Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DISINFECTING COMPOSITIONS AND
PROCESSES FOR DISINFECTING SURFACES
Technical fieid
The present invention relates to anti",icrobial compositions which can be
used to disinfect and clean various surfaces inctuding animate surfaces
(e.g., human skin, mouth and the like) and inanimate surfaces including,
but not limited to, hard surfaces like walls, tiles, table tops, glass, bathroomsurfaces, kitchen surfaces, dishes as well as fabrics, clothes, carpets and
the like.
Backqround
Antimicrobial/antibacterial compositions include materials which have the
ability to disinfect. It is generally recognised that a disinfecting material
greatly reduces or even eliminates the microorganisms, e.g., bacteria,
existing on a surface. For example compositions based on halogen
containing compounds like hypochlorite, or on ~uaternary compounds,
have been extensively described in the art for disinfecting purpose.
Compositions comprising a peracid are also known as disinfecting
compositions.
However, a drawback ~ssoci~ted to such disinfecting compositions based
on peracids is that they may damage surfaces onto which they are
contacted to perform their disinfecting action. Indeed such disinfecting
compositions based on peracids are perceived by the consumers as being
not safe to various surfaces including hard-surfaces and fabrics, especially
delicate fabrics like silk, wool and the like.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide disinfecting
compositions that deliver improved safety to the surfaces treated therewith
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while not compromising on the disinfection performance delivered onto
said surfaces even when used upon high diluted conditions.
It has now been found that the above object can be achieved by providing
a composition comprising from 0.1% to 15% by weight of the total
composition of hydrogen peroxide and an anlil"icrobial essential oil, or
mixtures thereof. More particularly, it has been found that the compositions
of the present invention comprising hydrogen peroxide and said
antimicrobial essential oil, deliver improved safety to the surface treated
therewith, while providing also excellent disinfection on clean surfaces, i.e.
surfaces being free of any organic and/or inorganic soils, even at high
dilution levels, i.e. uptodilution levelsoffrom 1:100 (composition:water).
Accordingly, the compositions according to the present invention are
suitable for disinfecting all types of surfaces including animate sur~aces
(e.g., human skin and/or mouth when used as an oral preparation or
toothpaste) and inanimate surfaces. Indeed, this technology is particularly
suitable in hard-surfaces applicdliol-s as well as in laundry applications,
e.g., as a laundry detergent or laundry additive in a so called "soaking
mode", "through the wash mode", or even as a laundry prel,t:dler in a
"pretreatment mode". More particularly, the compositions according to the
present invention are suitable to be used on delicate surfaces including
those surfaces in contact with food and/or babies in a safe manner.
Indeed, when using the cornpositions according to the present invention in
diluted conditions, the amount of chemical residues left onto a surface
disinfected therewith is reduced. Thus, it may be not necessary to rinse fo
example a hard-surface after the compositions of the present invention
have been applied thereto in diluted ccsn.lilio"s.
An advantage of the present invention is that excellent disinfection isprovided on a broad range of bacterial pure strains including Gram positive
and Gram negative bacterial strains and more resistant micro-organisms
like fungi.
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Another advantage of the compositions of the present invention is that
beside the disinfection properties delivered, good cleaning is also provided,
especially in the embodiment of the present invention where the
compositions herein further comprise a surfactant and/or a solvent.
Yet another advantage of the compositions of the present invention is that
they may be provided in different forms, e.g., in a liquid form packaged in a
conventional detergent bottle, or in a sprayable or foamable form packaged
in a spray/foam dispenser, or in the form of wipes incorporating such a
composition, or in a non-liquid form (e.g. gel, pasty form or solid form).
Representative of the prior art is for example W088/00795 which discloses
liquid disinfecting compositions comprising a compound selected from the
group of organic acids, perborates, peracids and their salts, together with a
quaternary ammonium salt and an essential oil. No hydrogen peroxide is
disclosed in the disinfecting compositions therein, let alone levels thereof.
I~P-B-288 689 discloses a liquid for hard-surfaces comprising anli,-lic,ubial
effective amounts of pine oil and at least one oil soluble organic acid. No
hydrogen peroxide is disclosed.
US-5,403,587 disclosl3s aqueous an~i",icrobial compositions which can be
used to sanitise, disinre~, and clean hard-surfaces. More particularly, US-
5,403,587 discloses aqueous compositions (pH 1 to 12~ comprising
essential oils (0.02% to 5%), which exhibit antimicrobial properties efficacy
such as thyme oil, eucalyptus oil, clove oil and the like, and a solubilizing ordispersing agent sufficient to form an aqueous solution or dispersion of
said essential oils in a water carrier. No hydrogen peroxide is disclosed.
Summarv of the invention
The present invention encompasses a disinfecting composition comprisingfrom 0.1% to 15% by weight of the total composition of hydrogen peroxide
and an antimicrobial essential oil, or mixtures thereof.
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The present invention further encompasses a process for disinfecting a
surface wherein a disinfecting composition according to the present
invention, is applied onto said suRace.
Detailed description of the invention
The disinfectinq compositions:
The disinfecting compositions according to the present invention r-omprise
from 0.1% to 15% by weight of the total composition of hydrogen peroxide,
and an antimicrobial essential oil.
The compositions according to the present invention may be formulated
either as liquids or non-liquids (e.g., gel, pasty form or solid form like
powder or granular form). In the case where the compositions are
formulated as solids, they will be mixed with an appropriate sotvent,
typically water, before use. The liquid compositions herein may be aqueous
compositions or even non-aqueous compositions. Liquid compositions are
preferred herein for convenience of use.
As an essential element the compositions according to the present
invention comprise hydrogen peroxide.
It is believed that the presence of hydrogen peroxide, in the compositions
of the present invention contribute to the disinfection properties of said
compositions. Indeed, hydrogen peroxide may attack the vital function of
the microorganism cells, for example, it may inhibit the assembling of
ribosomes units within the cytoplasm of the microorganism cells. Also
hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidizer that generates hydroxyl free radicais
which attack proteins and nucleic acids. Furthermore, the presence of
hydrogen peroxide provides strong stain removal ~enefits which are
particularly noticeable for example in iaundry and hard suRaces
applications.
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The compositions herein comprise from 0.1% to 15% by weight of the total
composition of hydrogen peroxide, preferably from 0.5% to 10%, and more
preferably from 1% to 8%.
~.
As a second essential ingredient, the compositions according to the present
invention comprise an antimicrobial essential oil, or mixtures thereof.
Typically, the compositions herein comprise at least 0.003% by weight of the
total composition of said antimicrobial essential oil, or mixtures thereof,
preferably from 0.006% to 10%, more preferably from 0.2% to 4% and most
preferably from 0.2% to 2%.
Suitable antimicrobial essential oils to be used in the compositions herein
are those essential oils which exhibit antimicrobial activity. It is speculated
that said a"li",icrobial essential oils act as proteins denaturing agents. Said
antimicrobial oils contribute to the safety profile of the compositions of the
present invention when used to disinfect any surface. A further advantage of
said antimicrobial essential oils is that they impart pleasant odor to the
disinfecting compositions of the present invention without the need of adding
a perfume. Indeed, the disinfecting compositions according to the present
invention deliver not oniy excellent disinfecting properties on clean surfaces
to be disinfected but also good scent while being safe to the surfaces.
Suitable antimicrobial essential oils to be used herein include, but are not
limited to, the oils oibtained from thyme, lemongrass, citrus, lemons,
oranges, anise, clove, aniseed, cinnamon, geranium, roses, mint,
peppermint, lavender, citronella, eucalyptus, peppermint, camphor,
sandalwood, cedar, ros",ari,i, pine, vervain fleagrass, lemongrass, ratanhiae
and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred to be used herein are
eucalyptus oil, thyme oil, ciove oil, cinnamon oil, geranium oil, eucalyptus oil,
peppermint oil, mint oil and mixtures thereof.
It has now been found that the compositions of the present invention
comprising from 0.1% to 15% by weight of hydrogen peroxide and said
antimicrobial essential oil or mixtures thereof deliver improved safety on
surfaces, e.g., on hard-surfaces and on fabrics like silk, wool and the like,
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whiie delivering excellent disinfection performance on clean surfaces even
when used under highly diluted conditions as compared to the same
composition with a peracid instead of said hydrogen peroxide.
An advantage associated to the present invention is that when using said
compositions to disinfect colored fabrics, the color damage is also reduced
while delivering excellent disinfection perFormance on said fabrics, even
when used under highly diluted conditions. Indeed, the color change and/or
decoloration observed when treating colored fabrics with a composition
according to the present invention comprising hydrogen peroxide and said
antimicrobial essential oil or mixtures thereof, is reduced, while delivering
excellent disinfection performance on said fabrics even when used under
highly diluted conditions, as compared to the color change and/or
decoloration observed when using the same composition but with a
peracid instead of said hydrogen peroxide.
Surface safety may be eV~iu~ter~ on surfaces like fabrics by measuring the
tensile strength of said fabrics. The tensile strength of a fabric may be
measured by employing the Tensile Strength method. This method consists
of measuring the tensile strength of a given fabric by stretching said fabric
until it brea~<s. The force, expressed in Kg, necess~ry to break the fabric is
the "Ultimate Tensile Stress" and may be measured with "The Stress-Strain
INSTRON Machine".
Excellent disinfection is obtained with the compositions of the presentinventions on a variety of microorga,lis,.ls including Gram positive bacteria
like Staphylococcus aureus, and Gram negative bacteria like Pseudomonas
a~roginosa as well as on fungi like Candida albicans present on clean
surfaces, i.e., any surface being substantially free of organic and/or
inorganic soils, even if used in highly diluted conditions.
Disinfection properties of a composition may be measured by the
bactericidal activity of said composition. A test method suitable to evaluate
the bactericidal activity of a composition on clean surfaces is described in
European Standard, prEN 1040, CEN/TC 216 N 78, dated November 1995
issued by the European committee for standardisation, Brussels. European
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Standard, pr~N 1~40, CEN/TC 216 N 78, specifies a test method and
requirements for the minimum bactericidal activity of a disinfecting
composition. The test is passed if the bacterical colonies forming units (cfu)
are reduced from a 107 cfu ~initial level) to a 102 cfu (final level after contact
with the disinfecting product), i.e. a 105 reduction of the viability is
necessary. The compositions according to the present invention pass this
test under clean conditions, even if used in highly diluted conditions.
Another test method suitable to evaluate the bactericidal activity of the
present compositions on clean surfaces is AFNOR T72-190~ and T72-301
In the preferred embodiment, the compositions according to the present
invention are aqueous liquid cleaning compositions. Said aqueous
compositions have preferably a pH as is of not more than 12.0, more
preferably from 2 to 6, and most preferably from 3 to 5. The pH of the
compositions can be adjusted by using organic acids like citric acid,
succinic acid, acetic acid, aspartic acid, lactic acid and the like, or inorganic
acids, or alkalinising agents.
The compositions of the present invention may further comprise surfactants
known to those skilled in the art including nonionic, anionic, cationic,
amphoteric and/or zwitterionic surfactants. Said surfactants are desirable as
they contribute to the cleaning performance of the compositions herein.
Typically, the compositions according to the present invention comprise up
to 50% by weight of the total composition of a surfactant, or mixtures
thereof, preferably from 0.01% to 30% and more preferably from 0.1% to
25%.
Accordingly, the compositions of the present invention may preferably
comprise an amphoteric surfactant, or mixtures thereof. Suitable
amphoteric surfactants to be used herein include betaine and
sulphobetaine surfactants, derivatives thereof or mixtures thereof. Said
betaine or sulphobetaine surfactants are preferred herein as they
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contribute to the disinfecting properties of the compositions herein.
Indeed, they help disinfection by increasing the permeability of the
bacterial cell wall, thus allowing other active ingredients to enter the cell.
Furthermore, due to the mild action profile of said betaine or sulphobetaine
surfactants, the compositions herein comprising them may be particularly
suitable for the cleaning of delicate surfaces, e.g. delicate laundry or hard-
surfaces in collLa-;l with food andlor babies. Betaine and sulphobetaine
surfactants are also extremely mild to the skin and/or other surfaces to be
treated.
Suitable betaine and sulphobetaine surfactants to be used in the
compositions of the present invention are the betainelsulphobetaine and
betaine-like detergents wherein the molecule contains both basic and
acidic groups which form an inner salt giving the molec~lle both cationic
and anionic hydrophilic groups over a broad range of pH values. Some
common examples of these detergents are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
2,082,27~, 2,702,279 and 2,255,082, incorporated herein by reference.
Preferred betaine and sulphobetaine surfactants herein are according to
the formula
R1 - N+ - (CH3)n - Y-
I
R3
wherein R1 is an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 24 carbon atoms,
preferably from 8 to 18, and more preferably from 12 to 14, wherein R2
and R3 contain from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and preferably 1 carbon atom,
wherein n is an integer from 1 to 10, preferably from 1 to 6, and more
preferably is 1, Y is selected from the group consisting of carboxyl and
sulfonyl radicals and wherein the sum of R1, R2 and R3 radicals is from 14
to 24 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof.
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.
Examples of particuiarly suitable betaine surfactants include C12-C18 alkyl
dimethyl betaine such as coconutbetaine and C1 0-C16 alkyl dimethyl
betaine such as laurylbetaine.
Coconutbetaine is commercially available from Seppic under the trade
name of Amonyl 265~. Laurylbetaine is commercially available from
Albright & Wilson under the trade name Empigen BB/L~.
Other suitable amphoteric surfactants to be used herein include amine
oxides or mixtures thereof. Amine oxides are preferred herein as they
contribute to the disinfecting properties of the compositions herein.
Indeed, they help disinfection by disrupting the cell wall/membrane of the
bacteria, thus allowing other anlill,icrobial ingredients to enter the cell and
for exampie attack the inner part of the cell.
Suitable amine oxides to be used herein have the following formula
R1 R2R3NO wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently a saturated
linear or branched hydrocarbon chain containing from 1 to 30 carbon
atoms. Suitable amine oxides to be used according to the present
invention are amine oxides having the following formula R1 R2R3NO
wherein R1 is a hydrocarbon chain containing from 1 to 30 carbon atoms,
preferably from 6 to 2~, more preferably from 6 to 14 and most preferably
from 8 to 10, and wherein R2 and R3 are independently substituted or
unsllhstituted, linear or branched hydrocarbon chains containing from 1 to
4 carbon atoms, preferably of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and more
preferdbly are methyl groups. R1 may be a saturated linear or branched
hydrocarbon chain.
Preferred amine oxides for use herein are for instance natural blend C8-
C10 amine oxides as ~.~~!! as G12-G1~ amine oxides GommerGial!y
available from Hoechst.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention where the compositions
herein are particularly suitable for the disinfection of a hard-surface, the
surfactant is typically a surfactant system comprising an amine oxide and a
betaine or sulphobetaine surfactant, preferably in a weight ratio of amine
oxide to betaine or sulphobetaine of 2:1 to 100:1, more preferably of 6:1 to
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100:1 and most preferably 10:1 to 50:1. The use of such a surfactant
system in the compositions herein suitable for disinfecting a hard-surface,
provides effective cleaning perforrnance and provides shine on the cleaned
surfaces, i.e., the amount of filming/streaking left on the cleaned surface
that has been treated with said compositions is minimal.
The compositions herein may also preferably comprise an anionic
surfactant or mixtures thereof. Par~icularly suitable anionic surfactants to be
used herein include water-soluble salts or acids of the formula ROSO3M
wherein R is preferably a C6-C24 hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl or
hydroxyalkyl having a Cg-C20 alkyl component, more preferably a Cg-C16
alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, and M is H or a cation, e.g., an alkali metal cation
(e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium), or ammonium or substituted ammonium
(e.g., methyl-, dimethyl-, and trimethyl ammonium cations and quaternary
ammonium cations, such as tetramethyl-amrnonium and dimethyl
piperdinium cdliGI ,s and quaternaly ammonium cations derived from
alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, and mixtures
thereof, and the like).
Other suitable anionic surfactants to be used herein include alkyl-diphenyl-
ether-sulphonates and alkyl-carboxylates. Other anionic surfactants can
include salts (including, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, and
substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and lliell,anolamine salts)
of soap, Cg-C20 linear alkylbenzenesulfonates, Cg-C22 primary or
secondary alkanesulfonates, Cg-C24 olefinsulfonates, sulfonated
polycarboxylic acids prepared by sulfonation of the pyrolyzed product of
alkaline earth metal citrates, e.g., as described in British patent
specification No. 1,082,179, Cg-C24 alkylpolyglycolethersulfates
(containing up to 10 moles of ethylene oxide); alkyl ester sulfonates such
as C14 16 methyl ester sulfonates; acyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty oleyl
glycerol sulfates, alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates, paraffin
sulfonates, alkyl phosphates, isethionates such as the acyl isethionates, N-
acyl taurates, alkyl succin a mates and sulfosuccinates, monoesters of
sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C12-C1g monoesters)
diesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C6-C14
diesters), acyl sarcosinates, sulfates of alkylpolysaccharides such as the
sulfates of alkylpolyglucoside (the nonionic nonsulfated compounds being
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1 1
described below), branched primary alkyl sulfates, alkyl polyethoxy
carboxylates such as those of the formula RO(CH2CH20)kCH2COO-M+
wherein R is a C8-C22 alkyl, k is an integer from O to 10, and M is a soluble
salt-forming cation. Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids are also
suitable, such as rosin, hydrogenated rosin, and resin acids and
hydrogenated resin acids present in or derived from tall oil. Further
examples are given in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" (Vol. I and ll
by Schwartz, Perry and Berch). A variety of such surfactants are also
generally disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,929,678, issued December 30,1975 to
Laughlin, et al. at Column 23, line 58 through Column 29, line 23.
Preferred anionic surfactants for use in the compositions herein are the C8-
C16 alkyl sulfonates, C8-C16 alkyl sulfates, C8-C16 alkyl alkoxylated
sulfates (e.g., C8-C16 alkyl ethoxylated sulfates), and mixtures thereof.
Such anionic surfactants are preferred herein as it has been found that
they contribute to the disinfecting properties of a disinfecting compositions
comprising hydrogen peroxide and/or an anli,nicrobial essential oil. For
example, C8-C16 alkyl sulfate acts by disorganizing the bacteria cell
menbrane, inhibiting enzymatic activities, interrupting the cellular transport
and/or denaturing cellular proteins. Indeed, it is speculated that the
improved disinfecting pe, ru~ al lce associated with the addition of an
anionic surfactant, especially a C8-C16 alkyl sulfonate, a C8-C16 alkyl
sulfate and/or a C8-C16 alkyl alkoxylated sulfate, in for example a
composition of the present invention, is likely due to multiple mode of
attack of said surfactant against the bacteria. Thus, another aspect of the
present invention is the use of an anionic surfactant, especially a C8-C16
alkyl sulfonate, a C8-C16 alkyl sulfate andlor a C8-C16 alkyl alkoxylated
sulfate, in a disinfecting composition comprising a hydrogen peroxide
and/or an anli",icruL,ial essential oil, to improve the disinfecting properties
of said composition on gram negative and/or gram positive bacteria.
Suitable nonionic surfactants for use herein are fatty alcohol ethoxylates
and/or propoxylates which are commercially available with a variety of fatty
alcohol chain lengths and a variety of ethoxylation degrees. Indeed, the
H~B values of such alkoxylated nonionic surfactants depend essentially on
the chain length of the fatty alcohol, the nature of the alkoxylation and the
degree of alkoxylation. Surfactant catalogues are available which list a
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12
number of surfactants, including nonionics. together with their respective
HLB values.
Particularly suitable for use herein as nonionic surfactants are
hydrophobic nonionic surfactants having an HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic
balance) below 16, preferably below 1~ and more preferably below 14.
Those hydrophobic nonionic surfactants have been found to provide good
grease cut~ing properties.
P,~r~r,ed hydrophobic nonionic surfactants to be used in the cor"positions
according to the present invention are surfactants having an HLB below
16 and being according to the formula RO-(C2H4O)n(C3H6O)mH,
wherein R is a C6 to C22 alkyl chain or a C6 to C28 alkyl benzene chain,
and wherein n+m is from 0 to 20 and n is from 0 to 15 and m is from 0 to
20, pler~ra~ly n+m is from 1 to 15 and, n and m are from 0.5 to 15, more
preferably n+m is from 1 to 10 and, n and m are from 0 to 10. The
preferred R chains for use herein are the C8 to C22 alkyl chains.
Accordingly, suitable hydrophobic nonionic surfactants for use herein are
Dobanol R 91-2.5 (HLB= 8.1; R is a mixture of C9 and C11 alkyl chains, n
is 2.5 and m is 0), or Lutensol R TO3 (HLB=8; R is a C13 alkyl chains, n is
3 and m is 0), or Lutensol R AO3 (HLB=8; R is a mixture of C13 and C1s
alkyl chains, n is 3 and m is 0), or Tergitol R 25L3 (HLB= 7.7; R is in the
range of C12 to C1s alkyl chain length, n is 3 and m is 0), or Dobanol R
23-3 (HLB=8.1; R is a mixture of C12 and C13 alkyl chains, n is 3 and m
is 0), or Dobanol R 23-2 (HLB=6.2; R is a mixture of C12 and C13 alkyl
chains, n is 2 and m is 0), or Dobanol R 45-7 (HLB=11.6; R is a mixture of
C14 and C1 s alkyl chains, n is 7 and m is 0) Dobanol R 23-6.5
(HL~3=11.9; R is a mixture of C12 and C13 alkyl chains, n is 6.5 and m is
0), or Dobanol R 25-7 (HLB=12; R is a mixture of C12 and C1s alkyl
chains, n is 7 and m is 0), or Dobanol R 91-5 (HLB=11.6; R is a mixture
of Cg and C11 alkyl chains, n is 5 and m is 0), or Dobanol R 91-6
(HLB=12.5; R is a mixture of Cg and C11 alkyl chains, n is 6 and m is 0),
or Dobanol R 91-8 (HLB=13.7; R is a mixture of Cg and C11 alkyl chains, r
n is 8 and m is 0), Dobanol R 91-10 (HLB=14.2; R is a mixture of Cg to
C11 alkyl chains, n is 10 and m is 0), or mixtures thereof. Pre~erred
herein are Dobanol R 91-2.5, or Lutensol R TO3, or Lutensol R AO3, or
Tergitol R 25L3, or Dobanol R 23-3, or Dobanol R 23-2, or mixtures
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13
thereof; These DobanolR surfactants are commercially available from
SHELL. These LutensolR surfactants are commercially available from
BASF and these Tergitol R surfactants are commercially available from
UNION CARBIDE.
Other suitable surfactants also include C6-C20 conventional soaps (alkali
metai salt of a C6-C20 fatty acid, pl~ferdbly sodium salts).
The compositions according to the present invention may comprise as
preferred optional ingredients further antimicrobial ingredients that contributeto the ar.Li",icrobial activity of compositions of the present invention. Such
anlin,ic~ubial ingredients include parabens like ethyl paraben, propyl
paraben, methyl paraben, glutaraldehyde or mixtures thereof.
The compositions herein may further comprise a chelating agent as a
preferred optional ingredient. Suitable chelating agents may be any of
those known to those skilled in the art such as the ones selecled from the
group comprising phosphonate chelating agents, aminophosphonate
chelating agents, substituted heteroaromatic chelating agents, amino
carboxylate chelating agents, other carboxylate chelating agents,
polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelating agents, biodegradable
chelating agents like ethylene diamine N,N'- disuccinic acid, or mixtures
thereof.
Suitable phosphonate chelating agents to be used herein include etidronic
acid (1-hydroxyethylene-diphosphonic acid (HEDP)), and/or alkali metal
ethane 1 -hydroxydiphospl IOI lat~s.
Suitable amino phosphonate chelating agents to be used herein include
amino alkylene poly (alkylene phosphonates),
nitrilotris(methylene)triphosphonates, ethylene diamine tetra methylene
phosphonates, and/or diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonates.
Preferred aminophosphonate chelating agents to be used herein are
diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonates.
These phosphonate/amino phosphonate chelating agents may be present
either in their acid form or as salts of different cations on some or all of
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14
their acid functionalities. Such phosphonate/amino phosphonate chelating
agents are commercially available from Monsanto under the trade name
DEQUEST(E~).
Substituted heteroaromatic chelating agents to be used herein include
hydroxypiridine-N-oxide or a derivative thereof.
Suitable hydroxy pyridine N-oxides and derivatives thereof to be used
according to the present invention are according to the following formuia:
wherein X is nitrogen, Y is one of the following groups oxygen, -CHO, -OH,
-(CH2)n-COOH, wherein n is an integer of from 0 to 20, preferably of from
~ to 10 and more preferably is 0, and wherein Y is preferably oxygen.
Accordingly particularly preferred hydroxy pyridine N-oxides and
derivatives thereof to be used herein is 2-hydroxy pyridine N-oxide.
Hydroxy pyridine N-oxides and derivatives thereof may be commercially
available from Sigma.
Polyfunctionally-substituted aro",alic chelating agents may also be useful
in the con~posilioos herein. See U.S. patent 3,812,044, issued May 21,
1974, to Connor et al. Preferred compounds of this type in acid form are
dihydroxydisulfobenzenes such as 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-disulfobenzene.
A preferred biodegradable chelating agent for use herein is ethylene
diamine N,N'- disuccinic acid, or alkali metal, or alkaline earth, ammonium or
substitutes ammonium salts thereof or mixtures thereof. Ethylenediamine
N,N'- disuccinic acids, especially the (S,S) isomer have been extensively
described in US patent 4, 704, 233, November 3, 1987 to Hartman and
Perkins. Ethylenediamine N,N'- disuccinic acid is, for instance,
commercially available urider the tradename ssEDDS(~' from Palmer
.
. .
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Research Laboratories. Ethylene diamine N,N'- disuccinic acid is particularly
suitable to be used in the compositions of the present invention.
Su~itable amino carboxylate chetating agents useful herein include ethylene
diamine tetra acetates, diethylene triamine pentaacetates, diethylene
triamine pentoacetate (DTPA), N-hydroxyethylethylenediamine triacetates,
nitrilotri-acetates, ethylenediamine tetraproprionates,
triethylenetetraaminehexa-acet~les, ethanoldiglycines, propylene diamine
tetracetic acid (PDTA) and methyl glycine di-acetic acid (MGDA), both in
their acid form, or in their alkali metal, ammonium, and substituted
ammonium salt forms. Particularly suitable to be used herein are
diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (OTPA), propylene diamine tetracetic
acid (PDTA) which is, for instance, commercially available from BASF
under the trade name Trilon FS(3) and methyl glycine di-acetic acid
(MGDA).
Further carboxylate chelating agents to be used herein includes malonic
acid, salicylic acid, glycine, aspartic acid, giutamic acid, or mixtures thereof.
Said chelating agents, especially phosphonate chelating agents like
diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonates, are particularly
preferred in the compositions accordil)g to the present invention as they
have been found to further contribute to the disinfe~;li-)g properties of
hydrogen peroxide. Thus, another aspect of the present invention is the use
of a chelating agent, especially a phosphonate chelating agent like
diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonate, in a disinfecting
composition comprising hydrogen peroxide, to improve the disinfecting
properties of said composition on gram negative and/or gram positive
bacteria.
Typically, the compositions according to the present invention comprise up
to 5~/0 by weight of the total composition of a chelating agent, or mixtures
- thereof, preferably from 0.002% to 3% by weight and more preferably from
0.002% to 1.5%.
The compositions herein may comprise a radical scavenger as a preferred
optional ingredient. Suitable radical scavengers for use herein include the
=
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well-known substituted mono and di hydroxy benzenes and derivatives
thereof, alkyl- and aryl carboxylates and mixtures thereof. Preferred radical
scavengers for use herein include di-tert-butyl hydroxy toluene (BHT), p-
hydroxy-toluene, hydroquinone (HQ3, di-tert-butyl hydroquinone (DTBHQ),
mono-tert-butyl hydroquinone (MTBHQ), tert-butyl-hydroxy anysole (B~IA),
p-hydroxy-anysol, benzoic acid, 2,~-dihydroxy benzoic acid, 2,~-
dihydroxyterephtalic acid, toluic acid, catechol, t-butyl catechol, 4-allyl-
catechol, 4-acetyl catechol, 2-methoxy-phenol, 2-ethoxy-phenol, 2-methoxy-
4-(2-propenyl)phenol, 3,4-dihydroxy benzaldehyde, 2,3-dihydroxy
benzaldehyde, benzylamine, 1,1,3-tris(2-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-t-butylphenyl)
butane, tert-butyl-hydroxy-anyline, p-hydroxy anyline as well as n-propyl-
gallate. Highly preferred for use herein are di-tert-butyl hydroxy toluene,
which is for example commercially available from SHELL under the trade
name IONOL CP~ and/or tert-butyl-hydroxy anysole. These radical
scavengers further contribute to the stability of the hydrogen peroxide-
containing compositions herein.
Typically, the compositions according to the present invention comprise up
to 5% by weight of the total composition of a radical scavenger, or mixtures
thereof, preferably from 0.001% to 1.5% by weight and more preferably from
0.01% to 1%.
The compositions herein may comprise as a preferred optional ingredient a
solvent or rnixtures thereof. When used, solvents will, advantageously, give
an enhanced cleaning to the compositions herein. Suitable soivents for
incorporation in the compositions according to the present invention
include propylene glycol derivatives such as n-butoxypropanol or n-
butoxypropoxypropanol, water-soluble CARBITOL~ solvents or water-
soluble CELLOSOLVE~ solvents. Water-soluble CARBITOL~ solvents are
compounds of the 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)ethanol class wherein the alkoxy
group is derived from ethyl, propyl or butyl. A preferred water-soluble
carbitol is 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol also known as butyl carbitol. Water-
soluble CELLOSOLVE~ solvents are compounds of the 2-
alkoxyethoxyethanol class, with 2-butoxyethoxyethanol being preferred.
Other suitable solvents are benzyl alcohol, methanol, ethanol, isopropyl
alcohol and diols such as 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-
pentanediol and mixture thereof. Preferred solvents for use herein are n-
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17
butoxypropoxypropanol, butyl carbitol~ and mlxtures thereof. Most
preferred solvents for use herein are butyl carbitol~), benzyl alcohol and
isopropanol.
The solvents may typically be present within the compositions of the
invention at a level up to 15% by weight, preferably from 2% to 7% by
weight of the composition.
The compositions herein may further comprise a variety of other optional
ingredients such as buffers (e.g. borate buffers), builders, stabilisers,
bleach activators, soil suspenders, dye transfer agents, brighteners,
peRumes, anti dusting agents, enzymes, dispersant, dye transfer inhibitors,
pigments, peRumes and dyes.
Packaqing form of the comPositions:
The compositions herein may be packaged in a variety of suitable
detergent packaging known to those skilled in the art. The liquid
compositions herein may desirably be packaged in manually operated
spray dispensing containers, which are usually made of synthetic organic
polymeric plastic materials. Accordingly, the present invention also
encompasses liquid disinfecting compositions comprising hydrogen
peroxide and an antimicrobial essential oil packaged in a spray dispenser,
preferably in a trigger spray dispenser or pump spray dispenser.
Indeed, said spray-type dispensers allow to uniforrnly apply to a relatively
large area of a surface to be disinfected the liquid disinfecting compositions
suitable to be used according to the present invention, thereby contributing
to disinfection properties of said compositions. Such spray-type dispensers
are particularly suitable to disinfect vertical suRaces.
Suitable spray-type dispensers to be used according to the present
invention include manually operated foam trigger-type dispensers sold for
example by Specialty Packaging Products, Inc. or Continental Sprayers,
Inc. These types of dispensers are disclosed, for instance, in US-
4,701,311 to Dunnining et al. and US-4,646,973 and US-4,538,745 both to
Focarracci. Particularly preferred to be used herein are spray-type
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18
dispensers such as T 8500~ or T 8900~commercially available from
Continental Spray International, or T 8100~ commercially available from
Canyon, Northern Ireland. In such a dispenser the liquid composition is
divided in fine liquid droplets resulting in a spray that is directed onto the
surface to be treated. Indeed, in such a spray-type dispenser the
composition contained in the body of said dispenser is directed through the
spray-type dispenser head via energy communicated to a pumping
mechanism by the user as said user activates said pumping mechanism.
More particularly, in said spray-type dispenser head the composition is
forced against an oL,~tacle, e.g. a grid or a cone or the like, thereby
providing shocks to help atomise the liquid composition, i.e. to help the
formation of liquid droplets.
The compositions of the present invention may also be executed in the
form of wipes. By "wipes" it is meant herein disposable towels impregnated
with a liquid composition according to the present invention. Accordingly,
the present invention also encomrl~-sses wipes, e.g. dispos~hle paper
towels, impregnated with a liquid composition according to the present
invention. In the preferred execution said wipes are wetted with said liquid
compositions. Preferably said wipes are packaged in a plastic box. The
advantage of this execution is a faster usage of a disinfecting composition
by the user, this even outside the house, i.e. there is no need to pour the
liquid compositions according to the present invention on the surfaces to
be treated/disinfect and to dry it out with a cloth. In other words, wipes
allow disinfection of surfaces in one step.
The Process of disinfectinq:
The present invention encornr~sses a process for disinfecting surfaces
wherein a composition according to the present invention is applied onto
said surfaces.
By "surface" it is meant herein any surface including animate sur~ace like
human skin, mouth, teeth, and inanimate surfaces. Inanimate surfaces
include, but are not limited to, hard-surfaces typically found in houses like
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19
kitchens, bathrooms, or in car ihteriors, e.g., tiles, walls, floors, chrome,
glass, smooth vinyl, any plastic, plastified wood, table top, sinks, cooker
tops, dishes, sanitary fittings such as sinks, showers, shower curtains,
wash basins, W~s and the like, as well as fabrics including clothes,
curtains, drapes, bed linens, bath linens, table cloths, sleeping bags, tents,
upholstered furniture and the like, and carpets. Inanimate surfaces also
include household appliances including, but not limited to, refrigerators,
freezers, washing machines, automatic dryers, ovens, microwave ovens,
dishwashers and so on.
In the process of disinfecting surfaces according to the present invention
said compositions may be applied to the surface to be disinfected in its
neat form or in its diluted form.
By "diluted form" it is meant herein that the compositions to be used in the
disinfection process herein being either in a liquid or solid form may be
diluted by the user typically up to 10~ times their weight of water,
ple~erably into 80 to 30 times their weight of water, and more preferably 60
to 40 times.
In the preferred embodiment of the process of the present invention
wherein said composition is applied to a hard-surface to be disinfected in
its diluted form, it is not necess~ry to rinse the surface after the
composition has been applied, indeed no visible residues are left onto the
surface.
The present invention will be further illustrated by the following examples.
ExamPles
The following compositions were made by mixing the listed ingredients in
the listed proportions (weight % unless otherwise specified). These
compositions passed the prEN 1040 test of the European committee of
standardisation. These compositions provide excellent disinfection when
.
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used neat or diluted, e.g. at 1:100, 1:25, 1:50 dilution levels, on clean
surfaces while delivering also excellent surface safety and skin mildness.
Compositions I ll lll IV V Vl
Hydrogen peroxide 7.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 2.0 7.0
Thyme oil 0.5 ~ 0.5 0 5
Clove oil -- 1.0 -- -- 0.1 0.5
Geranium oil 0.5 -- --
Eucalyptus oil -- -- 1.0 -- -- 0.5
Waterand minors up to 100%
-
H2SO4 up to pH 4
Compositions Vll Vlll IX X
Hydrogen peroxide 7.0 6.0 1.0 2.0
Thyme oil -- 0.5 -- --
Clove oil/eucalyptus
oil(1:1) 1.0 -- 0.5 0.05
Geranium oil 0.5 -- --
Water and minors up to 1 oon,~.
H2SO4 up to pH 4
Compositions Xl Xll Xlll XIV XV
Hydrogen peroxide 7.0 6.0 1.0 2.0 1.0
C10 alkyl sulfate 3.0 4.0 -- 1.5
C10 Amine Oxide 1.5 - 1.5 -- 0.9
Lauryl betaine -- -- -- 0 05
Thyme oil -- 0 5 0 03
Eucatyptus oil -- -- -- 0.02
Clove oil/eucalyptus
oil(1:1) 1.0 -- 0.5 0.05 --
Geranium oil -- 0.5 -- --
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21
Water and minors up to 100%
H2S04 up to ptl 4
