US Patent 8211369 - Odor reduction using metal modified nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8211369.html

This is a fairly broad patent from Kimberly-Clark Worldwide for using the large surface area-to-volume ratio of silica or alumina nanoparticles to remove odors produced by plastic packaging materials. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for neutralizing odor contained within the headspace of a product packaging comprising the steps of:

a) formulating a blend comprising metal modified nanoparticles, wherein the metal modified nanoparticles are formed from silica, alumina, or a combination thereof;

b) applying the blend to the inside of a product packaging.

US Patent 7976855 - Odor absorbing article using nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7976855.html

This patent from Kimberly-Clark Worldwide teaches how nanoparticles including metal ions can be used to remove odors and can be incorporated into various industrial and consumer products including absorbent articles, air and water filters, household cleaners, fabrics, and paper towels. Claim 1 reads:

1. An odor absorbing article of manufacture, comprising:

a nonwoven web treated with a nanoparticle, the nanoparticle including silica, alumina, or combinations thereof and wherein the nanoparticle includes about 20-200 metal ions adsorbed onto the nanoparticle,

wherein the adsorbed metal ions include copper ion, iron ion or combinations thereof and are active sites on a surface of the nanoparticle for binding gaseous or odorous compounds to the nanoparticle surface removing the compound from a surrounding environment.

US Patent 7879350 - Reducing odor with silica nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7879350.html

This patent is from Kimberly-Clark Worldwide and teaches using porous substrates with silica nanoparticles as odor reducing agents for articles such as clothing, diapers and bandages. Claim 1 reads:

1. A substrate for reducing odor, said substrate being porous and comprising a nonwoven, woven, or paper web, said substrate containing colloidal silica nanoparticles configured to adsorb one or more odorous compounds, said silica nanoparticles having an average size of from about 1 to about 50 nanometers and a surface area of from about 50 to about 1000 square meters per gram, wherein the silica nanoparticles are relatively nonporous and thus have a pore volume of less than about 0.4 milliliters per gram.

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.

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.

US Patent 7413550 - Bad breath detector using nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7413550.html

This patent from Kimberly-Clark Worldwide teaches using silica or alumina nanoparticles in a high sensitivity bad breadth testing device. Claim 1 reads:

1. A breath testing device comprising nanoparticles and a visual indicating agent disposed on a substrate, wherein the visual indicating agent is color sensitive to at least one odorous compound present in the breath of a user, wherein the visual indicating agent is 4,4′-bis(dimethylamino)-benzhydrol.

US Patent 7371456 - Nanoparticle ink with charged particle protective layer

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7371456.html

This patent from Kimberly-Clark Worldwide teaches an improved textile ink more resistant to fading and bleeding than prior inks and based on nanoparticulate materials. Claim 1 reads:

1. An ink composition for a printing process comprising:

a nanoparticle having a size less than about 1,000 nanometers comprising a particle template having more than one colorant layer disposed upon the particle template;

a liquid vehicle; and

a protective layer disposed upon the colorant layer; wherein the protective layer is a charged polymer.