Spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition

Abstract: A spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition contains the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress or an extract thereof. This serves to suppress or prevent the occurrence of spirogyra and maladous odor in water or on moist surface in fish rearing aquarium, pond, marsh, water culture or the like.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition that serves well for the purpose of suppressing or preventing the occurrence of spirogyra and malodorous odor in water or on moist surface in fish rearing aquarium, water culture and by mulching pond and marsh, etc. Prior art In fish rearing, there is no effective means of controlling spirogyra and preventing malodorous odor. In water culture, there is a prior art method of controlling spirogyra, as illustrated in Fig. 3. In this method, artificial urethane resin medium (2) is placed above a solution chamber (1); solution (3) is circulated by pumping it from a solution tank (4) to the solution chamber (1) by means of a circulatory pump (8); solution (3) is then fed through the solution chamber (1) to a grown plant (6) retained by the net-like retainer (5) of artificial medium (2), wherein the solution surface around the base of the grown plant (6) is covered with wool pills (7) for shading, to prevent the photosynthesis of spirogyra and thus suppress its occurrence. The prior art method described above poses the following problems, 1) through 3). 1) The occurrence of spirogyra is suppressed only around the shaded base portion. Spirogyra that has occurred at the unshaded portion midway in the circulation path of the solution (3) is transferred, due to the circulation of solution (3), and clings to the net-like retainer (5) of artificial medium (2), adding malodorous odor to the grown plant (6). 2) To remove spirogyra clinging to the net-like retainer (5) of artificial medium (2), it is necessary to remove the artificial medium (2) from the solution chamber (1). Also, clogging of the circulation path of the solution (3) by spirogyra necessitates disassembly of the circulation path unit. These operations hamper easy cleaning. 3) Since wool pills (7) are degreased and begin to absorb water in about 24 hours, and since spirogyra occurs on the surface of the pills (7) that have absorbed water, the pills must be renewed frequently, an undesirable requirement in that maintenance is troublesome and cost is high. Further deodorant compositions are known from the following documents: JP-A-01036697 discloses the preparation of a deodorizing detergent by dissolving a plant extract, e.g. of pines, Japanese cedars and Japanese cypresses, alcoholic- and amine-coconut oils and small amounts of plant resin in water that had been contacted with the surface of silver; JP-A-60119952 discloses the preparation of an extract out of the leaf or trunk of a Taxodiales plant, which extract is an odorless and quickly acting deodorant effective against a wide variety of offensive smells; JP-A-54044017 discloses the preparation of an agent preventing the adhesion of creatures such as Mytilus balanus to ship bottoms and fishing nets from Japanese cedar; JP-A-63230169 discloses deodorant compositions comprising crushed products of Japanese cypress or its spirit oil as an active ingredient; JP-A-01027559 discloses a liquid deodorant which is based among others on a Rintaro earthworm of a mollusk and the skin of a Japanese cypress; and GB-A-2 112 286 discloses a composition having an algicidal and molluscicidal action, which composition contains as active ingredient an extract of Acacia nilotica. The object of the present invention is to provide a spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition capable of perfectly controlling spirogyra and maladous odor and retaining its controlling performance for a long time. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition comprising the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress, characterized in that the cortex is sliced like feathers. The composition may additionally comprise milled parts of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress, and/or extracts of parts of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress. The spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition may be prepared in a feathery form by cutting the cortex of Japanese cedar or Japanese cypress in accordance with the method described in Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 49516/1990. The additional milled parts may take a powder form as obtainable by milling the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress using a rotary mill. It may also be formed into a plate, rod, block or another form directly or after mixing in rock wool or may be in a lump form. The extracts may be obtained from the crushed Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress containing the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress by compression or steam distillation, and may be further processed to a dry powder, plates, rods, blocks or other forms obtainable by forming. The Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress for the present invention are exemplified by Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa, respectively. Examples also include varieties thereof. Also, the spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition comprising the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress of the present invention may contain a bleacher, a binder, a fertilizer component, a trace element, an activator, a fungicide, an insecticide, or a miticide, as desired. Any bleacher can be used, as long as it is capable of preventing the coloring of plant cultivation solution or fish rearing water due to use of the spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition of the present invention. It is preferable to use activated charcoal. Although it is impossible to generally specify the amount of bleacher used, it is normally preferable to use it in the range of from 5 to 30 parts to 100 parts of the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress (figures for parts are by weight; the same applies below.) The binder is used in forming the spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition of the present invention into a plate, rod, block or another form. Examples of the binder include vinyl acetate resins (solutions, emulsions), polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene copolymer resins, polyacrylic acid resins and polyacrylic acid-starch copolymers. Although it is impossible to generally specify the amount of binder used, it is normally 5 to 30 parts to 100 parts of the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress. Examples of the fertilizer component are urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate dibasic, ammonium phosphate monobasic, potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate dibasic, potassium phosphate monobasic, potassium hydroxide, nitrogenous fertilizer, phosphatic fertilizer, potassic fertilizer. Although it is impossible to generally specify the amount of the fertilizer component used, it is normally about 0.006 parts to 0.1 parts to 100 parts of the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress. Examples of the trace element are MgSO₄, MnSO₄, boric acid, EDTA-Fe, EDTA-Mg, Cu₂SO₄, ZnSO₄, and ammonium molybate. Although it is impossible to generally specify the amount of the trace element used, it is normally 0.001 parts to 0.015 parts to 100 parts of the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress. Examples of the activator are vitamin B₁, vitamin B₆, nicotinic-acid amide, choline chloride, gibberellin, benzyladenine, iron chloride, and EDTA-Fe. Although it is impossible to generally specify the amount of the activator used, it is normally 0.005 parts to 0.05 parts to 100 parts of the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress. The fungicide is not limitative, but benomyl, triforine, TPN, maneb, and streptomycin are listed as examples of the fungicide. The insecticide is also not limitative, but acephate, permethrin, MEP, malathon, pyrethrin, and resmethrin are listed as examples of the insecticide. The miticide is also not limitative, but kelthan, fenbutatin oxide, hexythiozox, and clofentezine are listed as examples of the miticide. Although it is impossible to generally specify the amount of each of the fungicide, insecticide and miticide used, it is normally 0.01 parts to 1.0 parts to 100 parts of the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress. A mode of preferred use of the present invention is as follows: For example, when this composition is placed as a filtering material midway in the circulation path of water in a fish aquarium or pond or midway in the circulation path of a solution for water culture, the occurrence of spirogyra and maladous odor in the circulating water or solution is suppressed for a long time. Furthermore, the occurrence of spirogyra is suppressed around the spirogyra controlling composition comprising the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress. For these reasons, when this composition is mixed, for example, in artificial medium for water culture the occurrence of spirogyra on the surface of the artificial medium is suppressed. Also, when the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress is mixed in a urethane or rockwool bed for water culture in a ratio of 10% or more, or when it is shaped into flakes and used for a bed as a substitute for urethane or rockwool, the occurrence of spirogyra at the plant growing portion is suppressed, which permits cultivation of radishes, red-and-white radishes, Japanese honeworts and other plants without malodor. Also, the rod formed from the spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition of the present invention in the presence of a binder can serve as a tree fern substitute for use as a support for vines. The tree fern substitute comprising the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress is free of the occurrence of spirogyra and malodorous odor. Moreover, when this tree fern substitute is formulated with the fertilizer component, trace element, activator and other materials described above, plant growth is facilitated, since roots develop into inner spaces of the tree fern substitute material and absorb these plant nutrients. The spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition of the present invention can easily be produced by mixing (preferably uniformly) one or more of the above-mentioned components, in accordance with a method known per se. Effects of the invention The present invention has the following effects, (1) through (3): (1) In water culture, no malodor is caused on the grown plant, since the occurrence of spirogyra in the solution is suppressed. (2) Since the occurrence of spirogyra is suppressed, cleaning operation of the circulation path for the artificial medium and solution can be simplified in water culture, and cleaning operation for the aquarium, water circulation path etc. can be simplified in fish rearing. (3) Since the spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition of the present invention retains its controlling performance for a long time, frequent renewal is unnecessary, which simplifies maintenance. To substantiate the effects described above, the present invention is hereinafter described in more detail by means of the following examples and experiments. BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a schematic explaining the experimental method of Experimental Example 1. Fig. 2 is a shematic explaining the experimental method of Experimental Example 2. Fig. 3 is a schematic explaining a prior art method of controlling spirogyra in water culture. Examples 1 and 2 A feathery material obtained by cutting the cortex of Japanese cedar into a feathery form according to the method described in Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 49516/1990, and another feathery material obtained by treating the cortex of Japanese cypress in the same manner as above, were mixed uniformly in a ratio of 1 to 1 to yield a spirogyra controlling composition for Example 1. To 100 parts by weight of the spirogyra controlling composition of Example 1, 30 parts by weight of activated charcoal, as a decoloring agent, was added for Example 2. Example 3 A feathery material obtained by cutting the cortex of Japanese cedar into a feathery form and another feathery material obtained by treating the cortex of Japanese cypress in the same manner as above were mixed uniformly in a ratio of 1 to 1. To 70 parts by weight of this mixture were added 20 parts by weight of a binder (Mitsui Petrochemical Industries, Ltd.) and 10 parts by weight of activated charcoal (Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.), followed by kneading in a mixer. The resulting mixture was placed in a mold and dried by heating at 160°C for 15 minutes. This formed product was sprayed with SA-22 (resin: Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.) and dried by heating at 130°C for several minutes. Experimental Example 1 The spirogyra controlling composition of Examples 1, 2 and 3 were assessed as to spirogyra controlling performance in comparison with glass wool, for Comparative Example 1 when rearing goldfish. The experiment was conducted as illustrated in Fig. 1. Specifically, the composition of Example 1, 2 or 3 or Comparative Example 1, in an amount of 100 g as filtering material (10), was packed in the filter (9). To the aquarium (11) containing 30 ℓ of tap water, 100 ml of spirogyra-containing water was added. The water in the aquarium (11) was circulated through the filtering material (10) by means of the circulatory pump (12) for 5 consecutive weeks. Throughout the experiment period, ten goldfish were kept in the aquarium (11) and fed with commercially available fish food every morning. Spirogyra controlling performance was rated by visually monitoring the state of occurrence or development of spirogyra once weekly. The results of assessment are shown in Table 1. As seen in Table 1, spirogyra occurred and showed noticeable development in Comparative Example 1, while it did not occur at all in Example 1, 2 or 3, even after 5 weeks. This finding demonstrates that the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress possesses high capability for spirogyra control in fish rearing. After completion of the experiment, the body weight, body length, skin color, etc. of each goldfish were measured. There was no difference between the filtering materials (10) of Example 1 or 2 and that of Comparative Example 1. This finding demonstrates that the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress has no physiologically adverse effect on fish. Also, when the spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition of Example 3 was used as a filter for eutrophicated pond water and for smelling drinking water, contaminants were removed and clear odorless beautiful pond water and odorless drinking water were obtained, respectively. 1W 2W 3W 4W 5W Example 1 - - - - - Example 2 - - - - - Example 3 - - - - ± Comparative Example 1 + ++ +++ ++++ +++++ In Table 1, 1W through 5W represent durations of 1 to 5 weeks - indicates that spirogyra did not occur; + through +++++ indicate the occurrence of spirogyra and the degree of its development.

Claims: Claims for the following Contracting States : AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, FR, GB, IT, LI, LU, NL, SE A spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition comprising the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress, characterized in that the cortex is sliced like feathers. A spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition according to claim 1 additionally comprising milled parts of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress, and/or extracts of parts of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress. Claims for the following Contracting States : ES, GR A spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition comprising the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress, characterized in that the cortex is sliced like feathers. A spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition according to claim 1 additionally comprising milled parts of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress, and/or extracts of parts of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress. A process for preparing a spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition comprising the cortex of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress, which process is characterized in that the cortex is sliced like feathers. A process according to claim 3 wherein the prepared spirogyra controlling and deodorant composition additionally comprises milled parts of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress, and/or extracts of parts of Japanese cedar and/or Japanese cypress.

Inventors: MATSUMURA YASUHIRO, MOCHIDA AKITOSHI, OBAYASHI HISASHI, MATSUMURA, YASUHIRO, MOCHIDA, AKITOSHI, OBAYASHI, HISASHI
Applicants: TAKEDA GARDEN PROD, TAKEDA GARDEN PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A01N65
IPC codes: A01K63, A01K61, A01G31, C02F1, A01N65