THIS INVENTION relates to a composition for treating odiferous matter to control the odour thereof.

There has been various proposals for treating odiferous matter. These proposals include deodorants to replace unpleasant odours, charcoal to absorb odours and chemicals to treat the odiferous matter to remove odours. These proposals have not proved altogether satisfactory and are generally uneconomic on a large scale.

The present invention seeks to provide a novel and useful deodorising composition which is effective in use and which can be manufactured economically.

In one form the invention resides in a deodorising com¬ position comprising lime, charcoal and eucalyptus oil.

The constituent parts have a synergistic effect and such a composition produces surprising and unexpected results in the treatment of odiferous matter; so much so, that it is difficult to explain the reasons for such results. It is, however, believed that the lime is effective in controlling bacteria and that the eucalyptus oil is effec¬ tive in controlling larvae which may be present in the odiferous matter. Additionally, the eucalyptus oil has a fragrence which may, at least to some extent, offset the odour of the odiferous matter.

Certain odiferous matter treated with a composition according to the invention may be used as fertiliser for soil or as foodstuff for animals including fish.

Preferably, the lime is in the form of chemically hydrated lime. For preference, the hydration level of the chemi¬ cally hydrated lime is in the order of 60%.

In circumstances where the treated odiferous is to be used as a foodstuff for animals, it is preferred that chemi¬ cally hydrated lime be used owing to its comparatively low toxicity level.

Preferably, the charcoal is crushed to a particle size in the order of 1 mm in diameter. The charcoal is preferably produced from ^" a hardwood such as Jarrah or Karri. A particularly preferred form of charcoal is that produced from Jarrah (which is a timber found in the lower parts of Western Australia) carbonised at between 700 C and 900 C oxygen free.

Under certain conditions, it is preferable that the deo¬ dorising composition also includes acetic acid. It is believed that the acetic acid has some effect on ammonia content in certain types of odiferous matter.

The deodorising composition may also include comprise a vegetable dye for colouring purposes.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment thereof.

The embodiment is directed to a particularly useful deo¬ dorising composition having the following constituents:

Constituent. Quantity

Chemically hydrated lime 22.5 kg

Charcoal 20 kg

Eucalyptus oil 50 ml

The charcoal is made from Jarrah timber carbonised at bet¬ ween 700 C and 900 C oxygen free and crushed in a damp condition to a particle size in the order of 1 mm in

diameter. Thereafter, the crushed charcoal is dried. The charcoal is crushed while in the damp condition owing to the volatile nature of dry charcoal.

Λ A method for producing the deodorising composition according to the embodiment will now be described. The composition is produced in a tumbling mixer. A 20 kg quantity of the crushed charcoal is first introduced into the tumbling mixer and tumbled for several revolutions. A 50 ml quantity of eucalyptus oil is added to the charcoal and the mixture then tumbled, typically for about 12 revolutions. A 22.5 kg quantity of chemical dehydrated lime is then introduced into the tumbling mixer and the mixer then sealed in a substantially air tight manner. The mixture is then tumbled for a period of time in the order of 10 to 15 minutes. At the end of that time period, the deodorant composition so produced is removed from the tumbling mixer and is ready for use.

Acetic acid can be added during preparation of the mixture of the deodorising composition is to be used on odiferous matter having a high ammonia content. For the aforemen¬ tioned mixture, a typical quantity of acetic acid would be 1.5 litres.

A vegetable dye may also be added to the mixture of colouring is required.

The deodorising composition according to the embodiment can be used in different ways according to the type of problem to be solved. The rate of application of the deodorising composition to odiferous matter can be readily determined empirically, but typically is in the order of 5% to 10% by volume of the odiferous matter.

The deodorising composition can be scattered on odiferous matter generally, including odiferous waste matter, offal, and excretement from humans and other animals. The deo¬ dorising composition can also be used to control odours in areas previously containing odiferous matter such as rubbish stockpiling areas, rubbish carrying trucks and rubbish bins.

Excretement from animals may be treated with the deo¬ dorising composition to produce a useful substance for fertilising soil.

The deodorising composition may be scattered around horse stables and other animal holding areas so as to control the odour usually associated with such areas.

The deodorising composition has a additional benefit in that it at least reduces the attraction of flies and other insects to the odiferous matter to which it is applied.

The deodorising composition is particularly suitable for use on chicken farms to control offensive smells in the neighboring environment. In this connection, the deo¬ dorising composition may be mixed with sawdust which is applied to the floor of chicken holding areas on such farms. Alternatively or additionally, the deodorising composition may be applied onto the floor before the sawdust is placed in position. As a further alternative or addition, the deodorising composition may be sprinkled onto the sawdust.

The deodorising composition may be used to remove the odour of urine in carpets, bedding and other areas. In this instance, the deodorising composition is applied to the region requiring treatment, left for a period of approximately 30 minutes and thereafter removed in any suitable manner such as by a vacuum removal process.

With a biocide added to the deodorising composition, not only odours are controlled but also certain bacteria such as salmonella. This is particularly useful in hospitals and like environments.

The deodorising composition may be used to remove odours from air. In this connection, the deodorising composition may be supported in an air pervious structure such as a porous pad and the air passed through the structure. This may have applications in air conditioning sy-stems and air and other gas extraction systems.

The deodorising composition may also be used to treat shell offal from decapod Crustacea (including crabs, lobsters and prawns) to produce a substance which may be used as a foodstuff or food additive for animals including fish, or as a soil fertiliser. In this connection, the shell offal from a processing plant for such Crustacea is gathered on a daily basis and treated with the deodorising composition so as to control the odour thereof. Typi¬ cally, a quantity of deodorising composition representing about 5% (by volume) of the shell offal is added thereto, although quantities as low as about 0.05% may well be satisfactory. Thereafter, and preferably on the same day or shortly thereafter, σrustacea shell is treated in a bath of hydrochloric acid to remove the cryton present therein. The treated shell is then washed with water and dried. Further deodorising composition (typically 5% by volume)- is added to the shell and the resultant mixture is then crushed to a fine powder. Vegetable dye may be added to the product for formed for colouring purposes if de¬ sired. The product provides a fertiliser and feed supple¬ ment.

By compacting the deodorising composition according to the embodiment, it is possible to produce pellets.

From the foregoing it is evident that a deodorising com¬ position according to the invention allows good use to be made of odiferous matter which may well be otherwise difficult to dispose of.

It should be understood by the foregoing relates only to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and that numerous modifications or alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the inven¬ tion-as set forth in the appended claims.