US Patent 7488520 - Nanoparticle modified packaging material for odor reduction

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7488520.html

This patent from Kimberly-Clark Worldwide is based on the discovery that nanoparticles modified with metal ions can remove odorous compounds and teaches incorporating such nanoparticles in packaging for paper towels or toilet tissue. Claim 1 reads:

1. A package comprising:

a paper product;

a packaging material that encloses the paper product and defines a headspace therebetween;

metal modified nanoparticles having an effective particle diameter of less than about 500 nanometers, the nanoparticles are formed from silica, alumina, or a combination thereof, wherein the metal modified nanoparticles are configured to neutralize gaseous or odorous compounds within the headspace.