US Patent 7578997 - Metal ion modified nanoparticles for odor removal

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7578997.html

This patent from Kimberly-Clark Worldwide teaches a variety of nanoparticle compositions useful for odor removal. Claim 1 reads:

1. A composition for neutralizing odor, comprising:

a nanoparticle comprising a diameter of less than 500 nanometers, a surface area of at least about 500 square meters/gram, and a first Zeta Potential of about −1 to −50 millivolts, the nanoparticle comprising silica, titanium dioxide, gold, zinc oxide, polystyrene, or combinations thereof; and

at least one metal ion adsorbed onto the nanoparticle, the at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of a copper ion, a silver ion, a gold ion, and combinations thereof;

wherein at least one of the nanoparticle and the adsorbed metal ion is capable of binding at least one odorous compound.