Trace elements

Abstract

The invention discloses a trace element solution, which comprises at least one metal selected from the group comprising selenium, copper, zinc, manganese and chromium and which comprises a concentration of the metal(s) of at least 60 mg/ml. The solution further comprises at least one compound selected from the group comprising iodine, potassium iodide, sodium iodide, iron, iron chloride, zinc oxide, manganese sulphate, sodium selenite, copper carbonate, sodium carbonate, anhydrous disodium EDTA and sodium hydroxide. The trace element solution is prepared by a method consisting essentially of the steps of preparing a MnCO.sub.3 mixture in a container; adding an EDTA/NaOH mixture to the container and subsequently adding at least one metal compound; and adding Na.sub.2SeO.sub.3 to the container to obtain the trace element solution. The method also comprises the step of adding CrCl.sub.3.6H.sub.2O to the trace element solution.

Claims

1. An injectable trace element solution, said solution comprising: (a) 5 to 10 mg/ml selenium; (b) 35-50 mg/ml zinc; (c) manganese; and (d) iron, wherein a total concentration of selenium, zinc, manganese and iron in the solution is at least 60 mg/ml.

2. The solution of claim 1, further comprising at least one of iodine, potassium iodide, sodium iodide, iron chloride, zinc oxide, manganese sulphate, sodium selenite, copper carbonate, sodium carbonate, anhydrous disodium EDTA or sodium hydroxide.

3. A solution as claimed in claim 2, in which at least one of the metal(s) is provided in the form of an EDTA complex.

4. A solution as claimed in claim 3, in which the EDTA complex is produced from at least one compound selected from the group consisting of sodium EDTA and potassium EDTA.

5. A solution as claimed in claim 1, which comprises chlorocresol as preservative.

6. The injectable trace element solution of claim 1, wherein the selenium is present in an amount of 5 mg/ml.

7. The injectable trace element solution of claim 1, further comprising 5-10 mg/ml chromium.

8. A trace element solution, which comprises: (a) 35-50 mg/ml zinc; (b) 10-15 mg/ml manganese; (c) 5-10 mg/ml selenium; and (d) iron, wherein a total concentration of zinc, manganese, selenium and iron in the solution is at least 60 mg/ml.

9. A solution as claimed in claim 8, further comprising 5-10 mg/ml chromium.

10. A solution as claimed in claim 8, wherein the iron in solution is 5-50 mg/ml.

11. A solution as claimed in claim 8, further comprising 20-400 mg/ml iodine.

12. The trace element solution of claim 10, further comprising 20-400 mg/ml iodine.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES

(1) The invention will now be described by way of example of injectable solutions in accordance with the invention.

Example 1

(2) Example 1 relates to a method to prepare a trace element solution predominantly to be used for cattle and includes the mineral elements Selenium, Copper and Chromium.

(3) The method enables preparation of 25 liters of the solution containing 40 mg Zn, 10 mg Mn, 5 mg Se, 15 mg Cu and 5 mg Cr per ml.

(4) A. Preparing MnCO.sub.3

(5) In a suitable container/drum, the MnCO.sub.3 mud is prepared by adding solutions of 900 g MnSO.sub.4 and 1150 g Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 together. The resultant mixture is decanted and washed three times.

(6) B. Continuous Batch Process

(7) To the MnCO.sub.3 mud, hot water (70 C.) is added to a volume of at least 15 liters. Critical is the temperature at the start of the batch process which should be at least 60 C. B.1 Preparing MnEDTA

(8) 2000 g EDTA and 500 g NaOH are weighed; the EDTA and NaOH are mixed; the EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum, in small quantities to prevent excessive frothing, until the reaction is complete (leaving a clear pinkish solution). B.2 Preparing ZnEDTA (2 steps)
Step 1:

(9) 2600 g EDTA, 690 g NaOH and 700 g ZnO are weighed, the EDTA and NaOH are mixed and ZnO is kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum in small quantities to prevent boiling over, followed by addition of the ZnO. The reaction is allowed to complete (again leaving a clear pink solution). The temperature at this stage could reach 103 C.

(10) Step 2:

(11) 2600 g EDTA, 690 g NaOH and 700 g ZnO are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and the ZnO kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum in small quantities to prevent boiling over, where after the ZnO is added. The reaction is allowed to complete (again leaving a clear pink solution). The temperature at this stage could reach 103 C. B.3 Preparing CuEDTA

(12) 1760 g EDTA, 462 g NaOH and 693 g basic CuCO.sub.3 are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and the CuCO.sub.3 kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum, followed by careful addition of the CuCO.sub.3, to prevent excessive frothing, and the reaction is allowed to complete (leaving a clear blue solution). B.4 25 g chlorocresol is added and stirred till dissolved. B.5 23 liters is made up B.6 The mixture is allowed to cool to room temperature.
C. Final Phase C.1 303 g Na.sub.2SeO.sub.3 is added. C.2 The pH is adjusted to 6.7 by adding NaOH (40% solution) or EDTA. C.3 738 g EDTA, 192 g NaOH and 641 g CrCl.sub.3.6H.sub.2O are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and added to the drum. The CrCl.sub.3.6H.sub.2O is added, whereby the reaction is slow. C.4 The volume is made up to 25 liters.

Example 2

(13) Example 2 relates to a method to prepare a trace element solution predominantly to be used for sheep and includes the mineral elements Selenium and Copper.

(14) The method enables preparation of 100 liters of the solution containing 40 mg Zn, 10 mg Mn, 3 mg Se and 10 mg Cu per ml.

(15) A. Preparing MnCO.sub.3

(16) In a suitable container/drum, the MnCO.sub.3 mud is prepared by adding solutions of 3600 g MnSO.sub.4 and 4600 g Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 together. The mixture is decanted and wash three times.

(17) B. Continuous Batch Process

(18) To the MnCO.sub.3 mud, is added hot water (70 C.) to a volume of at least 60 liters. The temperature at the start of the batch process is critical and should be at least 60 C. B.1 Preparing MnEDTA

(19) 8000 g EDTA and 2000 g NaOH are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum, in small quantities to prevent excessive frothing, until the reaction is complete (leaving a clear pinkish solution). B.2 Preparing ZnEDTA (2 steps)
Step 1:

(20) 10400 g EDTA, 2760 g NaOH and 2800 g ZnO are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and the ZnO kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum in small quantities to prevent boiling over, followed by addition of the ZnO. The reaction is allowed to complete (again leaving a clear pink solution). The temperature at this stage could reach 103 C.

(21) Step 2:

(22) 10400 g EDTA, 2760 g NaOH and 2800 g ZnO are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and the ZnO kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum in small quantities to prevent boiling over, followed by addition of the ZnO. The reaction is allowed to complete (again leaving a clear pink solution). The temperature at this stage could reach 103 C. B.3 Preparing CuEDTA

(23) 4646 g EDTA, 1220 g NaOH and 1835 g basic CuCO.sub.3 are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and the CuCO.sub.3 kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum, followed by careful addition of the CuCO.sub.3, to prevent excessive frothing, and the reaction is allowed to complete (leaving a clear blue solution). B.4 100 g chlorocresol is added and the mixture stirred until dissolved. B.5 The volume is made up to 96 liters B.6 The mixture is cooled to room temperature.
C. Final Phase C.1 728 g Na.sub.2SeO.sub.3 is added. C.2 The pH is adjusted to 6.7 by adding NaOH (40% solution) or EDTA. C.3 The volume is made up to 100 liters.

Example 3

(24) Example 3 relates to a method to prepare a trace element solution predominantly to be used for cattle and includes the mineral elements Selenium and Copper.

(25) The method enables preparation of 100 liters of the solution containing 40 mg Zn, 10 mg Mn, 5 mg Se and 15 mg Cu per ml.

(26) A. Preparing MnCO.sub.3

(27) In a suitable container/drum, the MnCO.sub.3 mud is prepared by adding solutions of 3600 g MnSO.sub.4 and 4600 g Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 together. The mixture is decanted and wash three times.

(28) B. Continuous Batch Process

(29) To the MnCO.sub.3 mud, hot water (70 C.) is added to a volume of at least 60 liters. The temperature at the start of the batch process is critical and should be at least 60 C. B.1 Preparing MnEDTA

(30) 7840 g EDTA and 1960 g NaOH are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are weighed. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum, in small quantities to prevent excessive frothing, until the reaction is complete (leaving a clear pinkish solution). B.2 Preparing ZnEDTA (2 steps)
Step 1:

(31) 10400 g EDTA, 2760 g NaOH and 2800 g ZnO are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and the ZnO kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum, in small quantities to prevent boiling over, followed by addition of the ZnO. The reaction is allowed to complete (again leaving a clear pink solution). The temperature at this stage could reach 103 C.

(32) Step 2:

(33) 10400 g EDTA, 2760 g NaOH and 2800 g ZnO are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and the ZnO kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum, in small quantities to prevent boiling over, followed by addition of the ZnO.

(34) The reaction is allowed to complete (again leaving a clear pink solution). The temperature at this stage could reach 103 C. B.3 Preparing CuEDTA

(35) 7040 g EDTA, 1848 g NaOH and 2780 g basic CuCO.sub.3 are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and the CuCO.sub.3 kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum, followed by careful addition of the CuCO.sub.3, to prevent excessive frothing, and the reaction is allowed to complete (leaving a clear blue solution). B.4 100 g chlorocresol is added and the mixture stirred till dissolved. B.5 The mixture is made up to 96 liters B.6 The mixture is allowed to cool to room temperature.
C. Final Phase C.1 1212 g Na.sub.2SeO.sub.3 is added. C.2 The pH is adjusted to 7.0 by adding NaOH (40% solution) or EDTA. C.3 The volume is made up to 100 liters.
General

(36) The invention therefore provides a trace element solution which is tissue friendly, i.e. is not damaging or irritant to the tissue of animals and which comprises selenium, copper, zinc, manganese, iron and chromium and at a concentration of the metals of at least 60 mg/ml. The trace elements in solution are in a scientifically formulated ratio according to the post-absorption requirements of the animals calculated according to provided As an example the trace element solution comprises (a) 35-50 mg/ml of zinc; (b) 10-15 mg/ml manganese; (c) 5-10 mg/ml selenium; (d) 10-20 mg/ml copper; (e) 5-10 mg/ml chromium; (f) 5-50 mg/ml iron; and (g) comprises 20-400 mg/ml iodine.

(37) The iodine is provided in the form of potassium iodide or sodium iodide and the iron is provided in the form of iron chloride.

(38) The method of preparing a trace element solution in accordance with the invention thus enables the production of a solution comprising an adequate trace mineral concentration so that a 5 to 10 milliliter injection can make a significant impact on the trace mineral status of the animal, i.e. a practically applicable injectable supplement and a product that can improve the trace mineral status of an animal is provided. This is important as livestock producers will only inject livestock if a real benefit can be demonstrated. Furthermore, the subcutaneous injection is the preferred route to minimize tissue damage.