourmaline is selected among elbaite, uvite or mixtures thereof. Still more preferably, said at least one tourmaline consists of a mixture comprising elbaite in an amount of 5% to 80% and uvite in an amount of 20% to 95%, the percent- ages being expressed by weight with respect to the total weight of the mixture .

Tourmaline can be used in micro and/or nano particle form, preferably in micro particle form, having in general an average size from 0.5 μm to 100 μm, pref- erably from 0.8 μm to 1.2 μm.

Tourmaline preferably has a density of 2 to 4 g/cm³, preferably of 2.9 to 3.2 g/cm³.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, silver and tourmaline are present in the composition in a weight ratio of 1:20 to 1:2, preferably of 1:10 to 1 : 4 .

Preferably, the composition according to the present invention further comprises at least one inert filler. This at least one inert filler is generally present in an amount of 5% to 70%, preferably of 15% to 50%, the percentages being expressed by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition. As inert fillers e.g. calcium carbonate or precipitated silica can be used. The presence of at least one mineral filler, if any, performs various functions, among which giving the composition the consistency of a paste and diluting the active substances, so as to make easier a precise dosage thereof in the final article. In another aspect, the present invention relates to an article comprising at least one plastic material and a composition according to the invention.

The presence of the composition according to the present invention in the article, which is preferably dispersed homogeneously in the plastic material like a common mineral filler, gives the article sanitizing, antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicotic, antiviral and/or antiodor properties.

The amount of composition added to the polymeric material is such as to obtain an amount of silver of 0.1% to 5%, preferably of 0.2% to 3%, and an amount of at least one tourmaline of 5% to 50%, preferably of 8% to 30%, the percentages being expressed by weight with respect to the total weight of the article. As plastics materials polymeric materials of various type can be used, such as polyolefines (e.g. polyethylene or polypropylene) , modified celluloses, polyesters (e.g. polyethyleneterephthalate, PET) , polystyrene, polyamides (e.g. nylon), polyvinylchloride (PVC) , phenolic resins, epoxy resins (in particular food grade epoxy resins, which are produced so as not to release unreacted catalyst during use) . Plastic materials are both thermoplastic polymers preserving their hot processability properties also in the finished article, and polymers that are initially thermo- plastic and during the production of the article, as a result of cross-linking, are no longer meltable (thermosetting resins) .

The plastic material can be added with other components of common use, such as plasticizers (e.g. vase- line), binders, dyes, pigments, mineral fillers, antioxidants, UV stabilizers, etc.

The article can be obtained from the plastic material thus added by means of common techniques, such as injection or compression molding, thermoforming, extru- sion and the like. According to the present invention, articles of various type can be manufactured, such as:

- ordinary or special waste containers (e.g. containers for hospital or domestic waste) ; - water collection tanks;

- components of sanitary installations (e.g. chemical toilets) ;

- odor-trapping objects for refrigerators, shoe racks, cabinets, drawers; - food containers, in particular for fast perishable food.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a material for water treatment, comprising a plastic material in a subdivided form in which a composition ac- cording to the present invention is dispersed. Preferably, the plastic material, selected among those referred to above for the article according to the invention, is in the form of pearls, granules or pellets, and in this form it can be used for water treat- ment, e.g. for treating water in swimming pools, tanks, spas, etc., as a substitute for chlorine, in order to reduce and/or eliminate the presence of bacteria, fungi or viruses. Water is passed through this material, if necessary contained in a net or other de- vice (e.g. a pierced basket) able to retain material granules and enabling at the same time the passage of water. It should be noted that the continuous passage of water tends to remove particles of the composition according to the invention that are present on the surface of the plastic material, which are carried into the tank or similar, where they continue to perform their antibacterial, antimicotic and antiviral action, ensuring a long-term water sanitization. The replacement of chlorine with the material according to the invention achieves evident advantages, since the latter is an odorless, non-toxic material without any irritating effect on the mucosae, on the skin qr on the respiratory system. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a surface coating material, in particular in the building or shipbuilding field, comprising a composition according to the present invention.

This coating material can be selected e.g. among: varnishes, paints, enamels or also plasters, cements or putties for building purposes.

The amount of composition according to the invention added to the coating material is preferably of 1 to 10% by weight, more preferably of 2 to 5% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the material . The composition according to the present invention can be added to the coating material as a powder, a dispersion or preferably as a paste.

The coating material according to the present invention can contain other ingredients commonly used in this type of products. In particular, as far as varnishes, paints or enamels, these ingredients can be selected e.g. among: filming agents (e.g. synthetic or natural resins, such as acrylic polymers, polyure- thanes, polyesters, epoxy resins); synthetic or natu- ral pigments (e.g. clays, calcium carbonate, mica, silica, metal oxides, etc.); thickening fillers (e.g. talcum, diatomaceous earths, quartz, sand, etc.); solvents; various additives, among which surfactants, fluxing agents, catalysts, thickeners, tackifiers, UV stabilizers, biocides, etc.

A coating material according to the present invention has ionizing, antibacterial, antimicotic, antiodor and/or self-cleaning properties and is therefore particularly effective for preventing the growth of bac- teria, molds or algae, above all in environments where the large presence of water vapor promotes the development thereof, in particular for kitchens, bathrooms, swimming pools or boats (in particular the bilge of a ship) . Thanks to the self-cleaning effect, said coat- ing material can be used in particular for preparing outdoor and indoor levelings and cement plasters, cement-based varnishes, lime and silicate paints. Moreover, the aforesaid properties enable to obtain an effective air purification in the environments where the coating material was applied, significantly reducing the concentration of polluting substances and being thus used for treating environments in the industrial, shipbuilding, agricultural, zootechnical, civil and sanitary field. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a medical product for disinfecting and antiseptic treatment of injured skin, or also as a healing coadjuvant, comprising a composition according to the present invention. The amount of composition according to the invention in said medical product is preferably of 0.5% to 10% by weight, more preferably of 1% to 5% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the medical product. The medical product according to the invention can be in particular a gauze, a bandage, an absorbing fabric or a plaster, comprising a (preferably textile) support onto which the composition according to the present invention was applied. The latter can be applied onto the support by imbibing with a liquid product containing the composition according to the invention fe. g. a dispersion in a suitable solvent), or by coating of a semi-solid product containing said composition (e.g. a cream, suspension or gel containing suitable thickening and/or gelling agents) . As an alternative, the medical product according to the invention consists of a cream, suspension or gel containing the composition according to the invention and suitable thickening and/or gelling agents, which can be applied directly onto injured skin. Below are disclosed some working examples, which are provided to a merely illustrative purpose though not limiting the scope of the present invention. EXAMPLE 1 A composition was prepared using silver sulfate in nano particle form (average particle size 25-50 nm) and a mixture of tourmalines (elbaite and uvite) , which was further added with calcium carbonate as inert filler. This composition was then homogeneously dispersed in a polymer (epoxy-acrylic resin) in such amounts as to obtain the following composition (% by weight) for the final material: silver sulfate: 5% mixture of tourmalines: 30% calcium carbonate: 40% epoxy-acrylic resin: 25% This material was then extruded in the form of pellets. These pellets were inserted into nets (1 kg of granules for each net) .

The above nets (seven of them) were used for the sanitizing treatment of water in a swimming pool with a capacity of 130 m³.

Table 1 shows the values of the bacterial charge measured in the water of the swimming pool treated with chlorine and in the water of the same swimming pool treated with the composition as disclosed above.

The results show that the bacterial charge, measured at 22⁰C and at 36⁰C, after the treatment with the composition of silver-tourmaline was reduced by more than 200 times with respect to the traditional treatment with chlorine. Moreover, only the composition of silver-tourmaline can prevent the growth of enterococci completely. EXAMPLE 2 A composition was prepared using 6% by weight of sil- ver sulfate, 4% by weight of silver chloride (both in nano particle form with average size of 25 to 50 nm) and 90% by weight of a tourmaline. This mixture was added in an amount of 2% by weight (with respect to the total weight of the material) to a polypropylene master batch for manufacturing containers for hospital waste . The resulting charged material was used for manufacturing containers sized 30x36x80 cm and with a wall thickness of 1.5 mm, having a pressure lid. By way of comparison a material was also prepared us- ing the same polypropylene added with 0.2% by weight of the same mixture of silver sulfate and silver chloride described above, though without adding any tourmaline. This material was used for manufacturing con- tainers having the same characteristics as disclosed above .

The cans thus manufactured were contaminated with blood and biologic materials and the bacterial charge was determined on pads applied onto the inner surface of the cans: (i) immediately after contamination (t = 0) , (ii) 10 minutes after contamination (t = 10 min) and (iii) after washing the can with water at room temperature 1 hour after contamination (t = 60 min + washing) . The results are shown in the following Table 2. By examining these results it can be noted that the composition according to the present invention enables to obtain a strong bactericide effect short after contamination (t = 10 min) and also after washing the container. This effect is clearly less satisfactory for the container in which the polymeric material was added with Ag only, without any tourmaline.

Claims

1. A composition comprising silver and at least one tourmaline.

2. Composition according to claim 1, wherein sil- ver is present in the form of metal silver or of a compound containing silver in ionic form.

3. Composition according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein silver and/or said at least one tourmaline is/are in a nano and/or micro particle form.

4. Composition according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein said at least one tourmaline comprises elbaite, uvite or mixtures thereof.

5. Composition according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein said at least one tourmaline has a density of from 2 to 4 g/cm³, preferably from 2.9 to 3.2 g/cm³.

6. Composition according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein silver and said at least one tourmaline are present in the composition in a weight ra- tio from 1:20 to 1:2, preferably from 1:10 to 1:4.

7. Use of a composition according to anyone of claims from 1 to 6 as sanitizing, antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicotic and/or antiodour agent.

8. An article comprising at least one plastic ma- terial and a composition according to anyone of claims f rom 1 to 6 .

9. The article according to claim 8, wherein the composition is present in the plastic material in a quantity such as to obtain an amount of silver from 0.1% to 5%, preferably from 0.2% to 3%, and an amount of said at least one tourmaline from 5% to 50%, preferably from 8% to 30%, the percentages being expressed by weight with respect to the overall weight of the article .

10. The article according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the plastic material is selected from: polyolefin (e.g. polyethylene or polypropylene), modified celluloses, polyesters (e.g. polyethyleneterephthalate, PET), polystyrene, polyamides (e.g. nylon), polyvinyl- chloride (PVC) , phenolic resins, epoxy resins, particularly food grade epoxy resins .

11. A material for water treatment, comprising a plastic material in a subdivided form wherein a composition according to anyone of claims from 1 to 7 is dispersed.

12. A surface coating material comprising a composition according to anyone of claims from 1 to 6.

13. The surface coating material according to claim 12, wherein the composition is present in an amount of from 1% to 10% by weight, preferably from 2% to 5% by weight, with respect to the overall weight of the material.

14. A medical product for disinfecting and antiseptic treatment of injured skin, or also as as healing coadjuvant, which comprises a composition according to anyone of claims from 1 to 6.