Biocidal organic acid salts of a polymeric biguanide

Abstract

A composition comprising a carrier and a polymeric biguanide in the form of its salt with an organic acid containing from 4 to 30 carbon atoms such as poly (hexamethylenebiguanide) stearate.

1 . A composition comprising a carrier and a linear polymeric biguanide which has a recurring polymeric unit represented by formula 4 in the form of its salt with an organic acid containing from 4 to 30 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted by a halogen or a hydroxy group, including salts thereof  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein x and y may be the same or different and represent bridging groups in which together, the total number of carbon atoms directly interposed between the pairs of nitrogen atoms linked by x and y is not less than 9 and not greater than 17.  
     
     
         2 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein both X and Y is the group —(CH 2 ) 6 —.  
     
     
         3 . A composition as claimed in either  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the polymeric biguanide is a mixture represented by the compounds of Formula 5 in the free-base form  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein n is from 4 to 40.  
     
     
         4 . A composition as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  3  wherein the organic acid contains a carboxylic acid group.  
     
     
         5 . A composition as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  4  wherein the organic acid contains not less than 8 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         6 . A composition as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  5  wherein the organic acid contains from 12 to 18 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         7 . A composition as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  6  wherein the organic acid is free from substituents.  
     
     
         8 . A composition as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  4  wherein the organic acid is selected from valeric, hexanoic, octanoic, 2-octenoic, lauric, 5-dodecenoic, myristic, oentadecanoic, palmitic, oleic, stearic, eicosanoic, heptadecanoic, palmitoleic, ricinoleic 12-hydroxystearic, 16-hydroxyhexadecanoic, 2-hydroxycaproic, 12-hydroxydodecanoic, 5-hydroxydodecanoic, 5-hydroxydecanoic, 4-hydroxydecanoic, dodecanedioic, undecanedioic, sebacic, benzoic, hydroxbenzoic and teraphthalic acids.  
     
     
         9 . A composition as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  8  wherein the carrier is a polar organic liquid, a substantially non-polar organic liquid or a halogenated hydrocarbon.  
     
     
         10 . A composition as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the polar organic liquid is an alkanol.  
     
     
         11 . A linear polymeric biguanide which has a recurring polymeric unit represented by formula 4 in the form of its salt with an unsubstituted aliphatic carboxylic acid containing from 4 to 20 carbon atoms excluding the acid group  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein X and Y may be the same or different and represent bridging groups in which together, the total number of carbon atoms directly interposed between the pairs of nitrogen atoms linked by X and Y is not less than 9 and not greater than 17.  
     
     
         12 . The salt of a polymeric biguanide as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the polymeric biguanide is a mixture represented by the compounds of Formula 5 in the free-base form  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein n is from 4 to 40.  
     
     
         13 . The salt of a polymeric biguanide as claimed in either  claim 11  or  claim 12  wherein the aliphatic acid is stearic acid.  
     
     
         14 . A method for inhibiting microbiological growth on, or in, a medium which comprises treating the medium with a linear polymeric biguanide which has a recurring polymeric unit represented by formula 4 in the form of its salt with an organic acid containing from 4 to 30 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted by a halogen or a hydroxy group, including salts thereof  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein X and Y may be the same or different and represent bridging groups in which together, the total number of carbon atoms directly interposed between the pairs of nitrogen atoms linked by X and Y is not less than 9 and not greater than 17.