Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DISINFECTING COMPOSITIONS AND PROCESSES FOR DISINFECTING SURFACES
15
Technical field
The present invention relates to antimicrobial compositions which can be used
to
deliver long lasting disinfection on 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, bathroom surfaces, kitchen surfaces,
dishes as
well as fabrics, clothes, carpets and the like.
Background of the invention
AntimicrobiaUantibacterial 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.
Typical conventional compositions although providing immediate disinfection
' when applied onto a surface to be disinfected are not fully satisfactory
when it is
also desired to prevent subsequent recontamination from microorganisms on
' such a surface having been first treated with said compositions. Such
recontamination may happen when a surface that has been treated with an
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antimicrobial/antibacterial composition is, later on, touched with
contaminated
hands or comes in contact with another source of contamination.
!t is therefore an object of the present invention to provide not only
effective
immediate disinfection, but also effective long lasting disinfection.
This object can be met by combining a peroxygen bleach and an antimicrobial
essential oil or an active thereof or a mixture thereof. Indeed, it has
surprisingly
been found that the incorporation, in a composition, of a peroxygen bleach and
an antimicrobial essential oil, or an active thereof, provides long lasting
disinfection on a surface treated therewith, even at low total level of active
antimicrobial ingredients.
By combining a peroxygen bleach and an antimicrobial essential oil or an
active
thereof, long lasting disinfection is provided on various surfaces, i.e.,
animate
surfaces {e.g., human skin) and inanimate surfaces. Indeed, this technology is
particularly suitable for hard-surfaces applications 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 pretreater in a
"pretreatment mode".
An advantage of the present invention is that effective long lasting
disinfection is
provided on a broad range of bacterial pure strains. Indeed, the growth of
Gram
positive and Gram negative bacterial strains and more resistant microorganisms
like fungi is reduced or even prevented on a surface when said surface has
been
first treated with a composition comprising a peroxygen bleach and an
antimicrobial essential oil or an active thereof.
A further advantage of the present invention is that effective long lasting
disinfection is provided by using ingredients which are perceived by the
consumers as being safe to the surfaces treated and environmental friendly.
Background art
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Representative of the prior art is for example EP-B-288 689, which discloses a
liquid for hard-surfaces comprising antimicrobial effective amounts of pine
oil and
at least one oil soluble organic acid. No peroxygen bleaches are disclosed.
US-5,403,587 discloses aqueous antimicrobial compositions which can be used
to sanitise, disinfect, 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 or dispersing agent sufficient
to form
an aqueous solution or dispersion of said essential oils in a water carrier.
No
peroxygen bleaches are disclosed.
None of these prior art documents discloses that by combining a peroxygen
bleach with an antimicrobial essential oil or an active thereof, in a
composition,
long lasting disinfection is delivered to a surface having been treated
therewith,
even at low total levels of antimicrobial ingredients (i.e. under diluted
conditions
according to the present invention).
Summary of the invention
The present invention encompasses the use, in a composition, of a peroxygen
bleach and an antimicrobial essential oil or an active thereof or mixture
thereof,
for long lasting disinfection on a surface treated with said composition.
Detailed description of the invention
A first essential ingredient of the present invention is a peroxygen bleach or
a
mixture thereof. Preferred peroxygen bleach is hydrogen peroxide, or a water
soluble source thereof, or mixtures thereof. Hydrogen peroxide is most
preferred
to be used herein.
The presence of said peroxygen bleach especially hydrogen peroxide, persulfate
and the like, in the compositions according to the present invention
contribute to
the disinfection properties of said compositions. indeed, said peroxygen
bleach
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may attack the vital function of the micro-organism cells, for example, it may
inhibit the assembling of ribosomes units within the cytoplasm of the
microorganisms cells. Also said peroxygen bleach like hydrogen peroxide, is an
oxidiser that generates hydroxyl free radicals which attack proteins and
nucleic
acids. Furthermore, the presence of said peroxygen bleach, especially hydrogen
peroxide, provides strong stain removal benefits which are particularly
noticeable
for example in laundry and hard surfaces applications.
As used herein a hydrogen peroxide source refers to any compound which
produces hydrogen peroxide when said compound is in contact with water.
Suitable water-soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide for use herein include
percarbonates, persilicates, persulphates such as monopersulfate, perborates
and peroxyacids such as diperoxydodecandioic acid (DPDA), magnesium
perphthalic acid and mixtures thereof.
In addition, other classes of peroxides can be used as an alternative to
hydrogen
peroxide and sources thereof or in combination with hydrogen peroxide and
sources thereof. Suitable classes include dialkylperoxides, diacylperoxides,
preformed percarboxylic acids, organic and inorganic peroxides andlor
hydroperoxides.
Typically, peroxygen bleach or a mixture thereof is present in the
compositions
according to the present invention at a level of at least 0.01 % by weight of
the
total composition, preferably from 0.1 % to 15%, and more preferably from 1 %
to
10%.
A second essential ingredient of the present invention is an antimicrobial
essential
oil or an active thereof, or a mixture thereof.
Suitable antimicrobial essential oils to be used herein are those essential
oils
which exhibit antimicrobial activity. By "actives of essential oils", it is
meant herein
any ingredient of essential oils that exhibit antimicrobial activity. It is
speculated
that said antimicrobial essential oils and actives thereof act as proteins
denaturing
agents. Also said antimicrobial oils and actives thereof are compounds which
contribute to the safety profile of a composition comprising them when it is
used to
disinfect any surface. A further advantage of said antimicrobial oils and
actives
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thereof is that they impart pleasant odor to a composition comprising them
without
the need of adding a perfume.
Such antimicrobial essential oils include, but are not limited to, those
obtained
. 5 from thyme, lemongrass, citrus, lemons, oranges, anise, clove, aniseed,
pine,
cinnamon, geranium, roses, mint, lavender, citronella, eucalyptus, peppermint,
camphor, ajowan, sandalwood, rosmarin, vervain, fleagrass, lemongrass,
ratanhiae, cedar and mixtures thereof. Preferred antimicrobial essential oils
to be
used herein are thyme oil, clove oil, cinnamon oil, geranium oil, eucalyptus
oil,
peppermint oil, citronella oil, ajowan oil, mint oil or mixtures thereof.
Actives of essential oils to be used herein include, but are not limited to,
thymol
. (present for example in thyme, ajowan), eugenol (present for example in
cinnamon
and clove), menthol (present for example in mint), geraniol (present for
example in
geranium and rose, citronella), verbenone (present for example in vervain),
eucalyptol and pinocarvone (present in eucalyptus}, cedrol (present for
example in
cedar}, anethoi (present for example in anise), carvacrol, hinokitiol,
berberine,
ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, methyl salicylic acid, methyl salycilate,
terpineol,
limonene and mixtures thereof. Preferred actives of essential oils to be used
herein are thymol, eugenol, verbenone, eucalyptoi, terpineol, cinnamic acid,
methyl salicylic acid, limonene, geraniol or mixtures thereof.
Thymol may be commercially available for example from Aldrich, eugenol may be
commercially available for example from Sigma, Systems - Bioindustries (SBI)
Manheimer Inc.
Typically, the antimicrobial essential oil or active thereof or mixture
thereof is
present in the composition at a level of at least 0.003% by weight of the
total
composition, preferably from 0.006% to 10%, more preferably from 0.1 % to 8%
and most preferably of from 0.03% to 3%.
It has now been found that combining said antimicrobial essential oil or an
active
thereof or a mixture thereof with a peroxygen bleach, in a composition,
delivers
not only excellent immediate disinfecting properties to the surfaces treated
with
said composition, but also long lasting disinfecting properties. Indeed, it is
speculated that peroxygen bleach and said essential oilslactives adsorb on a
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surface having been treated with said composition and thus reduce or even
prevent the contamination of microorganisms over time, typically up to 48
hours
after the surface has been treated with said composition, thereby delivering
long
lasting disinfection. In other words, it is speculated that a microfilm of
said active
ingredients is deposited on the surface treated with said compositions
allowing
protection against microorganisms recontamination overtime. Advantageously,
this long lasting disinfection benefits is obtained with the compositions of
the
present invention comprising peroxygen bleach and antimicrobial essential
oilslactives even when used under highly diluted conditions, i.e., up to
dilution
levels of from 1:100 (composition:water}.
Excellent long lasting disinfection is obtained by treating a surface with a
composition comprising a peroxygen bleach and an antimicrobial essential oil
or
active thereof as described herein, on a variety of microorganisms, e.g., the
growth of Gram positive bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, and Gram negative
bacteria like Pseudomonas aeroginosa as well as of fungi tike Candida albicans
is
reduced or even prevented on a surface having been treated with said
composition.
Long lasting disinfection properties of the compositions herein may be
measured
by the bactericidal activity of said compositions. A test method suitable to
evaluate the long lasting bactericidal activity of a composition may be as
follow:
First, the surfaces (e.g. glass) to be tested are respectively treated with
either a
composition according to the present invention or a reference composition,
e.g.,
a negative control composed of pure water (for example by spraying the
composition directly on the surface or first spraying the composition on a
sponge
used to clean the surface or when the composition herein is executed in the
form
of wipe by wiping the surface therewith). After a variable time frame (e.g. 24
hours) each surface is respectively inoculated with bacteria (106-7cfu/slide)
cultured in for example TSB (Tryptone Soya Broth) and left typically from a
few
seconds to 2 hours before evaluating the remaining living bacteria. Then
living
bacteria (if any) are recovered from the surface {by touching TSA +
neutraliser
plates and by re-suspending the bacteria into the neutralisation broth and
plating
them on agar) and incubated at appropriate temperature, e.g. 37°C to
let them
grow typically over night. Finally, a visual grading of the living bacteria is
made by
comparing side by side the cultures and/or dilutions thereof (e.g. 10-2 or 10-
1 )
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resulting from the surfaces treated with the compositions according to the
present invention and the reference composition.
The combination of ingredients according to the present invention, i.e., a
peroxygen bleach and an antimicrobiai essential oil and/or active thereof, may
be
formulated in a composition being either in a solid, pasty or liquid form. In
the
case where the compositions according to the present invention are formulated
as solids, they will be mixed with an appropriate solvent, typically water,
before
use. In liquid form, the compositions are preferably but not necessarily
formulated as aqueous compositions. Liquid compositions are preferred herein
for convenience of use.
In a preferred embodiment the liquid compositions according to the present
invention are aqueous compositions typically comprising from 50% to 99% by
weight of the total composition of water, preferably from 70% to 99% and more
preferably from 80% to 99%. These aqueous compositions preferably have a pH
as is of not more than 12.0, more preferably from 1 to 10, and most preferably
from 2 to 9. The pH of the compositions can be adjusted by using organic or
inorganic acids, or alkalinising agents.
Optional ingredients
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as effective long lasting
disinfection is provided with the combination of ingredients of the present
invention
the compositions comprising said combination do not require the addition of
other
antimicrobial compounds. However, in particular embodiments of the present
invention, depending on the end use desired with said compositions they may
further comprise, as optional ingredients, other antimicrobial compounds that
further contribute to the antimicrobial/antibacterial activity of the
compositions
according to the present invention. Such antimicrobial ingredients include
parabens like ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, methyl paraben, glutaraldehyde or
mixtures thereof.
The compositions herein may further comprise a variety of other optional
ingredients such as surfactants, chelants, solvents, builders, stabilisers,
bleach
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activators, soil suspenders, dye transfer agents, brighteners, perfumes, anti
dusting agents, enzymes, dispersant, dye transfer inhibitors, pigments,
perfumes,
radical scavengers, pH buffers, dyes or mixtures thereof.
The compositions according to the present invention may comprise any
surfactant
known to those skilled in the art including nonionic, anionic, cationic,
amphoteric
and/or zwitterionic surfactants. Said surfactants are suitable 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 0.3 % to 30 % and more preferably from 0.4 % to 25 %.
Particularly suitable anionic surfactants for use herein include water-soluble
salts
or acids of the formula ROS03M wherein R is preferably a Cg-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 ration, e.g., an
alkali
metal ration {e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium), or ammonium or substituted
ammonium (e.g., methyl-, dimethyl-, and trimethyl ammonium rations and
quaternary ammonium rations, such as tetramethyl-ammonium and dimethyl
piperdinium rations and quaternary ammonium rations derived from alkylamines
such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, and mixtures thereof, and the
like).
Other suitable anionic surfactants for use herein include alkyl-Biphenyl-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 triethanolamine 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; aryl glycerol sulfonates, fatty oleyl glycerol
sulfates,
alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates, paraffin suffonates, alkyl
phosphates,
isethionates such as the aryl isethionates, N-aryl taurates, alkyl
succinamates
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ahd sulfosuccinates, monoesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and
unsaturated C12-C1g monoesters) diesters of sulfosuccinate (especially
saturated and unsaturated Cg-C14 diesters), aryl sarcosinates, sulfates of
alkylpolysaccharides such as the sulfates of alkyipolyglucoside (the nonionic
nonsulfated compounds being described below), branched primary alkyl sulfates,
alkyl polyethoxy carboxylates such as those of the formula
RO(CH2CH20)kCH2C00-M+ wherein R is a C8-C22 alkyl, k is an integer from 0
to 10, and M is a soluble salt-forming ration. 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 II 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 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 composition herein. For example, C8-C16 alkyl
sulfate acts by disorganizing the bacteria cell membrane, inhibiting enzymatic
activities, interrupting the cellular transport and/or denaturing cellular
proteins.
Indeed, it is speculated that the improved disinfecting performance further
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 a
composition according to the present invention, is likely due to multiple mode
of
attack of said surfactant against the 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 ethoxyiation degrees. Indeed, the HLB 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 number of surfactants,
including
nonionics, together with their respective HLB values.
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Particularly suitable for use herein as nonionic surfactants are hydrophobic
nonionic surfactants having an HLB {hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) below 16,
preferably below 15 and more preferably below 14. Those hydrophobic nonionic
surfactants have been found to provide good grease cutting properties.
5
Preferred hydrophobic nonionic surfactants for use in the compositions
according to the present invention are surfactants having an HLB below 16 and
being according to the formula RO-(C2H40)n{C3H60)mH, wherein R is a Cg to
C22 alkyl chain or a Cg to C2g alkyl benzene chain, and wherein n+m is from 0
10 to 20 and n is from 0 to 15 and m is from 0 to 20, preferably 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 Cg 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 T03 (HLB=8; R is a C13 alkyl
chains,
n is 3 and m is 0), or Lutensol R A03 (HLB=8; R is a mixture of C13 and C15
alkyl chains, n is 3 and m is 0), or Tergitol R 25L3 (HLB= 7.7; R is in the
range
of C12 to C15 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=fi.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 C15 alkyl
chains, n is 7 and m is 0) Dobanol R 23-6.5 (HLB=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 C15 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, 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. Preferred herein
are
Dobanol R 91-2.5 , or Lutensol R T03, or Lutensol R A03, or Tergitol R 25L3,
or Dobanol R 23-3, or Dobanol R 23-2, or mixtures thereof. These DobanolR
surfactants are commercially available from SHELL. These LutensolR
surfactants are commercially avaitabte from BASF and these Tergitol R
surfactants are commercially available from UNION CARBIDE.
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Other suitable surfactants also include C6-C20 conventional soaps (alkali
metal
salt of a C6-C20 fatty acid, preferably sodium salts).
Suitable amphoteric surfactants for use herein include amine oxides having the
following formula R1R2R3N0 wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently a
saturated substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched hydrocarbon chains
of
from 1 to 30 carbon atoms. Preferred amine oxide surfactants to be used
according to the present invention are amine oxides having the following
formula
R1 R2R3N0 wherein R1 is an hydrocarbon chain comprising from 1 to 30 carbon
atoms, preferably from 6 to 20, more preferably from 8 to 16, most preferably
from 8 to 12, and wherein R2 and R3 are independently substituted or
unsubstituted, linear or branched hydrocarbon chains comprising from 1 to 4
carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and more preferably are
methyl groups. R1 may be a saturated substituted or unsubstituted linear or
branched hydrocarbon chain.
Suitable amine oxides for use herein are for instance natural blend C8-C10
amine oxides as well as C12-C16 amine oxides commercially available from
Hoechst.
Suitable zwitterionic surfactants for use herein contain both cationic and
anionic
hydrophilic groups on the same molecule at a relatively wide range of pH's.
The
typical cationic group is a quaternary ammonium group, although other
positively
charged groups like phosphonium, imidazolium and sulfonium groups can be
used. The typical anionic hydrophilic groups are carboxylates and sulfonates,
although other groups like sulfates, phosphonates, and the like can be used. A
generic formula for some zwitterionic surfactants to be used herein is
R1-N+(R2)(R3)R4X_
wherein R1 is a hydrophobic group; R2 and R3 are each C1-C4 alkyl, hydroxy
alkyl or other substituted alkyl group which can also be joined to form ring
structures with the N; R4 is a moiety joining the cationic nitrogen atom to
the
hydrophilic group and is typically an alkylene, hydroxy alkylene, or
polyalkoxy
group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and X is the hydrophilic group
which
is preferably a carboxylate or sulfonate group. Preferred hydrophobic groups
R1
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are alkyl groups containing from 1 to 24, preferably less than 18, more
preferably
less than 16 carbon atoms. The hydrophobic group can contain unsaturation
and/or substituents and/or linking groups such as aryl groups, amido groups,
ester groups and the like. In general, the simple alkyl groups are preferred
for
cost and stability reasons.
Highly preferred zwitterionic surfactants include betaine and sulphobetaine
surfactants, derivatives thereof or mixtures thereof. Said betaine or
sulphobetaine surfactants are preferred herein as 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, they are particularly suitable for the cleaning of delicate
surfaces,
e.g., delicate laundry or surfaces in contact with food and/or babies. Betaine
and
sulphobetaine surfactants are also extremely mild to the skin and/or surfaces
to
be treated.
Suitable betaine and sulphobetaine surfactants for use herein are the
betaine/sulphobetaine and betaine-like detergents wherein the molecule
contains
both basic and acidic groups which form an inner salt giving the molecule 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.
2,082,275, 2,702,279 and 2,255,082, incorporated herein by reference.
Preferred betaine and sulphobetaine surfactants herein are according to the
formula
R2
I
R1 - N+ - (CH2)n - Y-
I
R3
wherein R1 is a hydrocarbon chain containing from 1 to 24 carbon atoms,
preferably from 8 to 18, more preferably from 12 to 14, wherein R2 and R3 are
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hydrocarbon chains containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, preferably 1 carbon
atom, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 10, preferably from 1 to 6, 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 hydrocarbon chains is from 14 to
24 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof.
Examples of particularly suitable betaine surfactants include C12-C18 alkyl
dimethyl betaine such as coconut-betaine and C10-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 specific zwitterionic surfactants have the generic formulas:
R1-C{O)-N(R2)-(C(R3)2)n-N{R2)2{+)-(C(R3)2)n-S03(-)
or R1-C(O)-N(R2)-(C(R3)2)n-N(R2)2(+)-(C{R3)2)n-COO{-)
wherein each R1 is a hydrocarbon, e.g. an alkyl group containing from 8 up to
20, preferably up to 18, more preferably up to 16 carbon atoms, each R2 is
either
a hydrogen (when attached to the amido nitrogen), short chain alkyl or
substituted alkyl containing from one to 4 carbon atoms, preferably groups
selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, hydroxy
substituted
ethyl or propyl and mixtures thereof, preferably methyl, each R3 is selected
from
the group consisting of hydrogen and hydroxy groups and each n is a number
from 1 to 4, preferably from 2 to 3, more preferably 3, with no more than one
hydroxy group in any (C(R3)2) moiety. The R1 groups can be branched andlor
unsaturated. The R2 groups can also be connected to form ring structures. A
surfactant of this type is a C10-C14 fatty
acylamidopropylene(hydroxypropylene)sulfobetaine that is available from the
Sherex Company under the trade name "Varion CAS sulfobetaine"~.
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 selected from the group comprising
phosphonate chelating agents, aminophosphonate chelating agents, substituted
heteroaromatic chelating agents, amino carboxylate chelating agents, other
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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
('!-hydroxyethylene-diphosphonic acid (HEDP)), and/or alkali metal ethane 1-
hydroxydiphosphonates.
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 yenta methylene phosphonates.
These phosphonate/amino phosphonate chelating agents may be present either
in their acid form or as salts of different rations on some or all of their
acid
functionalities. Such phosphonate/amino phosphonate chelating agents are
commercially available from Monsanto under the trade name DEQUEST~.
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 formula:
I H
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 0 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.
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Polyfunctionaliy-substituted aromatic chelating agents may also be useful in
the
compositions 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.
5
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,
10 704, 233, November 3, 1987 to Hartman and Perkins. Ethylenediamine N,N'-
disuccinic acid is, for instance, commercially available under the tradename
ssEDDSO from Palmer Research Laboratories. Ethylene diamine N,N'- disuccinic
acid is particularly suitable to be used in the compositions of the present
invention.
Suitable amino carboxylate chelating agents useful herein include ethylene
15 diamine tetra acetates, diethylene triamine pentaacetates, diethylene
triamine
pentoacetate (DTPA), N-hydroxyethylethylenediamine triacetates, nitrilotri-
acetates, ethylenediamine tetraproprionates, triethyienetetraaminehexa-
acetates, 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 yenta acetic acid (DTPA), propylene
diamine tetracetic acid (PDTA) which is, for instance, commercially available
from
BASF under the trade name Trilon FS~ and methyl glycine di-acetic acid
(MGDA).
Further carboxylate chelating agents to be used herein includes malonic acid,
salicylic acid, glycine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, or mixtures thereof.
Typically, the compositions according to the present invention comprise up to
5%
by weight of the total composition of a chelating agent, or mixtures thereof,
preferably from 0.01 % to 3% by weight and more preferably from 0.01 % to
1.5%.
The compositions herein may comprise a radical scavenger as another optional
ingredient. Suitable radical scavengers for use herein include the well-known
substituted mono and di hydroxy benzenes and derivatives thereof, alkyl- and
aryl
carboxylates and mixtures thereof. Preferred radical scavengers for use herein
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16
include di-tert-butyl hydroxy toluene (BHT), p-hydroxy-toluene, hydroquinone
(HQ), di-tert-butyl hydroquinone (DTBHQ), mono-tert-butyl hydroquinone
{MTBHQ), tert-butyl-hydroxy anysole {BHA), p-hydroxy-anysol, benzoic acid, 2,5-
dihydroxy benzoic acid, 2,5-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 anysoie. These radical scavengers further contribute to the
stability of the peroxygen bleach-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 0.002% to 1.5% by weight and more preferably from 0.002% to
1 %.
The compositions herein may comprise as a preferred optional ingredient a
solvent or mixtures thereof. When used, solvents will, advantageously, give an
enhanced cleaning to the compositions herein. Suitable solvents for
incorporation
in the compositions according to the present invention include propylene
glycol
derivatives such as n-butoxypropanol or n-butoxypropoxypropanol, water-soluble
CARBITOLO solvents or water-soluble CELLOSOLVE~ solvents. Water-soluble
CARBITOLO 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-butoxypropoxypropanol, butyl carbitol~, benzyl
alcohol, isopropanol and mixtures thereof. Most preferred solvents for use
herein
are butyl carbitol~, benzyl alcohol and/or isopropanol.
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17
The solvents may typically be present within the compositions according to the
invention at a level up to 15% by weight, preferably from 2% to 7% by weight
of
- the composition.
In the embodiment of the present invention wherein the compositions are
formulated in the alkaline pH range, typically from 7.5 to 12, the
compositions
according to the present invention may further comprise a pH buffer or a
mixture
thereof, i.e. a system composed of a compound or a combination of compounds,
whose pH changes only slightly when a strong acid or base is added.
Suitable pH buffers for use herein include borate pH buffer, phosphonate,
silicate
and mixtures thereof. Suitable borate pH buffers for use herein include alkali
metal salts of borates and alkyl borates and mixtures thereof. Suitable borate
pH
buffers to be used herein are alkali metal salts of borate, metaborate,
tetraborate,
octoborate, pentaborate, dodecaboron, borontrifluoride and/or alkyl borate
containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and preferably from 1 to 4. Suitable
alkyl
borate includes methyl borate, ethyl borate and propyl borate. Particularly
preferred herein are the alkali metal salts of metaborate (e.g. sodium
metaborate), tetraborate (e.g., sodium tetraborate decahydrate) or mixtures
thereof.
Boron salts like sodium metaborate and sodium tetraborate are commercially
available from Borax and Societa Chimica Larderelio under the trade name
sodium metaborate~ and Borax~.
Typically, the compositions according to the present invention may comprise up
to 15% by weight of the total composition of a pH buffer, or mixtures thereof,
preferably from 0.01 % to 10%, more preferably from 0.01 % to 5% and most
preferably from 0.1 % to 3%.
Packaging 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-type dispensing containers,
which are usually made of synthetic organic polymeric plastic materials, and
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18
preferably in a trigger spray dispenser or pump spray dispenser. Said spray-
type
dispensers allow to uniformly applied to a relatively large area of a surface
to be
treated the liquid disinfecting compositions of the present invention. Such
spray-
type dispensers are particularly suitable to treat vertical surfaces.
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-4,64fi,973 and US-4,538,745 both to Focarracci. Particularly preferred to
be
used herein are spray-type 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 obstacle,
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, e.g. paper towels,
impregnated with a liquid composition according to the present invention.
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 and to dry it out with
a
cloth. In other words, wipes allow immediate and long lasting disinfection of
the
surfaces in one step.
The compositions according to the present invention are used to treat a
surface
thereby delivering long lasting disinfection to said surface. By "treat", it
is meant
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19
herein applying the composition to the surface in its neat (in the preferred
embodiment herein wherein the composition is liquid) or diluted form.
By "diluted form", it is meant herein that the compositions to be used, being
either in a liquid or a solid form, is diluted by the user typically with
water up to
100 times their weight of water, preferably into 80 to 40 times their weight
of
water and more preferably 60 to 40, before being applied to the surface to
treat.
By "surface", it is meant herein any surface including animate surface like
human
skin, mouth, teeth, and inanimate surfaces. Inanimate surfaces include, but
are
not limited to, hard-surfaces typically found in houses like kitchens,
bathrooms, or
in car interiors, 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, WCs 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.
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).
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Compositions I II III IV V VI
by weight
5 Hydrogen peroxide 7.0 2.0 1.0 2.0 4.0 3.0
Thyme oil - 0.05 - -- 0.5 -
Clove oil 0.5 - -- 0.05 - 0.1
Geranium oil - 0.07 - - - -
Eucalyptus oil 0.2 - 0.02 0.01 - 0.2
10 Geraniol - -- 0.5 - 0.5 0.1
Alkyl sulphate 4 3 10 1 4 0.5
DETPMP 0.1 0.15 0.15 0.1 0.15 0.2
Water and minors --- --- ---up to 100%----- -
H2S04 up to pH 4
Compositions VII Vlll IX X XI XII
by weight
Hydrogen peroxide7.0 2.0 5.0 1.0 4.0 1.5
Thyme oil - 0.4 -- -- 0.5 --
Clove oil 0.5 - -- 0.2 -- 0.1
Geranium oil - 0.2 -- -- - --
Eucalyptus oil 0.2 - 0.2 0.2 - 0.2
Geraniol - - 0.15 - 0.005 0.1
Betaine 1.5 0.1 - 0.03 - 0.1
Amine oxide 3 1.2 1.0 1 - 1.0
Alkyl sulphate - - 1.5 - 4 -
HEDP 0.1 - -- 0.02 - 0.1
BHT - -- 0.1 -- - 0.05
DTPA 0.1 -- 0.15 0.1 0.15 -
DETPMP - 0.15 -- -- -- 0.2
Tetraborate - -- 0.8 - - 1.0
Water and minors ---------up to 100%-- --------
PH 4 4 9 4 4 8
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21
HEDP is 1-hydroxyethylene-diphosphonic acid
DETPMP is diethyfene triamine penta methylene phosphonate
DTPA is diethylene triamine pentacetate
Alkyl sulfate is a C10 alkyl sulphate
Betaine is coco alkyldimethyl betaine available from Albright 8 Wilson under
the
trade name of Empigen BBIL~.
Amine oxide is N-decyldimethyl amine oxide
The compositions of the examples above are according to the present invention,
they may be used neat or diluted, e.g., at a dilution level of 1:50 or of 1:25
(composition:water), to provide effective long lasting disinfecting
performance on
the surface treated.
