Natural, multiple use and re-use, user saturated wipes
The present invention relates to a wipe suitable for multiple re-use comprising a biopolymer matrix composition, said biopolymer matrix comprising from about 0.1% to about 40% of an essential oil, about 30% to about 95% of a biopolymer, and about 1% to about 50% of a carrier fluid wherein a limited amount of said essential oil can be released from said matrix composition when exposed to a liquid solution; and wherein an additional limited amount of said essential oil can be re-released repetitiously thereafter upon re-use with an additional exposure of a liquid solution to said wipe.
1. A wipe suitable for multiple re-use comprising a melt-processed biopolymer matrix composition, the biopolymer matrix comprising from about 0.1% to about 40% of an essential oil, about 30% to about 95% of a biopolymer, and about 1% to about 50% of a carrier fluid, wherein the wipe further comprises a fibrous material.
2. The wipe of claim 1 wherein the essential oil comprises a monoterpene phenol selected from thymol, carvacrol, and mixtures thereof.
3. The wipe of claim 1 wherein the essential oil is thymol.
4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the biopolymer is selected from proteins, starches, cellulose, and mixtures thereof.
5. The wipe of claim 4 wherein the protein is selected from soy, wheat gluten, and mixtures thereof.
6. The wipe of claim 5 wherein the protein is wheat gluten.
7. The wipe of claim 1 wherein the carrier fluid is selected from polyhydric alcohols, aliphatic carboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof.
8. The wipe of claim 1 wherein the carrier fluid is less than about 20,000 g/mol.
9. The wipe of claim 6 wherein the carrier fluid has a pH of about 6 or less.
10. The wipe of claim 5 wherein the protein is soy protein.
11. The wipe of claim 10 wherein the carrier fluid is glycerol with a pH of about 6.
12. The wipe of claim 1 wherein the essential oil is released in a controlled amount through mechanisms selected from interaction with the liquid solution, dissolution of the biopolymer matrix, adjusting the surface area to volume ratio, and combinations thereof.