FR2790934A1 - Molded polymer WC lid includes zeolite immobilizing selected metal ions decomposing the very water harboring germs, to produce nascent oxygen which kills them, with no danger of adverse physiological reaction - Google Patents

Abstract

The lid comprises polymer mixed with zeolite containing metallic ions, which in the presence of water or water vapor, causes formation of nascent oxygen. An Independent claim is included for the method of making the lid.

Description

SEAT WC WC WITH BACTERICIDAL PROPERTIES

  The invention relates to a toilet seat, having

bactericidal properties.

  Toilet seat covers are a good place for bacteria to grow due to humidity and ambient temperature. In the case of pathogenic bacteria, this sometimes has serious consequences on the health of users. In addition, in the case of public toilets, there is a risk of transmission of bacteria

  pathogens from one individual to another.

  The classic means of combating this proliferation is frequent cleaning of the flaps with the use of bleach which effectively disinfects them. But there is no certainty that with each cleaning, all the surfaces of the toilet seat have been cleaned, especially in the hinge areas with complex structure o bacteria

  can proliferate before spreading.

  In addition, such cleaning is not carried out after each use of the toilet. A more recent means is the use of antiproliferation agents, sprayed on or impregnated in the flaps. We can cite for example the products sold under the name CORIAN by E.I. Dupont de Nemours, and

  from SANITIZED MB E97-65 by Clariant.

  However, these anti-proliferation agents are content to limit the quantity of bacteria present on the seat, but do not reduce it and the risks of transmission of the bacteria from one person to another remain. The invention overcomes the above drawbacks by providing a flap having bactericidal properties, that is to say that there is reduction

  the number of bacteria after they are deposited on the toilet seat.

  Figures 1 and 2 are graphs illustrating the properties

  bactericides of a toilet seat according to the present invention.

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  According to the invention, the flap consists of a mixture of a polymer and a zeolite containing metal ions which, in the presence of water or

  of water vapor, cause the formation of nascent oxygen.

  It is nascent oxygen that destroys bacteria by entering their cells and stopping their metabolism, which causes their destruction. As the polymer, a thermosetting polymer is advantageously used, for example a urea-formaldehyde resin obtained from

of a urea-formaldehyde prepolymer.

  The seat is obtained by molding in a form mold

  appropriate, under conditions suitable for the polymer or prepolymer.

  We know that zeolites are porous substances because of their three-dimensional structure based on tetrahedra and octatetrahedra which form cavities in which water can be found. Certain metal ions decompose water to form nascent oxygen and therefore have bactericidal properties in the presence of water. These metal ions can be attached to zeolites by ion exchange. These are in particular silver, copper or zinc ions which can be used alone or as a mixture. Since the metal ions are fixed in the three-dimensional structure of the zeolites, they are not released during use: the flap retains its bactericidal properties for a long period of time, there is no risk of pollution by these ions metallic and irritation of

skin on contact.

  Such zeolites are commercially available, for example under the names of ZEOMIC (Shinagawa Nemyon and Shinamen New Ceramic

  Company) or BACTEKILLER (KANEBO, Ltd).

  These zeolites are incorporated into the polymer in an amount of 0.5 to 3.0% by weight of the mixture. Larger quantities may be

  considered but do not provide additional benefits.

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Example.

  Flaps are prepared starting from a ureaformol prepolymer powder, for example UF A10 grade 171 from PERSTORP SpA, UROCHEM

  UG from CHEMI PLASTICA or BEETLE ZST UF A10 from BIP LIMITED.

  99% of urea-formaldehyde powder and 1% of zeolite containing

Ag and / or Cu and / or Zn ions.

  The mixture is molded in a mold for toilet seat under standard temperature and pressure conditions, for example a

  temperature of 140 C and a pressure of 200.105 Pa.

  Tests have been carried out both in the laboratory and in hospital to

  determine the bactericidal activity of the product.

  Laboratory tests The test protocol is derived from standard NFT 72190 and consists of depositing a determined inoculum of reference strains recommended by this standard (Escherichia coli CIP 54127) and then observing the reduction rate at different contact times. A reduction of 90% to 99.99% of viable cells is observed after contact times ranging from 45 minutes

at 24 hours.

  Tests were carried out on different strains over 24 hours and gave the following results: Escherichia coli 99.989% Pseudomonas aeruginosa 99.783% Staphylococcus aureus 99.975% A test on a flap in the laboratory shows that the flap retains

  its bactericidal power over time.

  Escherichia coli test (results at 45 min) Year 0 at least 90% Three years after at least 90% Figure 1 illustrates the comparison between a support not containing zeolite (untreated support) and a flap according to the present

  invention and gives the quantity of bacteria as a function of time.

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  Figure 2 illustrates the percentage reduction in bacteria by

function of time.

  Hospital tests A flap according to the present invention is compared with a flap not containing a metal ion zeolite. There are live bacteria sampled each evening from the two types of flaps and there is

a difference of half.

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Claims (7)

  1. Toilet seat for toilet bowl obtained by molding a polymer, characterized in that the toilet seat consists of a mixture of the polymer and a zeolite containing metal ions which, in the presence of water or   water vapor, cause nascent oxygen to form.   2. Toilet seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the   polymer is a thermosetting polymer.   3. Toilet seat according to claim 2, characterized in that the   thermosetting polymer is obtained by reaction of urea and formalin.   4. Toilet seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that the zeolite contains silver and / or copper and / or zinc ions.   5. Toilet seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that said mixture contains from 0.5 to 3.0% by weight of the   zeolite containing metal ions.   6. Method of manufacturing a toilet seat flap according to   any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that one mixes   a polymer or prepolymer with a zeolite containing metal ions which, in the presence of water, cause the formation of nascent oxygen and the mixture is molded under conditions suitable for the polymer or prepolymer.   7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that a powder of urea-formaldehyde prepolymer and the zeolite containing metal ions are mixed and the mixture is molded at a temperature of approximately 140 ° C. and a pressure of approximately 200.105 Pa.