Formaldehyde scavenging in microbiocidal articles

Abstract

Improved methods for durable and regenerable antimicrobial finishing of fabrics are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the methods reduce the amount of free-formaldehyde released during processing by using a formaldehyde scavenger such as a polyol. The improved process imparts regenerable antimicrobial functions to cellulose articles including textiles, papers, wood pulp, and any cellulose-containing materials. The treated product acquire antimicrobial properties after being treated with a halogenated solution.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for preparing a microbiocidal article with a reduction in free-formaldehyde release, said process comprising: 
 (a) immersing said article in an aqueous treating solution which comprises a heterocyclic amine and a polyol; and    (b) treating said article with a halogenated solution, thereby rendering said article microbiocidal with a reduction in free-formaldehyde release.    
     
     
         2 . The process according to    claim 1   , wherein said aqueous treating solution further comprises a catalyst and a wetting agent.  
     
     
         3 . The process according to    claim 1   , wherein said heterocyclic amine is alkylated or partially alkylated.  
     
     
         4 . The process according to    claim 1   , wherein said polyol is a member selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,2-butylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, 1,4-butylene glycol, polyethylene glycols having the formula HO(CH 2 CH 2 O) n H wherein n is about 1 to about 50, glycerin and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The process according to    claim 4   , wherein said polyol is ethylene glycol.  
     
     
         6 . The process according to    claim 4   , wherein said polyol is diethylene glycol.  
     
     
         7 . The process according to    claim 1   , wherein said heterocyclic amine and said polyol are present in said treating solution in a heterocyclic amine:polyol ratio between about 0.2:1.0 to about 1.0:6.0 mole/mole.  
     
     
         8 . The process according to    claim 7   , wherein said heterocyclic amine:polyol ratio is about 0.5:1.0 to about 1.0:3.0 mole/mole.  
     
     
         9 . The process according to    claim 1   , wherein said heterocyclic amine is a member selected from the group consisting of monomethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (MDS), 1,3-dimethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DMDMH), 5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DMH); monoalkylolated and dialklylolated derivatives of 2,2,5,5-tetramethytl-1,3-imidazolidin-4-one, 6,6-dimethyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-dione, 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3-imidazolidin-2-one, cyanuric acid and 5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DMH); and monoalkylated and dialkylated derivatives of monoalkylolated and dialkylolated derivatives of 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3-imidazolidin4-one, 6,6-dimethyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-dione, 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3-imidazolidin-2-one, cyanuric acid, 5,5-dimethylhydantoin, 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3-imidazolidin-4-one, an alkylated derivative thereof and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The process according to    claim 9   , wherein said heterocyclic amine is 1,3-dimethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (MDMH) or an alkylated derivative thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The process according to    claim 9   , wherein said heterocyclic amine is monomethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (MDMH) or an alkylated derivative thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The process according to    claim 11    further comprising dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU) or an alkylated derivative thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The process according to    claim 10   , further comprising dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU) or an alkylated derivative thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The process according to    claim 11   , further comprising dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU) or an alkylated derivative thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The process according to    claim 10   , further comprising 5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DMH).  
     
     
         16 . The process according to    claim 11   , further comprising 5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DMH).  
     
     
         17 . The process of    claim 1   , further comprising removing excess aqueous treating solution from said article before treating said article with a halogenated aqueous solution.  
     
     
         18 . The process of    claim 17   , further comprising drying said article after removing excess aqueous treating solution to produce a dried article.  
     
     
         19 . The process of    claim 18   , further comprising curing said dried article to produce a cured article.  
     
     
         20 . The process of    claim 19   , further comprising washing said cured article to remove excess reagents.  
     
     
         21 . The process of    claim 20   , further comprising drying said washed article to remove water.  
     
     
         22 . The process of    claim 1   , wherein said article is a textile.  
     
     
         23 . The process of    claim 22   , wherein said textile is a member selected from the group consisting of cellulosic fabric, cellulosic yarn, and cellulosic fiber.  
     
     
         24 . The process of    claim 22   , wherein said textile is cotton fabric.  
     
     
         25 . The process of    claim 22   , wherein said textile is cotton fabric/polyester blend.  
     
     
         26 . The process of    claim 1   , wherein said article is a polymer.  
     
     
         27 . The process of    claim 26   , wherein said polymer is a member selected from the group consisting of cellulose and a synthetic polymer.  
     
     
         28 . The process of    claim 1   , wherein said halogenated aqueous solution comprises sodium hypochlorite.  
     
     
         29 . The process of    claim 1   , wherein said catalyst is a member selected from the group consisting of Catalyst 531, MgCl 2 , Mg(NO 3 ) 2 , Zn(NO 3 ) 2  and NH 4 NO 3 .  
     
     
         30 . A process for preparing a microbiocidal article with a reduction in free-formaldehyde release, said process comprising: 
 (a) immersing said article in an aqueous treating solution which comprises an alkylated heterocyclic amine; and    (b) treating said article with a halogenated solution, thereby rendering said article microbiocidal with a reduction in free-formaldehyde release.    
     
     
         31 . The process according to    claim 30   , wherein said alkylated heterocyclic amine is alkylated or partially alkylated 1,3-dimethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DMDMH).  
     
     
         32 . The process according to    claim 30   , wherein said alkylated heterocyclic amine is alkylated or partially alkylated monomethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (MDMH).  
     
     
         33 . The process according to    claim 30   , wherein said aqueous treating solution further comprises a catalyst and a wetting agent.