COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR URIC ACID REMOVAL

Abstract

This invention relates to a composition comprising: (a) 10-20 wt % acidifying bacteria, (b) 30-40 wt % of an oxidising agent, (c) 5-15 wt % of an organic acid, and (d) 1-10 wt % of a chelating agent. The invention also relates to a method of removing uric acid from a waste pipe comprising the step of inserting the composition into the waste pipe.

Claims

1. A composition comprising: (a) 10-20 wt % acidifying bacteria, (b) 30-40 wt % of an oxidising agent, (c) 5-15 wt % of an organic acid, and (d) 1-10 wt % of a chelating agent.

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acidifying bacteria comprises lactobacillus bacteria.

3. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acidifying bacteria comprises Lactobacillus plantarum.

4. A composition as claimed in claim 1 comprising acidifying bacteria in an amount of 13-17 wt %.

5. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acidifying bacteria is lyophilised.

6. A composition as claimed in claim 1 comprising an oxidising agent in an amount of 33-37 wt %.

7. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oxidising agent comprises sodium carbonate and/or sodium percarbonate.

8. A composition as claimed in claim 7 comprising 10-20 wt % sodium carbonate and 15-25 wt % sodium percarbonate.

9. A composition as claimed in claim 1 comprising the organic acid in an amount of 8-12 wt %.

10. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the organic acid comprises citric acid.

11. A composition as claimed in claim 1 comprising the chelating agent in an amount of 3-7 wt %.

12. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chelating agent comprises L-Glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid.

13. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the composition is a powder.

14. A method of removing uric acid from a waste pipe comprising the step of inserting the composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims into the waste pipe.

15. A method as claimed in claimed 14, wherein the waste pipe is a urinal waste pipe.

Description

EXAMPLES

Example 1

[0034] A composition according to the invention was prepared by blending the following components in the amounts mentioned below: [0035] 15 wt % lactobacillus plantarum [0036] 15 wt % Lactose [0037] 15 wt % glucose [0038] 15 wt % sodium carbonate [0039] 20 wt % sodium percarbonate [0040] 10 wt % citric acid, [0041] 5 wt % L-Glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid [0042] 3 wt % biodegradable dye [0043] 2 wt % fragrance

[0044] Samples of uric acid blockage were weighed and dried overnight (30° C.) in a 30 ml disposable urine sample pot. 1 gram of the composition according to the invention was added, along with 10 ml of water. Control samples were also prepared, which involved adding 10 ml of water with no product. There were 3× repeats of each treatment (the invention or control). Treatment was left overnight, and the next day water was drained through a fine mesh that blocked the passage of solid uric acid scale. After the experiment, samples were dried overnight (30° C.), and then weighed.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows the percentage weight loss in the uric acid samples after treatment, compared to the starting weight. The invention showed efficiency in breaking down uric acid (the samples labelled “ABS”, 35 wt %-52 wt %) while the addition of water (i.e. the control samples) only broke down 5 wt %-12 wt %.

Example 2

[0046] Samples of uric acid blockage were weighed and dried for 8 hours (60° C.) in a 60 ml disposable plastic pot. The samples were then placed in a laboratory set-up designed to emulate pipework in men's urinals (see FIG. 4). 1 gram of the composition of Example 1 was added, and 50 ml water was dripped onto the combined uric acid blockage and the inventive composition to provide moisture. This was left overnight. Control samples involved dripping water onto the uric acid blockage with no product added. The next day a urination simulation machine was run 60 times to emulate the hydraulic force that the blockage would experience in a real life setting. The experiment was run daily for 3 days. After the experiment, samples were dried for 8 hours (60° C.), and then weighed.

[0047] FIG. 5 shows the percentage weight loss in the uric acid samples after treatment, compared to the starting weight. The invention showed efficiency in breaking down uric acid (the samples labelled “ABS”, 15 wt %-30 wt %) while the addition of water (i.e. the control samples) only broke down 7 wt %-12 wt %.