Methodology for assessing the performance of urine absorbing aids in controlling malodour release

• Published in: International journal of cosmetic science 2013-08, Vol.35 (4), p.321-328
• Main Authors: Sironi, S., Capelli, L., Dentoni, L., Del Rosso, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption; hedonic tone; Humans; Odorants; odour concentration; panel test; sensorial analysis; Urine; urine malodour
• ISSN: 0142-5463; 1468-2494
• DOI: 10.1111/ics.12028

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of comparing the performance of different absorbent aids in terms of odour control by discussing a suitable methodology for product evaluation. To overcome the problems of low test reproducibility owing to biological urine variability, the first step of the work consisted of the identification and the production of artificial urine having a constant and stable composition over time, moreover preventing sensorial assessors from any risk of biological contamination. Sensorial measurements were performed to optimize the similarity between artificial and biological urine, especially as far as the composition of the volatile component and therefore of the odour properties are concerned. The assessment of absorbent articles performance to control urine malodour includes both the concentration and the hedonic tone of the odour released by the article itself loaded with synthetic urine. Analyses were run on different products, which can be grouped into two different classes: absorbing aids with or without odour control technology (OCT) respectively. Results show that, despite of the presence or absence of OCT on absorbing products, their odour concentrations are almost identical, being comprised between 10 000 and 12 000 ouE m−3. For this reason, it is evident that odour concentration is not suitable as the sole parameter for comparison of different absorbing products. Instead, the hedonic odour tone (odour pleasantness/unpleasantness) relevant to the different product typologies (that is products with and without OCT) should be used as an additional discriminating factor for this kind of comparative tests. Résumé Le but de cette étude est d'étudier la possibilité de comparer la performance des différentes aides absorbants en termes de contrôle des odeurs, en décrivant une méthodologie appropriée pour l'évaluation des produits. Afin de surmonter les problèmes de la faible reproductibilité du test en raison de la variabilité biologique des urines, la première étape du travail a consisté en l'identification et la production d'urine artificielle, ayant une composition constante et stable dans le temps, et par ailleurs permettant à prévenir les évaluateurs sensoriels de tout risque de contamination biologique. Des mesures sensorielles ont été réalisées afin d'optimiser la similitude entre l'urine artificielle et biologique, en particulier en ce qui concerne la composition du composant volatil et donc des proprié