Patent Description:
What is needed, then, are improved methods for measuring pH of different compositions, including but not limited to gel, paste, colloid, and aqueous solutions, such as consumer products, food products, pet food products, beverage products, pharmaceutical products, and/or medical products. <CIT> discloses the use of a selection of imidazole compounds in a method of obtaining extracellular or intracellular pH images in biological systems, by magnetic resonance. The article "<NPL>) discloses a non-invasive technique for determining pH in biomolecular NMR samples using buffer components (formate, tris, piperazine, and imidazole) as internal pH indicators. The article "<NPL>) discloses chemical shift imaging in the presence of a controlled pH gradient which allows efficient determination of precise pKa values for analytes present in solution. The article "<NPL>) discloses pH-rate profiles for the hydrolysis of pyrophosphate (PP(v)) and pyrophosphite (PP(iii), pyrodi-H-phosphonate).

This summary is intended merely to introduce a simplified summary of some aspects of one or more implementations of the present invention which is defined in the claims.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities embodied in the present disclosure may be achieved by providing a method for determining pH of a composition as defined in the claims, including but not limited to a gel, a paste, a colloid, and/or an aqueous solution, such as a consumer product (eg. an oral care product), a food product, a pet food product, a beverage product, a pharmaceutical product, and/or a medical product. The method includes preparing a calibration curve. Preparing the calibration curve includes plotting a chemical shift of the chemical species relative to pH. The method also includes determining a chemical shift of a composition, including but not limited to a gel, a paste, a colloid, and/or an aqueous solution including the chemical species. The method further includes determining the pH of the composition, including but not limited to a gel, a paste, a colloid, and/or an aqueous solution, with the chemical shift of composition and the calibration curve.

In at least one implementation, the chemical species may include a carbonyl group, optionally, a carboxyl group. In another implementation, the chemical species may include a bicarbonate ion or a carbonate ion. In at least one implementation, the chemical shift of the composition, including but not limited to a gel, a paste, a colloid, and/or an aqueous solution, can additionally be determined also via carbon-<NUM> nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (<NUM>C NMR).

The chemical species comprises a phosphate group as defined in the claims. The chemical species includes one or more of tetrasodium pyrophosphate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, phosphoric acid, sodium monofluorophosphate, dicalcium phosphate dehydrate, sodium triphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, or combinations thereof as defined in the claims. In at least one implementation, the chemical species may include phosphoric acid. The chemical shift of the composition is determined via phosphorus-<NUM> nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (<NUM>P NMR) as defined in the claims.

In at least one implementation, the composition, including but not limited to a gel, a paste, a colloid, and/or an aqueous solution, may include water in an amount less than <NUM> weight %, optionally, less than <NUM> weight %, less than <NUM> weight %, or less than <NUM> weight %, based on a total weight of the product.

In at least one implementation, the composition, including but not limited to a gel, a paste, a colloid, and/or an aqueous solution, may be a consumer product, a food product, a pet food product, a beverage product, a pharmaceutical product, and/or a medical product. The consumer product may include, for example, an oral care product, a home care product, and/or a personal care product. In at least one implementation, the oral care product may be toothpaste.

In at least one implementation, the chemical shift of the composition, including but not limited to a gel, a paste, a colloid, and/or an aqueous solution, may be determined without diluting the composition.

In at least one implementation, the chemical shift of the composition, including but not limited to a gel, a paste, a colloid, and/or an aqueous solution, may be determined without pre-processing the composition.

In at least one implementation, determining the chemical shift of the composition, including but not limited to a gel, a paste, a colloid, and/or an aqueous solution, including the chemical species may include preparing a slurry of the composition.

In at least one implementation, preparing the calibration curve of the chemical species may include preparing a plurality of solutions including the chemical species, wherein each of the plurality of solutions has or includes a different pH. Preparing the calibration curve of the chemical species may also include determining a chemical shift of each of the plurality of solutions having the different pH.

In at least one implementation, preparing the calibration curve of the chemical species may further include preparing a plot of the chemical shift of each of the plurality of solutions with respect to the pH of each of the plurality of solutions, and fitting a curve to the plot to prepare the calibration curve.

The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying Figures.

As used throughout this disclosure, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range. It should be appreciated and understood that the description in a range format is merely for convenience and brevity, and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of any embodiments or implementations disclosed herein. Accordingly, the disclosed range should be construed to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. As such, any value within the range may be selected as the terminus of the range. For example, description of a range such as from <NUM> to <NUM> should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from <NUM> to <NUM>, from <NUM> to <NUM>, from <NUM> to <NUM>, from <NUM> to <NUM>, etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

As used herein, "free" or "substantially free" of a material may refer to a composition, component, or phase where the material is present in an amount of less than <NUM> weight %, less than <NUM> weight %, less than <NUM> weight %, less than <NUM> weight %, less than <NUM> weight %, less than <NUM> weight %, less than <NUM> weight %, less than <NUM> weight %, or less than <NUM> weight % based on a total weight of the composition, component, or phase.

The present inventors have surprisingly and unexpectedly discovered that measuring the pH of composition, including but not limited to a gel, a paste, a colloid, and/or an aqueous solution, such as a consumer product, food product, beverage product, pharmaceutical product, and/or a medical product, via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods disclosed herein is relatively more precise, accurate, and/or reliable than measuring the pH of the composition via a conventional pH meter based on a pH electrode. Specifically, the standard deviation of the pH measured via the NMR method is unexpectedly, significantly, and surprisingly lower than the standard deviation of the pH measured via the conventional pH meter method. It was further surprisingly and unexpectedly discovered that the method of measuring the pH of the composition via the NMR spectrometer could be used to measure the pH of compositions including phosphoric acid, sodium bicarbonate, sodium lactate, lactic acid, and/or chemical species or molecular entities that produce orthophosphate (PO<NUM>) as a byproduct, such as sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP), dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (Dical), tetrapotassium pyrophosphate (TKPP), sodium triphosphate (STPP), and tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP).

The present disclosure provides methods for determining a pH of a composition as defined in the claims, including but not limited to a gel, a paste, a colloid, and/or an aqueous solution, for example a consumer product, food product, beverage product, pharmaceutical product, and/or a medical product. The method for determining the pH of the composition includes preparing a calibration curve of one or more chemical species or molecular entities having an acid dissociation constant (pKa), determining a chemical shift of the product including the chemical species or molecular entity, and determining the pH of the product with the chemical shift of the product and the calibration curve. As defined in the claims, preparing the calibration curve comprises plotting a chemical shift of the chemical species relative to pH.

The compositions may be or include, but are not limited to, any solution with water as a solvent. The aqueous solution may include water in an amount of less than or equal to about <NUM> weight %, based on a total weight of the solution. For example, the aqueous solution may include water in an amount of less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, or less, based on a total weight of the composition or the product. It should be appreciated that measuring the pH of the composition, including but not limited to a gel, a paste, a colloid, and an aqueous solution, consumer product, substance, component, or material via a conventional pH meter is inaccurate, exhibits relatively large variations or variability, and/or lacks precision when the water content is less than or equal to about <NUM> weight %. The composition measured may be natural or manmade.

The composition, including but not limited to a gel, a paste, a colloid, and/or an aqueous solution, may be or include a consumer product, a food product, a pet food product, a beverage product, a pharmaceutical product, and/or a medical product. The consumer products may be or include, but are not limited to, home care products (e.g., cleansers, dish soaps, detergents, etc.), personal care products (e.g., deodorants, gels, hair care products, lotions, etc.), oral care products, or the like, or any combination thereof. In an exemplary implementation, the consumer products include an oral care product. The oral care product or the oral care composition thereof may form at least a portion of or be used in one or more oral care products. Illustrative oral care products may be or include, but are not limited to, a toothpaste (dentifrice), a prophylactic paste, a tooth powder, a tooth polish, a tooth gel (e.g., a whitening gel), a chewing gum, a lozenge, a mouthwash, a whitening strip, a paint-on gel, varnish, veneer, syringe or dental tray including a gel or paste, a gel or paste coated on an application support, such as dental floss or a toothbrush (e.g., a manual, electric, sound, a combination thereof or ultrasound toothbrush), or the like. In a preferred implementation, the oral care composition may be or may form at least a portion of a mouthwash.

The composition, including but not limited to a gel, a paste, a colloid, and/or an aqueous solution, may include one or more chemical species, molecular species or entities, or the like, or combination thereof that has or includes an acid dissociation constant. As used herein, the term or expression "molecular entity" may refer to any constitutionally or isotopically distinct atom, molecule, ion, ion pair, radical, radical ion, complex, conformer, or the like, identifiable as a separately distinguishable entity. As used herein, the term or expression "chemical species" may refer to any atom, molecule, molecular fragment, ion, or the like, that may be subjected to a chemical process or a measurement. For example, a chemical species may be an ensemble of chemically identical molecular entities that can explore the same set of molecular energy levels on the time scale of the experiment.

The one or more chemical species or molecular entity may each include one or more functional groups, such as a protonated functional group. Illustrative functional groups may be or include, but are not limited to, a carboxyl group, a phosphate group, a carbonyl group, a hydroxyl group, an amine group, an ether group, a thiol group, an alkane group, an alkene group, a sulfoxide group, an alkyne group, a nitrile groups, a ketone group, an aldehyde group, an alcohol group, a sulfonic group, or the like, or combinations thereof. In at least one implementation, the chemical species or molecular entity includes a carbonyl group, a carboxyl group, or combinations thereof. In another implementation, the chemical species or molecular entity includes a phosphate group. Illustrative chemical species or molecular entities may be or include, but are not limited to, bicarbonate, carbonate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP), tetrapotassium pyrophosphate (TKPP), sodium triphosphate (STPP), sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP), phosphoric acid, sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP), dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (Dical), or the like, or combinations thereof. In a preferred implementation, the chemical species or molecular entity includes one or more of bicarbonate, carbonate, phosphoric acid, or combinations thereof.

As discussed above, the method includes preparing a calibration curve as defined in the claims, of one or more chemical species or molecular entities having an acid dissociation constant. Preparing the calibration curve may include preparing a plurality of standard or known solutions or samples including any one or more of the chemical species or molecular entities, where each of the plurality of solutions or samples has a different pH. The pH of each of the plurality of solutions or samples may be acidic, neutral, or basic. For example, the pH of each of the plurality of solutions or samples may be from about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, or about <NUM> to about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, or about <NUM>. It should be appreciated that the pH of each of the plurality of solutions or samples may be adjusted to any desired pH by combining one or more bases, one or more acids, or a combination of one or more bases and one or more acids therewith.

Preparing the calibration curve also includes determining or measuring a chemical shift of each of the plurality of solutions at each of the respective pH as defined in the claims. The chemical shift of each of the plurality of the composition is determined with phosphorus-<NUM> nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P NMR). It should be appreciated that the type of NMR spectroscopy utilized for measuring the chemical shift may generally be at least partially determined by the chemical species or the molecular entity being monitored or included in the composition. For example, samples and/or solutions including bicarbonate or carbonate as the chemical species or molecular entity may utilize carbon-<NUM> NMR spectroscopy. As defined in the claims, the claimed method utilizes phosphorus-<NUM> NMR spectroscopy. While carbon-<NUM> NMR spectroscopy and phosphorus-<NUM> NMR spectroscopy are demonstrated, it should be appreciated that other types of NMR may generally be utilized, such as NMR that measures the chemical shift of any one or more of hydrogen nuclei, fluorine, boron, nitrogen, oxygen, tin, or the like, or any combination thereof, each of which have distinctive magnetic properties.

Preparing the calibration curve also includes preparing a plot of the chemical shift as defined in the claims, e.g. of each of the plurality of samples and/or solutions with respect to the pH of each of the plurality of samples and/or solutions. As defined in the claims, the chemical species comprises a phosphate group, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, phosphoric acid, sodium monofluorophosphate, dicalcium phosphate dehydrate, sodium triphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, or combinations thereof. As discussed above, the chemical species or molecular entity may also include carbonate or bicarbonate. Because bicarbonate (HCO<NUM>-) and carbonate (CO<NUM><NUM>-) undergo a fast exchange in an NMR timescale, the observed C-<NUM> NMR chemical shift of the carboxyl group (δ) can be expressed as the weighted average of the C-<NUM> chemical shift between HCO<NUM>- (δHCO<NUM>-) and CO<NUM><NUM>-(δCO<NUM><NUM>-) according to equation (<NUM>): <MAT> where xHCO<NUM>- and xCO<NUM><NUM> are the molar ratio of bicarbonate and carbonate in the sample, respectively. The pH of bicarbonate may be expressed in terms of the pKa of bicarbonate, as represented by Equation (<NUM>): <MAT> <FIG> illustrates a plot of the chemical shift of each of the plurality of solutions including bicarbonate and carbonate with respect to pH.

As defined in the claims and as further discussed above, the chemical species or molecular entity includes or may be a phosphate group, where the observed P-<NUM> chemical shift can be expressed according to equation (<NUM>): <MAT> where xH<NUM>PO<NUM>- and xHPO<NUM>- are the molar ratio of two monophosphate species in the sample. The pH of the phosphate group may be expressed in terms of the pKa of phosphate, as represented by Equation (<NUM>): <MAT> <FIG> illustrates a plot of the chemical shift of each of the plurality of solutions including a phosphate group with respect to pH.

In at least one implementation, the chemical species or molecular or molecular entity may also include a carboxyl group, such as the carboxyl group of a lactic acid, where the observed C-<NUM> chemical shift can be expressed according to equation (<NUM>): <MAT> <FIG> illustrates a plot of the chemical shift of each of the plurality of solutions including a carboxyl group with respect to pH.

It should be appreciated, based on equations (<NUM>)-(<NUM>), that the pH is determined by a molar ration of the chemical species of samples and/or solutions whose chemical shift is sensitive to pH. Unlike the conventional method of measuring the pH via an electrode, the methods disclosed herein are not dependent upon the amount of hydrogen ions. As such, it should be appreciated that the methods disclosed herein may be used to accurately determine pH in samples and/or solutions having a low water content (e.g., less than <NUM> weight %).

Preparing the calibration curve may further include fitting a curve to the plot of the chemical shift of each of the plurality of solutions with respect to the pH of each of the plurality of solutions. Fitting the curve may include applying a nonlinear least square analysis to the plot. Fitting the curve to the plot may allow the determination of one or more variables or values of Equation (<NUM>), (<NUM>), and/or (<NUM>). For example, the nonlinear least square fit may be applied to determine the values of the pKa, the δ CO<NUM><NUM>-, and the δ HCO<NUM>- in Equation (<NUM>). Further, the nonlinear least square fit may be applied to determine the values of the pKa, the δ H<NUM>PO<NUM>-, and the δ HPO<NUM><NUM>- of Equation (<NUM>). The nonlinear least square fit may further be applied to determine the values of the pKa, the δ CO<NUM>H, and the δ CO<NUM>- of Equation (<NUM>).

The method includes determining a chemical shift of the composition as defined in the claims, including but not limited to a gel, a paste, a colloid, and/or an aqueous solution, including the chemical species or molecular entity. The chemical shift of the composition is determined by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as defined in the claims. For example, compositions including bicarbonate or carbonate as the chemical species or molecular entity may additionally utilize carbon-<NUM> NMR spectroscopy. As defined in the claims, compositions including a chemical species or molecular entity having a phosphate group may utilize phosphorus-<NUM> NMR spectroscopy. It should be appreciated, that the type of NMR utilized may generally be determined, at least in part, by the one or more chemical species or molecular entities contained in the gel, paste, colloid, and aqueous solution and/or the one or more chemical species or molecular entities utilized to prepare the calibration curve. It should further be appreciated that while carbon-<NUM> NMR spectroscopy and phosphorus-<NUM> NMR spectroscopy are demonstrated below, it should be appreciated that other types of NMR may additionally be utilized, such as NMR that measures the chemical shift of any one or more of hydrogen nuclei, fluorine, boron, nitrogen, oxygen, tin, or the like, each of which have distinctive magnetic properties.

In at least one implementation, when analyzing a composition, including but not limited to a gel, a paste, a colloid, and/or an aqueous solution, the chemical shift of the composition may be performed without any pre-processing of the composition. For example, the chemical shift of the composition may be measured without diluting, filtering, buffering, or otherwise modifying the composition. In another example, the chemical shift of the composition may be measured as is or as a neat composition, for example a neat oral care product. For example, the oral care product may be a toothpaste or tooth gel, and the chemical shift may be measured by directly measuring the toothpaste or the tooth gel in the NMR spectrometer.

In another implementation, the composition may be pre-processed prior to measuring the chemical shift. For example, if the composition is an oral care product, the oral care product may be diluted or combined with water to prepare a slurry, and the chemical shift of the slurry may be measured. In another example, the composition may be aged for at least <NUM> day, at least <NUM> days, at least <NUM> days, at least <NUM> days, at least <NUM> days, at least <NUM> days, at least <NUM> days, at least <NUM> days, or more prior to measuring the chemical shift thereof. The composition may be aged at any temperature. For example, the composition may be aged at room temperature (RT). In another example, the composition may be aged at a temperature below <NUM>, at about <NUM>, greater than <NUM>, greater than <NUM>, greater than <NUM>, greater than <NUM>, or more.

The measured chemical shift of the composition may then be utilized to determine the pH of the composition. For example, the measured chemical shift of the composition may be utilized to directly determine the pH of the composition with the calibration curve.

All ingredients for use in the compositions and methods described herein should be orally acceptable. As used herein, "orally acceptable" may refer any ingredient that is present in a composition as described in an amount and form, which does not render the composition unsafe for use in the oral cavity.

The examples and other implementations described herein are exemplary and not intended to be limiting in describing the full scope of compositions and methods of this invention as defined in the claims.

A calibration curve was prepared for measuring bicarbonate with an NMR by using standardized samples of NaHCO<NUM> in water maintained at varying pH. The solutions included about <NUM> weight % sodium bicarbonate, and the pH was varied using hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). NMR was performed on the samples to obtain C-<NUM> chemical shift values. A pH electrode was utilized to measure the pH of each of the standardized samples, and the calibration curve was prepared by correlating the measured C-<NUM> chemical shift to the pH values measured by the pH electrode, as illustrated in <FIG>. As such, the observed <NUM>C chemical shift of the carbonyl group (δC) was expressed as the weighted average of the <NUM>C chemical shift between HCO<NUM>- (δ HCO<NUM>-) and CO<NUM><NUM>- (δ CO<NUM><NUM>-). The pH of the bicarbonate was described in terms of pKa of bicarbonate, as represented by Equation <NUM>.

The nonlinear least squares fit was applied to determine the values of the pKa, the δCO<NUM><NUM>-, and the δ HCO<NUM>-. The values of each are summarized in Table <NUM>. The <NUM>C chemical shift of bicarbonate as a function of pH with a fitted curve is illustrated in <FIG>. The plot of <FIG> and the corresponding R<NUM> indicated that sodium bicarbonate represented a reliable candidate for measuring pH via <NUM>C NMR.

To assess any interferences or interactions between the sodium bicarbonate with other major components of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>), the <NUM>C NMR chemical shift of NaHCO<NUM> was measured in the presence of varying amounts of sodium chloride (NaCl). Particularly, the <NUM>C NMR chemical shift of NaHCO<NUM> including sodium chloride in amounts up to about <NUM> weight % was evaluated and illustrated in <FIG>. As surprisingly and unexpectedly illustrated in <FIG>, the presence of sodium chloride in amounts of about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, and about <NUM> weight % did not indicate any notable changes or deviations in the <NUM>C NMR chemical shift of bicarbonate. This further reinforced that bicarbonate is a reliable candidate for measuring pH via <NUM>C NMR.

In addition to the foregoing, the <NUM>C NMR chemical shift of NaHCO<NUM> was measured in the presence of <NUM>% and <NUM>% Arginine at varying pH. The <NUM>C NMR chemical shift of bicarbonate including varying amounts of Arginine as a function of pH is illustrated in <FIG>. As surprisingly and unexpectedly illustrated in <FIG>, the presence of Arginine at <NUM>% and at <NUM>% did not indicate any notable changes or deviations in the <NUM>C chemical shift of bicarbonate. This further reinforced that bicarbonate is a reliable candidate for measuring pH via <NUM>C NMR.

Ten oral care compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) were prepared or obtained for evaluating the pH. Particularly, ten toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) were prepared or obtained for testing. Each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) included sodium bicarbonate in an amount of greater than <NUM> weight %, and water in an amount of from about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %. The key ingredients contained in each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) are summarized in Table <NUM>.

The pH of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) as a neat paste (without dilution) and as a slurry was measured via a conventional pH meter. The pH meter or electrode utilized was a benchtop pH meter (Mettler Toledo, F20, Switzerland) with a glass pH electrode (ORION, Thermo Fisher). It should be appreciated that prior to measuring the pH, the pH meter was calibrated using standard buffer solutions, and each of the measurements were performed in triplicate at room temperature to obtain a mean pH value. It should further be appreciated that between each of the measurements, the tip of the pH electrode was thoroughly washed with distilled water and acetone, and subsequently dried.

To determine the pH of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) as a neat paste (without dilution), the pH electrode of the pH meter inserted directly into the respective tube of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) such that the pH electrode was in full contact with the paste for at least <NUM> minutes to allow the measured pH value to stabilize. To prepare a slurry of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>), <NUM> grams (g) of distilled water and <NUM> of the respective toothpaste composition (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) was combined with one another in a glass vial and stirred at <NUM> for about <NUM> minutes. To determine the pH of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) as a slurry, the pH electrode was placed in the slurry under stirring. The results of the pH measured via the pH meter are summarized in Table <NUM>.

The pH of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) as a neat paste (without dilution) and as a slurry was measured via <NUM>C NMR. NMR measurements were performed on an AVANCE NEO® NMR Spectrometer obtained from Bruker Biospin Corp. of Billerica, MA, USA. The NMR Spectrometer was operated with a <NUM> CryoProbe operating at <NUM> for <NUM>H and <NUM> for <NUM>C at <NUM>. The <NUM>C NMR spectra of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) was acquired using zgig pulse sequence with a proton decoupling during the acquisition to avoid signal build-up due to NOE effect. The following parameters of the NMR Spectrometer were maintained during the measurements: Pulse Length = <NUM>; Recycle Delay = <NUM> sec; Number of Scans = <NUM>. It should be appreciated that each of the <NUM>C NMR spectrum was acquired for about <NUM> to about <NUM> to ensure that a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio was obtained for recording <NUM>C NMR chemical shift values of the bicarbonate (HCO<NUM><NUM>-). <NUM>C chemical shift was referenced to <NUM>% Tetramethylsilane as zero.

To determine the pH of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) as a neat paste (without dilution), <NUM> of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) was disposed into respective <NUM> NMR tubes with a syringe, and gently centrifuged (about <NUM>,<NUM> rpm) for about <NUM> minute (min) to ensure that the paste was settled at the bottom of the NMR tube without any phase separation. To prepare a slurry of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>), each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) was combined with at a <NUM>:<NUM> weight ratio (toothpaste:water) without centrifugation. The results of the pH measured via the pH meter are summarized in Table <NUM>.

As illustrated in Table <NUM>, the standard deviations (SD) of the pH measured via the NMR method were unexpectedly, significantly, and surprisingly lower than the SD of the pH measured via the pH meter method. In some cases the SD of the pH measured via the NMR method was at least one magnitude less than the SD of the pH measured via the pH meter method. It should be appreciated that the SD indicates the precision, accuracy, reliability and/or reproducibility of measuring the pH via the NMR method relative to the pH meter method.

A calibration curve was prepared for measuring phosphate groups with an NMR by using standardized buffered solutions of sodium phosphate monobasic (NaH<NUM>PO<NUM>) and disodium hydrogen phosphate (Na<NUM>HPO<NUM>) at varying pH. A P-<NUM> NMR pH titration experiment was conducted on the phosphate buffer having a concentration of <NUM> phosphate at various pH (i.e., pH of about <NUM> to about <NUM>) adjusted using NaH<NUM>PO<NUM> and Na<NUM>HPO<NUM> in water. NaH<NUM>PO<NUM> and Na<NUM>HPO<NUM> undergo a relatively fast exchange in the NMR timescale. As such, the observed <NUM>P chemical shift of the phosphate group (δP) was expressed as the weighted average of <NUM>P chemical shift between H<NUM>PO<NUM>- (δ H<NUM>PO<NUM>-) and HPO<NUM><NUM>- (δ HPO<NUM><NUM>-). The pH of the phosphate group was described in terms of pKa of phosphate, as represented by Equation <NUM>.

The nonlinear Least Squares Fit was applied to determine the values of the pKa, the δ H<NUM>PO<NUM>-, and the δ HPO<NUM><NUM>-. The values of each are summarized in Table <NUM>. The <NUM>P chemical shift of phosphate as a function of pH with a fitted curve is illustrated in <FIG>. The plot of <FIG> and the corresponding R<NUM> indicated that phosphate represented a reliable candidate for measuring pH via <NUM>P NMR.

Eight oral care compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) were prepared or obtained for evaluating the pH. Particularly, eight toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) were prepared or obtained for testing. Each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) included water in an amount of from about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %. The key ingredients contained in the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) include arginine (Arg), tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP), phosphoric acid (H<NUM>PO<NUM>), sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP), and dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (Dical) the contents of the ingredients contained in each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) is summarized in Table <NUM>.

It should be appreciated that toothpaste compositions (<NUM>), (<NUM>), and (<NUM>) include the same composition as (<NUM>), (<NUM>), and (<NUM>), respectively, but toothpaste compositions (<NUM>), (<NUM>), and (<NUM>) were aged. Specifically, toothpaste compositions (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) were aged at about <NUM> for <NUM> weeks, and toothpaste composition (<NUM>) was aged at room temperature (RT) for one year.

As indicated in Table <NUM>, toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) included phosphoric acid and tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP), toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) included at least TSPP and Dical, and toothpaste compositions (<NUM>) (<NUM>) included TSPP, Dical, and MFP. It should be appreciated that toothpaste composition (<NUM>) only included TSPP, which partially degrades to orthophosphate as a by-product. Further, MFP also partially degrades to orthophosphate as a by-product.

The pH of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) as a neat paste (without dilution) and as a slurry was measured via a conventional pH meter. It should be appreciated that prior to measuring the pH, the pH meter was calibrated using standard buffer solutions, and each of the measurements was performed in triplicate to obtain a mean pH value. It should further be appreciated that between each of the measurements, the tip of the pH electrode was thoroughly washed with distilled water and acetone, and subsequently dried.

To determine the pH of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) as a neat paste (without dilution), the pH electrode of the pH meter was inserted directly into the respective tube of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) such that the pH electrode was in full contact with the paste for at least <NUM> minutes to allow the measured pH value to stabilize. To prepare a slurry of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>), <NUM> grams (g) of distilled water and <NUM> of the respective toothpaste composition (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) was combined with one another in a glass vial and stirred at <NUM> for about <NUM> minutes. To determine the pH of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) as a slurry, the pH electrode was placed in the slurry under stirring. The results of the pH measured via the pH meter are summarized in Table <NUM>.

The pH of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) as a neat paste (without dilution) and as a slurry was measured via <NUM>P NMR. NMR measurements were performed on an AVANCE NEO® NMR Spectrometer obtained from Bruker Biospin Corp. of Billerica, MA, USA. The NMR Spectrometer was operated with a <NUM> CryoProbe operating at <NUM> for <NUM>H and <NUM> for <NUM>P at <NUM>. The <NUM>P NMR spectra of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) was acquired using zg pulse sequence. The following parameters of the NMR Spectrometer were maintained during the measurements: Pulse Length = <NUM>; Recycle Delay = <NUM> sec; Number of Scans = <NUM>. It should be appreciated that each of the <NUM>P NMR spectrum was acquired for about <NUM> to ensure that a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio was obtained for recording <NUM>P NMR chemical shift values of the phosphate. <NUM>P chemical shift was referenced to <NUM>% H<NUM>PO<NUM> as zero.

To determine the pH of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) as a neat paste (without dilution), <NUM> of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) was disposed into respective <NUM> NMR tubes with a syringe, and gently centrifuged (about <NUM>,<NUM> rpm) for about <NUM> minute (min) to ensure that the paste was settled at the bottom of the NMR tube without any phase separation. To prepare a slurry of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>), each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) was combined with water at a <NUM>:<NUM> weight ratio (toothpaste: water) without centrifugation. The results of the pH measured via the pH meter are summarized in Table <NUM>.

It should be appreciated that the estimated pH of toothpaste composition (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) is about <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. As illustrated in Table <NUM>, while the NMR method and the pH meter method both exhibited the same pH trend of showing that the toothpaste composition (<NUM>) is relatively more acidic than toothpaste composition (<NUM>), the pH measured through the NMR method were closer or more accurate with respect to the estimated pH. Further, the standard deviations (SD) of the pH measured via the NMR method were unexpectedly, significantly, and surprisingly lower than the SD of the pH measured via the pH meter method.

As further illustrated in Table <NUM>, after aging, the pH of each of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) decreased to about <NUM>. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the flavor compound (i.e., wintergreen oil) partially decomposed to produce salicylate acid upon aging, which resulted in the reduced pH.

As discussed above, some of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) did not include phosphoric acid. As such, it was surprisingly and unexpectedly discovered that the method of measuring the pH of the toothpaste compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) could be extended to other phosphate species, namely, orthophosphate (PO<NUM>), which is formed as a by-product in toothpastes containing MFP, Dical, and TSPP.

A calibration curve was prepared for measuring lactic acid with an NMR by using standardized buffered solutions of sodium lactate and lactic acid at different mole ratios in water at varying pH. The solutions included a total concentration of sodium lactate and lactic acid at about <NUM> weight %, and the pH was varied from a pH of about <NUM> to about <NUM>. NMR was performed on the samples to obtain C-<NUM> chemical shift values. A pH electrode was utilized to measure the pH of each of the standardized samples, and the calibration curve was prepared by correlating the measured C-<NUM> chemical shift to the pH values measured by the pH electrode, as illustrated in <FIG>. As such, the observed <NUM>C chemical shift of the carbonyl group (δC) was expressed as the weighted average of the <NUM>C chemical shift between CO<NUM>H (δ CO<NUM>H) and CO<NUM>-(δ CO<NUM>-). The pH of the carboxyl group was described in terms of pKa of the carboxyl group, as represented by Equation <NUM>.

The nonlinear least squares fit was applied to determine the values of the pKa, the δ CO<NUM>-, and the δ CO<NUM>H. The values of each are summarized in Table <NUM>. The <NUM>C chemical shift of the carboxyl group as a function of pH with a fitted curve is illustrated in <FIG>. The plot of <FIG> and the corresponding R<NUM> indicated that the carboxyl group of lactic acid represented a reliable candidate for measuring pH via <NUM>C NMR.

Four personal care compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) were prepared or obtained for evaluating the pH. Each of the personal care compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) included lactic acid in an amount of greater than <NUM> weight % and water in an amount of from about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %. The key ingredients contained in each of the personal care compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) are summarized in Table <NUM>.

The pH of each of the personal care compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) as a neat gel (without dilution) was measured via a pH meter according to the procedures described above. The pH of each of the personal care compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) as a neat gel was also measured via <NUM>C NMR. NMR measurements were performed according to the procedures described above. The results of the pH measured via the pH meter are summarized in Table <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A method for determining pH of a composition, the method comprising:
preparing a calibration curve of a chemical species comprising an acid dissociation constant, wherein preparing the calibration curve comprises plotting a chemical shift of the chemical species relative to pH;
determining a chemical shift of a composition comprising the chemical species;
determining the pH of the composition with the chemical shift of the composition and the calibration curve
wherein the chemical shift of the composition is determined with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; and
wherein the chemical species comprises a phosphate group, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, phosphoric acid, sodium monofluorophosphate, dicalcium phosphate dehydrate, sodium triphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, or combinations thereof,
wherein the chemical shift of the composition is determined with phosphorus-<NUM> nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (<NUM>P NMR).