WO2006107980A2 - Compositions and methods to eliminate odors - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods used to minimize and/or eliminate odors. In particular, the current invention relates to microbiological compositions and their use in eliminating offensive animal odors.

Description

COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS TO ELIMINATE ODORS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compositions and methods used to reduce and/or eliminate odors. In particular, the current invention relates to microbiological compositions and their use in eliminating offensive odors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The control of pet urine odors is a chronic challenge for those who, for example, have animal habitats such as a litter especially when the habitat is maintained in an indoor location. A variety of habitat materials have been used, each with somewhat different characteristics, such as greater moisture absorption, comfort for the animal, and odor control by suppression, masking or elimination. Examples of past efforts to control odor include the use of wood shavings, such as white pine shavings, and by use of litter, which clumps upon exposure to moisture, and which urine soaked clumps can then be removed, leaving the non-soiled litter in the litter box for further use by the pet or other animal.

Previously, aspen particles, chips, shavings, etc. have been used in habitats for animals. However, this material has traditionally often been composed of all aspen, without other woods or substances introduced. Further, these 100% aspen habitats were composed of essentially all portions of the tree, including the bark. Although such habitats are suitable for use as horticultural mulch, the inclusion of the tree bark causes an appearance which is considered to be unsightly when the material is used as a, for example, litter, and particularly a litter for small animals, such as those which would be kept in a person's home, or for use in places of display, such as pet shops.

Other compositions including alfalfa or related forage crops are known for their utility as animal habitats which effectively absorb animal waste materials and neutralize associated unpleasant odors. For example, alfalfa has been pelletized with starch. Such pellets overcome the disadvantage of earlier pelletized alfalfa by reducing the problem of disintegration of the pellets, which caused the litter material to cling to the animal's feet.

A further improvement of alfalfa pellets was facilitated by pelletizing cedar in combination with alfalfa binders. The pelleted bedding can be used for livestock, which bedding includes 4 to 45% by volume of aspen bark, with the balance being a combination of sawdust, ground wood chips and ground lumber.

The above involves absorbent materials that are completely pelletized.

However, the process of pelletization is complex and thus expensive. Aspen is especially difficult to pelletize, because it is a hard, dry wood which exacts a toll on the extruding equipment used for the pelletizing process, by causing greater amounts of wear on the equipment parts, resulting in the expense of frequent maintenance and replacement.

Alternatives to the above are also on the market. It is widely known that malodors (i.e., undesirable odors) can be controlled and in some instances eliminated by utilizing a deodorizing method such as a masking process, an absorption process, an ozone deodorizing process, or a catalytic process which uses a catalytic material such as a metal oxide or enzyme.

Masking processes control malodors by vaporizing and dispersing an aromatic liquid or solid such as a perfume into the ambient containing the malodor. Thus, masking processes modify the malodor to a more pleasant character by superimposing a dominant, but more pleasant odorant into the ambient. One problem with conventional aromatic liquids and solids is that such compounds tend to evaporate over an extended period of time which may result in the return of the malodor.

Absorption processes control malodors by employing an absorbent such as activated carbon or the like which absorbs odor components from the ambient. Thus, in this process, the level of intensity of the malodor is constantly being reduced from the ambient thereby refreshing the ambient. The ozone deodorizing process serves to decompose odor components with ozone and in catalytic processes the odor components are modified in some fashion by the catalyst being used. In typical catalytic processes, enzymes are employed as the deodorizers.

In many home care applications, malodor control and/or elimination is achieved mainly by using either a masking process or an absorption process since ozone and catalytic processes are generally not feasible.

Some commonly employed odor absorbents employed in home care applications are formulations that are based on bleach oxidizing agents, peroxides, bactericides which kill microorganisms, cyclodextrins, and/or zinc ricinoleate.

Bacteriostats have also been attempted in controlling and/or eliminating odors caused by animal urine and feces such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,482 to Arnold, issued Jan. 22, 1985.

The technologies described above attempt to reduce or eliminate odors caused from animal waste products, but fail to do so in an efficient manner. Currently, there is a need for an efficient technology that reduces odor caused by animal waste products.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compositions and methods used to reduce and/or eliminate odors. In particular, the current invention relates to microbiological compositions and their use in eliminating offensive animal odors.

One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a composition that minimizes or eliminates odors caused by animal urine and/or feces comprising one or more microbial organisms. In one aspect, the microorganism is a gram positive microbe. In a particular aspect, the microorganism is selected from the genus Streptomyces. In a further aspect, the microorganism is Streptomyces olivaceiscleroticus. In a still further aspect, a combination of Streptomyces and Penicillium and or Aspergillus is used in the microbial composition.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to methods for reducing, including eliminating, odors caused by animal waste (urine and/or feces). In one aspect, compositions of the present invention are admixed with a base, such as clay, in order to form a dry powder. This dry powder can be added to a receptacle such as a litter box. In a particular aspect, the dry powder can be further admixed with contents of the receptacle such as wood shavings, etc.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a Certificate of Analysis for one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compositions and methods used to reduce and/or eliminate odors. In particular, the current invention relates to microbiological compositions and their use in eliminating offensive animal odors.

Compositions of the present invention comprise one or more microbial organisms effective in minimizing or eliminating odor. One embodiment is directed to gram positive microbes. In one aspect the compositions of the present embodiment comprise one or more microorganisms selected from the genus Streptomyces. In a particular aspect, the microorganism is Streptomyces olivaceiscleroticus. In a further aspect, a combination of Streptomyces and Penicillium and/ 'or Aspergillus is used in the composition of the present invention. In one aspect of the invention, the composition comprises a highly concentrated form of microorganism. The concentration of microbes can range from about 1 billion to about 100 billion plus per gram. In a particular aspect, the concentration ranges from about 5 billion to about 20 billion microbes per gram. In a particular aspect the composition is in a dry powdery format. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other forms such as liquid are also within the scope of this invention. The microorganism can be admixed with a base such as a clay. Alternatives to clay are well known by those skilled in the art, for example, corn meal, talc, and alike. A characteristic feature of the base material is that it not react with the microbial component of the composition. The base material should also have absorption capability. In one aspect, the microorganism is selected from the genus Streptomyces. In a particular aspect the microorganism is Streptomyces olivaceiscleroticus.

Streptomyces olivaceiscleroticus is well known to those skilled in the art:

ATCC 15722 = CBS 296.66 = CBS 785.72 = BCRC (formerly CCRC) 11608 = DSM 40595 = IFO (now NBRC) 13484 = JCM 3045 = JCM 4805 = NRRL B-2318 = NRRL-ISP 5595 = RIA 1445 - References: SKERMAN (V.B.D.), McGOWAN (V.) and SNEATH (P.H.A.) (editors): Approved Lists of Bacterial Names. Int. J. Syst. BacterioL, 1980, 30, 225-420; PRIDHAM (T.G.): New names and new combinations in the order Actinomycetales Buchanan 1917. Bulletin of the United States Department of Agriculture, 1970, 1424, 1-55, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

One embodiment is directed to a composition comprising a Streptomyces organism and a Penicillium and or Aspergillus organism. In one aspect, a Streptomyces organism is admixed with a Penicillium organism. The approximate ration of Streptomyces to Penicillium can range from about 1 :5 to about 1 :20. (See, FIG. 1.)

Compositions of the present invention can include clay or clay-like materials. Their ability to absorb, or adsorb, moisture makes them excellent candidates for litters. Suitable litters include specific clays such as Georgia White clay, attapulgite, bentonite, kaolinite, halloysite, montmorillonite, smectite, vermiculite, hectorite, diatomaceous earth, Fuller's earth, fossilized plant materials, expanded perlites, gypsum and other equivalent litter materials known to those skilled in the art. Some clays can expand crystal lattices, such as bentonite, i.e., montmorillonite. In one aspect, the clay particles can be comminuted, i.e., they are pelletized or formed into particles which have a size varying from about 200 mesh USS (0.075 mm) to about 31/2 mesh (5.6 mm), preferably from about 60 mesh (0.25 mm) to about 4 mesh (4.75 mm).

Any solid liquid (moisture) absorbing material suitable for use, e.g., as an animal litter is suitable for use in the present invention. Suitable examples include minerals, typically clay (as previously mentioned); fly ash as obtained from the burning of coal; but also absorbing fibrous materials or webs, like paper, cellulosic webs, or polymeric fibrous webs; wood chips; alfalfa; bark; straw; sand; pelletized absorbing litter materials (e.g., sawdust or polyurethane foam); and the like, including mixtures thereof. Other examples of suitable solid absorbing litter materials are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,581, issued Nov. 25, 1975 to Brewer, incorporated herein by reference.

In one absorbent composition, there is a major amount of a cellulosic material, e.g., a cereal or grain hull, or peanut hulls, along or preferably in admixture with, a second cellulose material comprised of plant pulp, either vegetable or fruit pulp. The cellulosic material, hulls and pulp are ground to a desirable particle size and admixed with a minor amount of a suitable binder, up to about 20% by weight. Suitable binders are the carbohydrates, protein or mixtures thereof, such as flour and starch from plant sources, and the synthetic binders disclosed hereinafter. The cellulosic hull materials will generally be obtained from cereal grain sources such as corn, rice, wheat, oats and the like, soybean, sunflower and cotton seeds or peanut hulls. The plant pulp materials are generally obtained from vegetable sources such as beets, tomato, apple, grape or citrus pulp generally obtained for citrus fruits such as oranges, lemon, lime, grapefruit and the like. The carbohydrate binders are generally flours and starches from cereal grains such as corn, rice, wheat, oats and the like. Protein such as gluten found in wheat flour, or protein from bean or seed sources such as soybean or flaxseed and the like also provide suitable binders. The compositions of the present invention can include a deodorant. Any commercial deodorant can be added to the compositions of the present invention. Perfume is an important part of the animal care system. The use of desirable, refreshing perfume ingredients to formulate a "refreshing perfume", in delivery systems, can make the undesirable odors more palatable to the owners. Also, use of appropriate perfume ingredients can influence the animals' behavior. For example, the right perfume ingredients in an "attractant perfume" can attract a cat to its litter box, its toys, scratching post, etc., and the right perfume in a "deterrent perfume" can influence the cat to stay away from objects such as furniture that it likes to use as a scratching post.

The refreshing perfume compositions typically contain ingredients with odor characteristics which are preferred by humans in order to provide a fresh impression and deodorizing benefit. The perfume ingredients are selected predominantly from two groups of ingredients, namely, (a) volatile ingredients having a boiling point (BP) at normal pressure of less than about 260° C, and in one aspect less than about 250° C, and (b) ingredients having significantly low detection threshold.

The deodorant fraction can comprise a freshening perfume that is selected from the group consisting of: methyl salicylate; ethyl salicylate; propyl salicylate; n- butyl salicylate; isobutyl salicylate; iso-amyl salicylate; salicylic aldehyde; cinnamic alcohol; cinnamic aldehyde; menthol; linalool; thymol; cresol; cineol; camphor; citral; terpinene; pinene; limonene; beta-myrcene; muscone; menthone; lemongrass oil; citronella oil; methyl nonyl ketone; methyl phenyl ketone; methyl amyl ketone; methyl nonyl acetaldehyde; leaf aldehyde; pelargonolactone; hinokitiol; kerosene; pyroligneous acid; dodecylbenzene; diphenyl; ethyidiphenyl; diethyldiphenyl; methyinaphthalene; nonylphenyl; dinonylphenol; dodecylphenol; phenylphenol; diphenyl ether; dibenzyl ether; methyl naphthyl ether; bis(2-chloroisopropyl) ether; gamma-alkyl-gamma-butyrolactone; anethole; benzaldehyde; ethyl benzoate; 2- butoxyethanol; nicotine; undecan-2-one; 3-phenylpropenal; allo-ocimene; allyl caproate; allyl heptoate; amyl acetate; amyl propionate; anisic aldehyde; anisole; benzyl acetate; benzyl acetone; benzyl alcohol; benzyl butyrate; benzyl formate; benzyl iso valerate; benzyl propionate; beta gamma hexenol; camphene; carvacrol; laevo-carveol; d-carvone; laevo-carvone; cinnamyl formate; cis-3-hexenyl higlate; cis-jasmone; cis-3-hexenyl acetate; citronellol; citronellyl acetate; citronellyl isobutyrate; citronellyl nitrile; citronellyl propionate; cyclohexyl ethyl acetate; cuminic alcohol; cuminic aldehyde; Cyclal C; decyl aldehyde; dihydro myrcenol; dihydromyrcenyl acetate; dimethyl benzyl carbinol; dimethyl benzyl carbinyl acetate; dimethyl octanol; ethyl acetate; ethyl aceto acetate; ethyl amyl ketone; ethyl butyrate; ethyl hexyl ketone; ethyl phenyl acetate; eucalyptol; fenchyl acetate; fenchyl alcohol; tricyclo decenyl acetate; tricyclo decenyl propionate; gamma methyl ionone; gamma- nonalactone; geraniol; geranyl acetate; geranyl formate; geranyl isobutyrate; geranyl nitrile; hexenol; hexenyl acetate; hexenyl isobutyrate; hexyl acetate; hexyl formate; hexyl neopentanoate; hexyl tiglate; hydratropic alcohol; hydroxycitronellal; alpha- ionone; beta-ionone; gamma-ionone; alpha-irone; isoamyl alcohol; isobornyl acetate; isobutyl benzoate; isononyl acetate; isononyl alcohol; isomenthol; isomenthone; para- isopropyl phenylacetaldehyde; isopulegol; isopulegyl acetate; isoquinoline; lauric aldehyde; Ligustral; linalool oxide; linalyl acetate; linalyl formate; methyl acetate; methyl acetophenone; methyl amyl ketone; methyl anthranilate; methyl benzoate; methyl benzyl acetate; methyl chavicol; methyl eugenol; methyl heptenone; methyl heptine carbonate; methyl heptyl ketone; methyl hexyl ketone; methyl phenyl carbinyl acetate; alpha-iso "gamma" methyl ionone; methyl octyl acetaldehyde; nerol; neryl acetate; nonyl acetate; nonyl aldehyde; octalactone; octyl alcohol; octyl aldehyde; para-cymene; para-methyl acetophenone; phenyl acetaldehyde; phenyl ethyl acetate; phenyl ethyl alcohol; phenyl ethyl dimethyl carbinol; phenoxy ethanol; prenyl acetate; propyl butyrate; pulegone; rose oxide; safrole; 4-terpinenol; alpha-terpineol; terpinolene; terpinyl acetate; tetrahydro linalool; tetrahydro myrcenol; tonalid; undecenal; Veratrol; Verdox; vertenex, Viridine; diphenyl methane; gamma-n-methyl ionone; isobutyl quinoline; eugenol; indole; beta-caryophyllene; methyl-n-methyl anthranilate; dodecalactone; lilial (p-t-bucinal); phenyl heptanol; phenyl hexanol; ethyl methyl phenyl glycidate; para-methoxy acetophenone; amyl benzoate; phenoxy ethyl proprionate, heliotropine; and mixtures thereof.

Compositions of the present invention can also include metallic salts. The animal litter products of the present invention can be prepared by contacting a solid absorbing litter material with an aqueous solution of the antimicrobial and/or urease inhibitor, for example, a transition metal ion. Suitable sources of the transition metal ions are their soluble salts. Suitable salts include silver, copper, zinc, ferric, and aluminum salts. It is also desirable that the anion provide some benefit, e.g., the anion can have the ability to provide urease inhibition, such as borate, phytate, etc. Suitable examples are silver chlorate, silver nitrate, mercury acetate, mercury chloride, mercury nitrate, copper metaborate, copper bromate, copper bromide, copper chloride, copper dichromate, copper nitrate, copper salicylate, copper sulfate, zinc acetate, zinc borate, zinc phytate, zinc bromate, zinc bromide, zinc chlorate, zinc chloride, zinc sulfate, cadmium acetate, cadmium borate, cadmium bromide, cadmium chlorate, cadmium chloride, cadmium formate, cadmium iodate, cadmium iodide, cadmium permanganate, cadmium nitrate, cadmium sulfate, and gold chloride. Other salts that have been disclosed as having urease inhibition properties include ferric and aluminum salts, especially the nitrates, and bismuth salts. Zinc salts and are well known to those skilled in the art.

Silver salts and mercury salts are very effective but are also toxic and expensive and are therefore used at levels ranging from about 50 ppm to about 500 ppm, in one aspect from about 100 ppm to about 300 ppm. Copper salts, zinc salts and cadmium salts are most effectively used at levels ranging from about 500 ppm to about 7500 ppm, in one aspect at levels from about 1000 ppm to about 4000 ppm, and in another aspect from about 1500 ppm to about 2500 ppm. Gold salts are effective and substantially less toxic than silver or mercury.

A suitable metallic salt, e.g., water-soluble zinc salts, can be added to the solution used to prepare the litter of the present invention. A water-soluble metallic salt can be used as an odor control agent. A water-soluble metallic salt can be present in the freshening composition of the present invention to absorb amine and sulfur- containing compounds. Furthermore, they usually do not contribute an odor of their own. The water-soluble metallic salts are selected from the group consisting of copper salts, zinc salts, and mixtures thereof.

Zinc salts have been used most often for their ability to ameliorate malodor, e.g., in mouth wash products, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,939, issued Apr. 20, 1982 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,674, issued Sep. 4, 1983, to N. B. Shah, et al, incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 3,172,817, issued to Leupold, et ah, discloses deodorizing compositions containing slightly water-soluble salts of an acyl- acetone with a polyvalent metal, including copper and zinc salts. Said patents are incorporated herein by reference. The zinc salts of the present invention are typically water soluble, and therefore the solutions herein should not be so alkaline so as to avoid formation of zinc oxide, which is much less soluble.

Examples of suitable water-soluble zinc salts are zinc chloride, zinc gluconate, zinc lactate, zinc maleate, zinc salicylate, zinc sulfate, etc. Highly-ionized and soluble zinc salts such as zinc chloride, provide the best source of zinc ions. Examples of preferred copper salts are copper chloride and copper gluconate.

Metallic salts can be added to the litter composition of the present invention typically at a level of from about 0.001% to about 2%, in one aspect from about 0.01% to about 1%, and in another aspect from about 0.05% to about 0.5%, by weight of the litter composition. When zinc salts are used as the metallic salt, it is desirable that the pH of the solution is adjusted to less than about 7 to keep the solution clear.

Urease inhibitors can also be employed in combination with the compositions of the present invention. There are many materials that exhibit urease inhibition and/or suppression. A partial list of materials that have been disclosed as inhibitors includes the metallic salts listed above; hydroxamic acid, modified hydroxamic and/or dihydroxyamic acids, e.g., substituted with various hydrocarbon groups such as acyl, e.g., aceto-, chloronitrobenzamidoaceto-, and nitrobenzamidoaceto- (e.g., 2-para), C_{1- 21} alkyl, aryl, and/or alkaryl groups, cycloalkyl (e.g., cyclohexyl), peptidyl, naphthyloxy-alkane, and their salts; thiourea; hydroxylamine; salts of phytic acid, especially sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium; extracts of plants of various species, including various tannins, e.g. carob tannin, and their derivatives such as chlorogenic acid derivatives; naturally occurring acids such as ascorbic acid, citric acid, and their salts; phenyl phosphoro diamidate/diamino phosphoric acid phenyl ester; metal aryl phosphoramidate complexes, including substituted phosphorodiamidate compounds; phosphoramidates without substitution on the nitrogen; boric acid and/or its salts, including especially, borax, and/or organic boron acid compounds; the compounds disclosed in European Patent Application 408,199, incorporated by reference; sodium, copper, manganese, and/or zinc dithiocarbamate; quinones; phenols; thiurams; substituted rhodanine acetic acids; alkylated benzoquinones; formamidine disulphide; l:3-diketones maleic anhydride; succinamide; phthalic anhydride; pehenic acid; N,N-dihalo-2-imidazolidinones; N- halo-2-oxazolidinones; thio- and/or acyl-phosphoryltriamide and/or substituted derivatives thereof; thiopyridine-N-oxides, thiopyridines, and thiopyrimidines; oxidized sulfur derivatives of diaminophosphinyl compounds; cyclotriphosphazatriene derivatives; ortho-diaminophosphinyl derivatives of oximes; bromo-nitro compounds; S-aryl and/or alkyl diamidophosphorothiolates; diaminophosphinyl derivatives; mono- and/or poly-phosphorodiamide; 5-substituted- benzoxathiol-2-ones; N-(diarninophosphinyl) arylcarboxamides; alkoxy-l,2-benzothaizin compounds; etc.

As stated above, a large number of urease inhibitors are known, some having been purposefully synthesized by the pharmaceutical industry, and others whose original use was for purposes outside the realm of urease inhibition, but which can also be suitably employed to act as structural mimics of urea. These latter compounds include low molecular weight, water soluble materials which act as an irreversible substrate or modifier of the active site of the urease enzyme.

Among the low molecular weight urease inhibitors that are thought to serve as substrate mimics are hydroxamic acid and the substituted hydroxamic acids mentioned above. Acetohydroxamic and propiohydroxamic acid are the most common of the acyl substituted hydroxamic acids. These two compounds, as well as the parent hydroxamic acid and the alkali or alkaline earth salts of said acids, are particularly efficacious in inhibiting urease enzyme activity in vitro.

A variety of phosphorus compounds, including those disclosed hereinbefore, have been prepared for in vivo reduction in urease activity. Many of the pharmaceutical industry generated products are compatible with the environment due to their bio-degradability and the structure and oxidation state of the phosphorus containing moiety.

One embodiment of the present invention is directed to methods for reducing, including eliminating, odors caused by animal waste. In one aspect, compositions of the present invention are admixed with a base, such as clay, in order to form a dry powder. This dry powder can be added to a receptacle such as a litter box. In a particular aspect, the dry powder can be further admixed with contents of the receptacle such as wood shavings, etc.

In the present embodiment an effective amount of a composition of the present invention is admixed to an animal receptacle such as an animal litter. An effective amount is that amount necessary to minimize or eliminate odor caused by animal waste. In one aspect, the composition is admixed in the form of a dry powder. The composition in a particular aspect comprises a microbe selected from the species Streptomyces. In a further aspect, the composition comprises a microbe selected from Streptomyces, such as Streptomyces olivaceiscleroticus. The composition can be admixed with a base such as a suitable clay. Further the composition can be admixed with one or more other components such as Penicillium and/or Aspergillus. Further still the composition can be admixed with perfumed ingredients, etc.

The composition of the present invention can be admixed with typical litter material in such a manner as to eliminate foul odor. The present invention overcomes previous attempts in masking the odor caused by animal waste - it seeks to minimize or eliminate the odor by chemical conversion of the active agents. Without wishing to be bound by theory, this chemical conversion is facilitated by the presence of certain microbes, such as a Streptomyces microbe.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the scope of this invention includes habitats other than those specifically mentioned above, such as, habitats used by humans. These habitats include recreational venues including camping, boating, sporting and entertainment events, and alike. The scope of the present invention includes any situation where urine and/or fecal waste is disposed of and by any animal including human.

What is claimed is:

Claims

1. A composition comprising one or more microbial organisms which reduces odors.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein said one or more microbial organisms are gram positive microbes.

3. The composition of claim 2, wherein said gram positive microbes are selected from the group consisting of Streptomyces, Peniciϊlium, and Aspergillus.

4. The composition of claim 3, wherein said Streptomyces is Streptomyces olivaceiscleroticus.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein said odors are caused by animal waste.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein said one or more microbial organisms are highly concentrated.

7. The composition of claim 6, wherein said concentration is 1 billion to 100 billion microbes per gram.

8. The composition of claim 6, wherein said concentration is 5 billion to 20 billion microbes per gram.

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition is a dry powder.

10. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a moisture absorbing material.

11. The composition of claim 10, wherein said moisture absorbing material is clay.

12. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a deodorant.

13. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising a perfume.

14. The composition of claim 1, further comprising an inhibitor of urease.

15. The composition of claim 14, wherein said urease inhibitor is a metallic salt.

16. The composition of claim 15, wherein said metallic salt is selected from the group consisting of zinc chloride, zinc gluconate, zinc lactate, zinc maleate, zinc salicylate, zinc sulfate, copper chloride, and copper gluconate.

17. The composition of claim 14, wherein said urease inhibitor is hydroxamic acid or a substituted hydroxamic acid.

18. The composition of claim 17, wherein said substituted hydroxamic acid is acetohydroxamic acid or propiohydroxamic acid.

19. A method of reducing odors comprising treating animal waste with an effective amount of a composition comprising one or more microbial organisms.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said one or more microbial organisms are gram positive microbes.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said gram positive microbes are selected from the group consisting of Streptomyces, Penicillium, and Aspergillus.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said Streptomyces is Streptomyces olivaceiscleroticus.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said one or more microbial organisms are highly concentrated.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said concentration is 1 billion to 100 billion microbes per gram.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said concentration is 5 billion to 20 billion microbes per gram.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein said composition is a dry powder.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising treating animal waste with a moisture absorbing material.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said moisture absorbing material is clay.

29. The method of claim 19, further comprising treating animal waste with a deodorant.

30. The method of claim 19, further comprising treating animal waste with a perfume.

31. The method of claim 19, further comprising treating animal waste with an inhibitor of urease.

32. The method of claim 31 , wherein said urease inhibitor is a metallic salt.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said metallic salt is selected from the group consisting of zinc chloride, zinc gluconate, zinc lactate, zinc maleate, zinc salicylate, zinc sulfate, copper chloride, and copper gluconate.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said urease inhibitor is hydroxamic acid or a substituted hydroxamic acid.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein substituted hydroxamic acid is acetohydroxamic acid or propiohydroxamic acid.