JP6067362B2 - Urinary absorbent for small animals for toilets - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an absorbent material used for absorption of urine excreted by small animals.

  From urine excreted by small animals, urea contained therein is enzymatically decomposed by microorganisms to generate ammonia. However, ammonia is generated several days after the urine is excreted, and does not occur at the same time as the urine is excreted. As countermeasures against ammonia odor, countermeasures such as suppression of microbial growth with antibacterial agents and neutralization of ammonia using acidic substances have been proposed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes that a water absorbent body of a pet sheet contains an organic acid and a salt thereof and contains a deodorant composition having a pH of 4.0 to 6.5. This deodorant composition was buffered so that the amount of the ammonia aqueous solution added when the 1 mol / L ammonia aqueous solution was added to 100 parts by mass until the pH reached 7.0 was 8 parts by mass or more. Performance has been adjusted. In Patent Document 2, an absorbent layer of a pet toilet liquid-absorbing sheet is provided with an antibacterial layer having antibacterial properties provided by containing a cationic surfactant and an organic acid. It is described that an antibacterial antibacterial layer formed by contacting the bactericidal antibacterial layer with each other is described. Patent Document 3 discloses a pet sheet comprising an absorbent body and a hydrophilic top sheet disposed on the absorbent body, and an amphoteric polymer solution having an acidic pH, the absorbent body and the It is described that it is fixed to the top sheet. Patent Document 4 describes that an adsorbent in which an antibacterial agent is impregnated in advance in a water absorbent body of a pet sheet is described.

JP 2003-158930 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-6604 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-10718 Utility Model Registration No. 3044091

  On the other hand, fatty acids, sulfur compounds, nitrogen compounds and ketones known as malodorous substances are mixed and volatilized from urine immediately after excretion, such as cat urine. In particular, male cat urine has a high degree of volatilization of fatty acids and sulfur compounds, which are substances with a high level of malodor. As countermeasures against these malodorous substances generated from urine immediately after excretion, countermeasures such as masking of malodors using fragrances have been taken so far, and it cannot be said that the countermeasures are sufficient.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a urine absorbing material for small animals that can eliminate the drawbacks of the above-described conventional techniques.

The present invention provides a urine absorbing material for small animals having a base component, having a pH of 7 or more and 9 or less measured by the following method, having antibacterial properties, and having a plate shape or a sheet shape. is there.
[Measurement method of pH]
The pH at 25 ° C. of a solution obtained by mixing and stirring the urine absorbent for small animals and a physiological saline having a sodium chloride concentration of 0.9% by mass, which is 50 times its mass, is measured.

  According to the present invention, the urine odor immediately after excretion and the urine odor over time after excretion are effectively suppressed.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the urine absorbent material of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a toilet for small animals having the urine absorbing material of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on preferred embodiments thereof. The absorbent material of the present invention is used for mainly absorbing urine excreted by small animals. In the present invention, animals whose body weight is about 15 kg or less are mainly targeted. Examples of such small animals include, but are not limited to, non-human mammals such as dogs and cats.

  The absorbent material of the present embodiment includes a water-absorbing material that can absorb and hold urine. As the water-absorbing material, hydrophilic fibers such as plant fibers made of wood or non-wood, clay mineral materials, polymer absorbent materials, and the like can be used. These water-absorbing materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more thereof. The urine absorbent is, for example, in the form of a deposit obtained by depositing these water-absorbing materials to a predetermined thickness, or in the form of a compact formed by compressing the deposit.

  As the water absorbing material, it is particularly preferable to use hydrophilic fibers such as pulp. In particular, the absorbent contains unbleached pulp, and the content of the unbleached pulp is preferably 90% by mass or more, more preferably 95% by mass or more, and particularly preferably 100% by mass.

  The urine absorbent material has a plate shape or a sheet shape having a pair of opposed main water absorption surfaces. Whether the urine absorbent is plate-like or sheet-like depends on the rigidity of the absorbent. For example, when the urine absorbent material is cantilevered with its main water absorption surface positioned in the horizontal plane, if the main water absorption surface has rigidity sufficient to maintain the horizontal plane, the urine absorption material is It can be said that it is plate-shaped. On the other hand, when the main water absorption surface cannot maintain the horizontal plane, it can be said that the urine absorbent material is in the form of a sheet.

  The urine absorbent may be used alone in a shallow container such as a tray. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1, the urine absorbent 1 may be used by being disposed between a liquid-permeable top sheet 2 and a liquid-impermeable or liquid-permeable back sheet 3. In this case, the surface on the surface sheet 2 side is used as the main water absorption surface.

  The urine absorbing material contains a base component. As a result, the urine absorbing material is basic. Specifically, the urine absorbing material has a pH of 7 or higher, preferably 7.5 or higher, more preferably 8.0 or higher. The urine absorbing material has a pH of 9 or less, preferably 8.8 or less, and more preferably 8.5 or less. For example, the pH of the urine absorbent is 7 or more and 9 or less, preferably 7.5 or more and 8.8 or less, and more preferably 8.0 or more and 8.5 or less. By setting the pH of the urine absorbent within this range, the acidic component that is the causative substance of urine odor contained in urine is neutralized, so that the urine odor can be effectively deodorized.

  The pH of the urine absorbent is measured by the following method. That is, the urine absorbing material and physiological saline 50 times its mass (aqueous solution having a sodium chloride concentration of 0.9 mass%) are mixed and stirred in a beaker, and the pH of the obtained liquid is measured. Stirring is performed using a magnet stirrer at a set rotational speed (for example, 800 rpm) at which the rotor rotates sufficiently. The pH is measured at 25 ° C. Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular in the mass of the urine absorption material used for the measurement of pH, For example, it is preferable to set it as 2 g or more and 20 g or less from the point of the ease of a measurement.

  The base component contained in the urine absorbent is not particularly limited as long as the pH of the urine absorbent can be within the above range, but a weak base is preferably used. In particular, it is preferable to use a weak base whose acid dissociation constant pKa is smaller than that of ammonia. This is because by using such a weak base, the weak base is dissociated preferentially over ammonia, so that the generation of ammonia can be effectively suppressed.

  Specific examples of the base component include amines such as trishydroxymethylaminomethane, diethanolamine and triethanolamine, and phosphates such as disodium hydrogen phosphate. These base components can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Of these base components, trishydroxymethylaminomethane is particularly preferable because it has an effective range of buffer capacity and is relatively safe and safe for animals.

  The base component only needs to be contained in the urine absorbent material in such an amount that the pH of the urine absorbent material measured by the above method falls within the above range.

  It is preferable that the urine absorbing material contains a strong acid in addition to the base component from the viewpoint that the pH can be adjusted and stabilized by a buffer system of the base component and the strong acid. For example, hydrochloric acid or the like can be used as the strong acid constituting the buffer system. In particular, when the above-described trishydroxymethylaminomethane is used as the base component, it is preferable to use hydrochloric acid as the strong acid from the viewpoint of the expression of buffer capacity and pH adjustment ability.

  The urine absorbing material has antibacterial properties in addition to the action of neutralizing acidic components that are causative substances of urine odor due to the pH being in the above range. This suppresses the growth of microorganisms and effectively suppresses the generation of ammonia, which is a substance caused by urine decay. In order to impart antibacterial properties to the urine absorbent material, it is advantageous to incorporate various antibacterial agents into the urine absorbent material. Antibacterial agents include quaternary ammonium salts such as benzalkonium chloride, alkyltrimethylammonium chloride, dialkyldimethylammonium chloride, sodium benzoate, sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, didecylmethylammonium, polyphenols, silver, copper Etc. can be used. These antibacterial agents can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these antibacterial agents, it is particularly preferable to use a quaternary ammonium salt such as benzalkonium chloride because it has high bactericidal properties, high safety, and no odor.

  The proportion of the antibacterial agent contained in the urine absorbent must be adjusted according to the type of antibacterial agent used. For example, when benzalkonium chloride is used as the antibacterial agent, it is 0.001% by mass or more. It is preferable that it is 0.01% by mass or more. Moreover, the ratio of the antibacterial agent contained in the urine absorbent is preferably 0.5% by mass or less, and more preferably 0.05% by mass or less, for example, in the case of a benzalkonium chloride salt. For example, the proportion of the antibacterial agent is preferably 0.001% by mass or more and 0.5% by mass or less, and more preferably 0.01% by mass or more and 0.05% by mass or less.

  For example, the urine absorbing material is impregnated with the above-described base component, an aqueous solution containing a strong acid and an antibacterial agent, etc., which are used as necessary, by impregnating the deposit made of the above-mentioned water-absorbing material or its compression-molded body, and then drying. Can be obtained by removing water.

  The urine absorbing material can be used alone to absorb small animal urine, and the toilet body can be divided into upper and lower parts by a liquid-permeable cocoon litter so that granular excrement disposal materials can be accommodated in the upper layer part. Yes, it can be used as the absorbent in a toilet for small animals in which a liquid retaining absorbent can be accommodated in the lower layer portion. For example, it can be used for the toilet 10 shown in FIG. A toilet 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a toilet body 11, an inner container 13 having a puppet 12 that can transmit urine of a small animal, and a tray 14 that is disposed below the pupae 12 and stores urine that has passed through the puppet 12. I have. The kite child 12 partitions the toilet body 11 into an upper layer portion and a lower layer portion. The inner container 13 provided with the cocoon child 12 is located in the upper layer portion of the toilet body 11 and can accommodate a granular excrement disposal material (not shown). As the excrement disposal material, for example, those described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-84909 related to the earlier application of the present applicant can be used. The tray 14 is located in the lower layer portion of the toilet body 11 and can accommodate the urine absorbent 1. The tray 14 can be pulled out from the toilet body 11.

In relation to the above-described embodiment, the present invention further discloses the following urine absorbing material for small animals.
<1>
A urine absorbing material for small animals having a base component, having a pH of 7 or more and 9 or less, having antibacterial properties, and having a plate shape or a sheet shape.
[Measurement method of pH]
The pH at 25 ° C. of a solution obtained by mixing and stirring the urine absorbent for small animals and a physiological saline having a sodium chloride concentration of 0.9% by mass, which is 50 times its mass, is measured.

<2>
The urine absorbent for small animals according to <1>, wherein the acid dissociation constant pKa of the base component is smaller than the pKa of ammonia.
<3>
The urine absorbent for small animals according to <1> or <2>, wherein the pH is in the range of 7 to 9 by containing a strong acid in addition to the base component.
<4>
The urine absorbing material for small animals according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein the base component is trishydroxymethylaminomethane.
<5>
The urine absorbing material for small animals according to any one of <1> to <4>, wherein the antibacterial property is expressed by including an antibacterial agent.
<6>
The urine absorbent for small animals according to <5>, wherein the antibacterial agent is a quaternary ammonium salt.

<7>
The urine absorbing material for small animals according to any one of <1> to <6>, wherein unbleached pulp is contained, and the content of the pulp is 90% by mass or more.
<8>
The toilet body is partitioned into an upper layer portion and a lower layer portion by a liquid-permeable scissors, and granular excrement treatment materials can be accommodated in the upper layer portion, and a liquid retaining absorbent material can be accommodated in the lower layer portion. The urine absorbent for small animals according to any one of <1> to <7>, which is used as the absorbent in toilets for small animals.
<9>
<1> to <8, wherein the pH is 7 or more, preferably 7.5 or more, more preferably 8.0 or more, and 9 or less, preferably 8.8 or less, more preferably 8.5 or less. > The urine absorbent for small animals according to any one of the above.
<10>
The urine absorbent for small animals according to any one of <1> to <9>, wherein a weak base is used as the base component.
<11>
The urine absorbent for small animals according to any one of <3> to <10>, wherein hydrochloric acid is used as the strong acid.

<12>
The urine absorbent for small animals according to any one of <6> to <11>, wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is at least one of benzalkonium chloride, alkyltrimethylammonium chloride, and dialkyldimethylammonium chloride.
<13>
The content of the antibacterial agent is preferably 0.001% by mass or more, more preferably 0.01% by mass or more, and preferably 0.5% by mass or less, more preferably 0.05% by mass or less. The urine absorbing material for small animals according to any one of <5> to <12>.
<14>
<1> to <13>, wherein unbleached pulp is contained, and the content of the pulp is preferably 90% by mass or more, more preferably 95% by mass or more, and still more preferably 100% by mass. Urine absorbent for small animals.
<15>
<1 comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable or liquid-permeable back sheet, and a water-absorbing material that is disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet to absorb and retain urine. The urine absorbent for small animals according to any one of> to <14>.
<16>
The method for producing a small animal urine absorbent according to any one of <1> to <15>, comprising a step of impregnating an absorbent material with an aqueous solution containing at least a base component, and a step of removing water. A method for producing a urine absorbent for small animals.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to such examples. Unless otherwise specified, “%” means “mass%”.

[Example 1]
An aqueous solution having the composition shown in Table 1 below was prepared. The pKa values shown in the table are at 25 ° C. Separately from the preparation of the aqueous solution, a deposit obtained by stacking 100% unbleached pulp as an absorbent material was produced. This deposit has a basis weight of 800 g / m ² , a size in plan view of 5 cm × 5 cm, and a thickness under a load of 1 kPa of 0.4 cm. The above-mentioned aqueous solution was uniformly added and impregnated into the deposited body in the addition amount shown in Table 1. The deposited body impregnated with this aqueous solution was dried to remove water, thereby obtaining the intended urine absorbent. When the pH (25 ° C.) of this urine absorbent was measured by the method described above, the values shown in Table 1 were obtained.

[Examples 2 to 5]
An aqueous solution having the composition shown in Table 1 was prepared, and this was uniformly added and impregnated into the same deposit as in Example 1 in the addition amount shown in Table 1. A urine absorbing material was obtained in the same manner as Example 1 except for these. When the pH of the urine absorbent was measured by the method described above, the values shown in Table 1 were obtained.
In addition, pKa of ammonia is 9.25 ("LANGE'S HANDBOOK OF CHEMISTRY" Fourteenth Edition). It was smaller than the pKa of ammonia.

[Comparative Examples 1 to 4]
An aqueous solution having the composition shown in Table 1 was prepared, and this was uniformly added and impregnated into the same deposit as in Example 1 in the addition amount shown in Table 1. A urine absorbing material was obtained in the same manner as Example 1 except for these. When the pH of the urine absorbent material of each comparative example was measured by the method described above, the values shown in Table 1 were obtained. Comparative Example 1 is a blank, in which only ion-exchanged water is added to the deposit. In Comparative Example 2, an acidic aqueous solution is added. Although the comparative example 3 contains a base component, it is an example which exhibits acidic pH. Comparative Example 4 is an example in which an acidic pH is exhibited by a buffer system of a strong base and a weak acid.

[Evaluation]
For the urine absorbents obtained in the examples and comparative examples, acetic acid was used as a model malodorous substance, and after adding an aqueous acetic acid solution to the urine absorbent, the concentration of volatilized acetic acid gas was measured. Further, after urine was added to the urine absorbent by the following method, the smell generated from the urine absorbent was subjected to sensory evaluation after 10 minutes and after 1 week. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Measurement of concentration of acetic acid gas]
The urine absorbing material was placed in a 1 liter beaker, and 1 cc of a 1% aqueous solution of acetic acid was added from above. After being left at 25 ° C. for 1 hour, the concentration of volatilized acetic acid gas was measured using a gas detector tube.

[Sensory evaluation of urine odor (after 10 minutes)]
The urine absorbing material was placed in a 1 liter beaker, and 0.5 cc of cat urine was added from above. After being left at 25 ° C. for 10 minutes, three panelists were subjected to sensory evaluation of the degree of urine odor based on the following eight criteria. The average value of the evaluation of the three panelists was used as the sensory evaluation value. The smaller the value, the less urine smell.
0: Does not feel odor 1: Smell that can finally be sensed 2: Slight odor that understands what odor 2.5: Between 2 and 3 3: Smell that can be easily sensed 3.5: Slightly strong odor 4: Strong odor 5: Intense smell

[Sensory evaluation of urine odor (1 week later)]
The urine absorbing material was placed in a 1 liter beaker, and 0.5 cc of cat urine was added from above. Seal the beaker mouth and let it stand at 25 ° C. for 1 week, then let the three panelists perform sensory evaluation on the degree of urine odor based on the same criteria as the above “sensory evaluation of urine odor (after 10 minutes)”. It was. The average value of the evaluation of the three panelists was used as the sensory evaluation value.

  As is clear from the results shown in Table 1, the urine absorbent material (product of the present invention) of each example has suppressed volatilization of acidic substances compared to the urine absorbent material of the comparative example, and is a causative substance of urine odor. It can be seen that an acidic component is neutralized. Moreover, it turns out that the urine odor is suppressed in any case immediately after absorbing urine and after lapse of time after absorbing urine.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Urine absorber 2 Top sheet 3 Back sheet 10 Toilet 11 for small animals Toilet body 12 Samurai child 13 Inner container 14 Tray

Claims (4)

It contains a base component and has a pH measured by the following method of 7 . A urine absorbing material for small animals for toilets that is 5 or more and 9 or less, has antibacterial properties, and has a plate shape or a sheet shape ,
The base component is trishydroxymethylaminomethane;
A urine absorbent material for small animals for toilets, which contains a quaternary ammonium salt as an antibacterial agent .
[Measurement method of pH]
The pH at 25 ° C. of a solution obtained by mixing and stirring the urine absorbent for small animals and a physiological saline having a sodium chloride concentration of 0.9% by mass, which is 50 times its mass, is measured. The urine absorbing material for small animals for toilets according to claim 1, which has a pH buffer system containing a strong acid in addition to the basic component. The urine absorbing material for small animals for toilets according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein unbleached pulp is contained, and the content of the pulp is 90% by mass or more. The toilet body is partitioned into an upper layer portion and a lower layer portion with a liquid-permeable scissors, and granular excrement disposal materials can be accommodated in the upper layer portion, and a liquid-retaining urine absorbing material can be accommodated in the lower layer portion. The urine absorbing material for small animals for toilets according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , which is used as the urine absorbing material in a certain toilet for small animals.

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