Compound for treating animal excrement

Abstract: The compound, in use, is sprinkled over the excrement for treatment to neutralize and eliminate the odour, spores, fungi, bacteria and microorganisms therein, and presents a first subcompound in powder comprising a mixture of diatoms (often referred to as infusorial earth), a calcium-based substance and a sulphur-based substance.

Description: The present invention relates to a compound for treating animal, particularly dog, excrement. As is known, a major problem in towns, very often due to bad manners on the part of the inhabitants, is the accumulation of dirt and refuse of all kinds, particularly dog excrement, which often makes pavements and parks unwalkable, and, moreover, is a source of odour, spores, fungi, bacteria and microorganisms. For instance, the document US- 4 607 594 discloses a granular absorbent composition which is ideally suited as an animal litter. Such composition comprises a mixture of absorbent particles (e.g. cellolosic material or clay) and inert adsorptive granules (e.g. volcanic rock) which have been treated with a neutralizing agent (a carbonate, bicarbonate, or hydrogen phosphate). However, the composition described in the aforesaid document refers to an animal litter and does not include any sulphur-based substance which acts as a fungicide and antiseptic. It is an object of the present invention to provide a chemical compound for neutralizing the odour, spores, fungi, bacteria and microorganisms present in animal excrement. Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be disclosed in the following description. According to the present invention, there is provided a compound for treating animal excrement, and which, in use, is sprinkled onto the excrement for treatment to neutralize and eliminate odour, spores, fungi, bacteria and microorganisms therein; the compound being characterized by presenting a first subcompound of powder comprising a mixture of diatomaceous earth (often referred to as infusorial earth), a calcium-based substance and a sulphur-based substance. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example. The present invention relates to a chemical compound for treating animal, in particular dog, excrement. The compound is in the form of powder, and, in use, is sprinkled onto the excrement for treatment to neutralize and eliminate odour, spores, fungi, bacteria and microorganisms therein. As is known, animal excrement substantially comprises water, digestive residue, spores, fungi, bacteria and microorganisms. The chemical compound according to the present invention comprises a mixture of two subcompounds: a first comprising diatomaceous earth (often referred to as infusorial earth), a calcium-based substance and a sulphur-based substance; and a second comprising one or a mixture of the following products: sand, wood flour (sawdust) and cement mix. The first subcompound constitutes 10-30%, and preferably 20%, of the compound. Diatomaceous earth constitutes 6-18%, and preferably 12%, of the compound. As is known, diatomaceous earth is a natural form of volcanic siliceous rock, which contains 2-5% of combined moisture enabling it to expand up to 20 times its original volume if subjected to thermal shock. When so expanded, this mineral gives rise to an infinite number of different forms of granules, which, if ground and sized, constitute a filtering material of an exceptional specific surface. The high degree of porosity at 85% of the volume of the diatomaceous earth comprises minute interconnected pores or vacuoles; the high absorption capacity of the diatomaceous earth enables it to adsorb liquids up to one and a half times its own weight while still maintaining the properties of a dry powder; and the particle structure, large surface area and irregular shape of the diatomaceous earth constitute an extremely large specific surface area. In other words, if sprinkled onto animal excrement, diatomaceous earth adsorbs odour and humidity, and is receptor of microorganisms. Finally, a further point to note is that diatomaceous earth is waste product. The calcium-based substance comprises a mixture of calcium hypochlorite CaCl 2 O 2 and one or more of the following products: lime CaO, soda lime CaO + NaOH, hydrated lime Ca(OH) 2 ; and calcium hypochlorite constitutes 1-3%, and preferably 2%, of the compound. The product defined by one or a mixture of lime, soda lime and hydrated lime constitutes 2.5-7.5%, and preferably 5%, of the compound. Calcium hypochlorite provides for inhibiting bacteria, spores, fungi and microorganisms present in animal excrement; and the product defined by one or a mixture of lime, soda lime and hydrated lime provides for preventing the diffusion of bacterial microorganisms. The sulphur-based substance preferably comprises a 99% concentration of flowers of sulphur, constitutes 0.5-1.5%, and preferably 1%, of the compound, and acts as a fungicide and antiseptic. The second subcompound is for preventing slippage. When sprinkled onto animal excrement, the compound according to the present invention provides, after a given length of time and particularly by adsorbing the humidity in the excrement, for so hardening it that it may be swept away using an ordinary brush on which absolutely no traces of excrement are left, or may be vacuumed using an ordinary vacuum cleaner. The advantages of the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description. In particular, the present invention provides for a compound in the form of antiseptic, disinfectant powder, which, on the one hand, eliminates the odour and the spores, bacteria, fungi and microorganisms which reproduce in animal excrement, and, on the other, hardens the excrement to enable it to be removed and disposed of as solid refuse. Such a compound is particularly useful for treating dog excrement with which the pavements and parks in towns are increasingly littered, thus affording advantages not only in terms of hygiene (especially as regards children) but also in terms of neatness. Moreover, the compound according to the invention is nontoxic and therefore completely safe to handle in the percentages described above, and may be produced in single- or multiple-dose pocket sachets for use by dog owners as required.

Claims: A compound for treating animal excrement, and which, in use, is sprinkled onto the excrement for treatment to neutralize and eliminate odour, spores, fungi, bacteria and microorganisms therein; the compound being characterized by presenting a first subcompound of powder comprising in admixture: diatomaceous earth; a mixture of calcium hypochlorite CaCl 2 O 2 and a product selected from lime CaO, soda lime CaO + NaOH and hydrated lime Ca(OH) 2 ; and flowers of sulphur, and by presenting a second subccmpound comprising one or a mixture of the following products: sand, wood flour and cement mix. A compound as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said first subcompound constitutes 10-30% of the compound. A compound as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that said first subcompound constitutes 20% of the compound. A compound as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterized in that the diatomaceous earth constitutes 6-18% of the compound. A compound as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that the diatomaceous earth constitutes 12% of the compound. A compound as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that calcium hypochlorite CaCl 2 O 2 constitutes 1-3% of the compound. A compound as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that calcium hypochlorite CaCl 2 O 2 constitutes 2% of the compound. A compound as claimed in Claim 6 or in Claim 7, characterized in that said product selected from lime CaO, soda lime CaO + NaOH and hydrated lime Ca(OH) 2 constitutes 2.5-7.5% of the compound. A compound as claimed in Claim 8, characterized in that said product selected from lime CaO, soda lime CaO + NaOH and hydrated lime Ca(OH) 2 constitutes 5% of the compound. A compound as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that said sulphur-based substance comprises a 99% concentration of flowers of sulphur. A compound as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that said sulphur-based substance constitutes 0.5-1.5% of the compound. A compound as claimed in Claim 11, characterized in that said sulphur-based substance constitutes 1% of the compound.

Inventors: GAMBERINI BRUNO, GAMBERINI, BRUNO
Applicants: PROGETTO EMME SRL, PROGETTO EMME S.R.L.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A61L11
IPC codes: B09B3, A01N59, A61L11, A61L2, C02F11, A61L9, A01K1