Salicylaldehyde-containing composition having antimicrobial and fragrancing properties and process for using same

Abstract

Described are synergistic antimicrobial-fragrance compositions including broad spectrum antimicrobial compositions containing salicylaldehyde and at least one organoleptically-compatible antimicrobial synergism cofactor substance. The weight ratio range of salicylaldehyde:synergism cofactors substance is from 1:10 up to 10:1. The cofactor substance is such that the degree of synergism of the resultant mixture is defined according to the IFF Antimicrobial Synergism Test wherein the difference between the actual and expected antimicrobial values of the mixture is greater than or equal to a multiple of (i) 0.05 and (ii) the expected antimicrobial value of the mixture. Cofactor substances include phenolics such as cresol, caravacrol and thymol; ethyl vanillin; benzyl alcohol; indol; β-orcinol; and terpinenol-4. Microorganisms against which the synergistic compositions are effective include: Escherichia coli; Enterococcus hirae; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Staphylococcus aureus; and Saccharomyces cerevisae. The compositions have application in all-purpose cleaning compositions, gel-type toilet rim articles, liquid-type toilet rim articles, personal shower cleaning compositions, and body and hair care products including shower gel compositions, shampoo compositions and foam bath compositions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An antimicrobial/fragrance composition capable of eliminating one or more microorganisms from a solid or semi-solid surface or three-space inhabited by said microorganisms consisting essentially of: 
 (a) salicylaldehyde; and    (b) at least one organoleptically-compatible antimicrobial synergism cofactor substance with the weight ratio of salicylaldehyde:cofactor substance being from about 1:10 up to about 10:1; the degree of synergism in the mixture being defined according to the IFF Antimicrobial Synergism Test, wherein the difference between the actual and expected antimicrobial values of the mixture is greater than or equal to a multiple of π and the expected antimicrobial value of the mixture and wherein π is a value of from about 0.01 up to about 0.10.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the cofactor substance is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (i) at least one phenolic compound having the structure:  
                     
  wherein one or two of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4  and R 5  is the same or different C 1 -C 3  alkyl and the other of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4  and R 5  is hydrogen;  
 (ii) benzyl alcohol having the structure:  
                     
 (iii) indole having the structure:  
                     
 (iv) ethyl vanillin having the structure:  
                     
 (v) orcinyl methyl ether having the structure:  
                     
 (vi) terpinenol-4 having the structure:  
                     
 (vii) tetrahydrolinalool having the structure:  
                     
 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  which is a broad spectrum antimicrobial/fragrance formulation capable of eliminating the microorganisms: 
   Escherichia coli;    
   Enterococcus hirae;    
   Pseudomonas aeruginosa;    
   Staphylococcus aureus;  and  
   Saccharomyces cerevisae.    
 from a solid or semi-solid surface or a three-space inhabited by said microorganisms wherein the cofactor substance is selected from the group consisting of:  
 (i) benzyl alcohol;  
 (ii) indole;  
 (ii) ethyl vanillin; and  
 (iv) terpinenol-4.  
 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  capable of eliminating the microorganisms: 
   Escherichia coli;    
   Pseudomonas aeruginosa;    
   Staphylococcus aureus;  and  
   Saccharomyces cerevisae.    
 from a solid or semi-solid surface or a three-space inhabited by said microorganisms wherein the cofactor substance is indole.  
 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  capable of eliminating the microorganism,  Saccharomyces cerevisae  wherein the cofactor substance is thymol having the structure:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  capable of eliminating the microorganisms: 
   Pseudomonas aeruginosa;    
   Staphylococcus aureus;  and  
   Saccharomyces cerevisae.    
 from a solid or semi-solid surface or a three-space inhabited by said microorganisms wherein the cofactor substance is p-cresol having the structure:  
                     
 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  capable of eliminating the microorganisms: 
   Staphylococcus aureus;  and  
   Saccharomyces cerevisae    
 from a solid or semi-solid surface or three-space inhabited by said microorganisms wherein the cofactor substance is carvacrol having the structure:  
                     
 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  capable of eliminating the microorganisms: 
   Staphylococcus aureus;  and  
   Saccharomyces cerevisae    
 from a solid or semi-solid surface or three-space inhabited by said microorganisms wherein the cofactor substance is a 1:1:1 mixture of p-cresol:thymol:carvacrol.  
 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  capable of eliminating the microorganism,  Escherichia coli,  from a solid or semi-solid surface or three-space inhabited by said  Escherichia coli  wherein the cofactor substance is tetrahydrolinalool having the structure:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1  capable of eliminating the microorgisms: 
   Escherichia coli;    
   Enterococcus hirae;    
   Staphylococcus aureus;  and  
   Saccharomyces cerevisae    
 from a solid or semi-solid surface or a three-space inhabited by said microorganisms wherein the cofactor substance is carvacrol having the structure:  
                     
 and the weight ratio of carvacrol:salicylaldehyde is 1:1.  
 
     
     
         11 . A process for eliminating at least one microorganism selected from the group consisting of: 
   Escherichia coli;        Enterococcus hirae;        Pseudomonas aeruginosa;        Staphylococcus aureus;  and      Saccharomyces cerevisae      from a solid or semi-solid surface or a three-space inhabited by said microorganisms comprising the step of applying to said surface or three-space a microorganism-eliminating concentration and quantity of the composition of matter defined according to  claim 1 .    
     
     
         12 . A process for augmenting or enhancing the aroma of a consumable material selected from the group consisting of perfume compositions, colognes and perfumed articles while simultaneously imparting thereto antimicrobial properties comprising the step of intimately admixing a consumable material base with (i) an antimicrobial-imparting quantity and concentration of the composition of  claim 1  and (ii) an aroma-imparting concentration and quantity of an organoleptically-compatible perfume composition, organoleptically-compatible with said antimicrobial-imparting composition.  
     
     
         13 . A process for eliminating at least one microorganism selected from the group consisting of: 
   Escherichia coli;        Enterococcus hirae;        Pseudomonas aeruginosa;        Staphylococcus aureus;  and      Saccharomyces cerevisae      from a solid or semi-solid surface or a three-space inhabited by said microorganisms comprising the step of applying to said surface or three-space a microorganism-eliminating concentration and quantity of the composition of matter defined according to  claim 3 .    
     
     
         14 . A process for eliminating at least one microorganism selected from the group consisting of: 
   Escherichia coli;        Enterococcus hirae;        Staphylococcus aureus;  and      Saccharomyces cerevisae      from a solid or semi-solid surface or a three-space inhabited by said microorganisms comprising the step of applying to said surface or three-space a microorganism-eliminating concentration and quantity of the composition of matter defined according to  claim 4 .    
     
     
         15 . A process for eliminating the microorganism,  Saccharomyces cerevisae,  from a solid or semi-solid surface or a three-space inhabited by said  Saccharomyces cerevisae  comprising the step of applying to said surface or three-space a  Saccharomyces cerevisae -eliminating concentration and quantity of thymol having the structure:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         16 . A process for eliminating at least one microorganism selected from the group consisting of: 
   Pseudomonas aeruginosa;        Staphylococcus aureus;  and      Saccharomyces cerevisae      from a solid or semi-solid surface or a three-space inhabited by said microorganisms comprising the step of applying to said surface or three-space a microorganism-eliminating concentration and quantity of p-cresol having the structure:                          
     
     
         17 . A process for eliminating at least one microorganism selected from the group consisting of: 
   Staphylococcus aureus;  and      Saccharomyces cerevisae      from a solid or semi-solid surface or a three-space inhabited by said microorganisms comprising the step of applying to said surface or three-space a microorganism-eliminating concentration and quantity of the composition of matter defined according to  claim 7  containing carvacrol having the structure:                          
     
     
         18 . A process for eliminating at least one microorganism selected from the group consisting of: 
   Staphylococcus aureus;  and      Saccharomyces cerevisae      from a solid or semi-solid surface or a three-space inhabited by said microorganisms comprising the step of applying to said surface or three-space a microorganism-eliminating concentration and quantity of the composition defined according to  claim 8 .    
     
     
         19 . A process for eliminating  Escherichia coli  from a solid or semi-solid surface or a three-space inhabited by said  Escherichia coli  comprising the step of applying to said surface or three-space an  Escherichia coli -eliminating concentration and quantity of the composition defined according to  claim 9  comprising tetrahydrolinalool and salicylaldehyde.  
     
     
         20 . A process for eliminating at least one microorganism selected from the group consisting of: 
   Escherichia coli;        Enterococcus hirae;        Staphylococcus aureus;  and      Saccharomyces cerevisae      from a solid or semi-solid surface or a three-space inhabited by said microorganisms comprising the step of applying to said surface or three-space a microorganism-eliminating concentration and quantity of the composition defined according to  claim 10  containing salicylaldehyde and p-cresol in the weight ratio of 1:1.    
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the consumable material is a solid or liquid anionic, cationic, nonionic or zwitterionic detergent composition or soap.  
     
     
         22 . Means for creation of electronic data processing software designed to yield information for indication of antimicrobial synergism for a fragance-antimicrobial formulation comprising: 
 (a) means for ascertainment of specific antimicrobial-fragrance components, which individually eliminate given microorganisms on a solid or semi-solid surface and/or in a three-space inhabited by said microorganisms measured by δ A     i    and δ B     i   , dimensions of antimicrobial inhibition areas with associated data input to memory;    (b) means for formulating one or more mixtures of said specific antimicrobial-fragrance components of (a) having weight fractions or mole fractions of components, f i     A    and f i     B   , with associated data input to memory;    (c) means for ascertainment of data indicative of antimicrobial activity of the mixtures of (b), Δ A , with associated data input to memory, [Δ A −Δ E ] being the actual dimension of antimicrobial inhibition of a given area or volume;    (d) means for calculation of the expected value, Δ E , of antimicrobial activity of the mixtures of (b) using the inputted, stored memory data of (a) [δ A     i    and δ B     i   ] and [f i     A    and f i     B   ] wherein the term, Δ E , is a measure of the expected value of the dimension of the zone of antimicrobial inhibition, according to the algorithm:                Δ   E     =       ∑       δ     A   i            f     i   A           +     ∑       δ     B   i            f     i   B               ;                      and the terms, δ A     i    and δ B     i   , are measures of the dimensions of zones of antimicrobial inhibition for each of the components of the mixture in pure form; and wherein, f i     A    and f i     B   , are measures of the mole fractions or weight fractions of each of the components in the mixture;    (e) means for storing in server memory the data required for calculation of k, the IFF Antimicrobial/Olfactory Synergism Test Constant, which is the product of π, a preselected confidence interval fraction varying from 0.01 up to 0.1 and Δ E ;    (f) means for ascertainment of the difference, [Δ A −Δ E ], and the product, K=(Δ E )π, with associated data input to server memory;    (g) means for instructing the setting of a system to accept a formulation in the event of:    Δ A −Δ E   ≧K  or λ>0     and reject a formulation in the event of: λ≦0, wherein λ, the measure of degree of synergism, is defined thusly:    λ={[Δ A −Δ E   ]−K}; and      (h) means for instructing the repetition of steps (a) through (g), inclusive, in the event of a result of λ≦0.    
     
     
         23 . A perfumed/antimicrobial property-imparting polymer comprising at least one microporous polymer and intimately admixed therewith in the pores thereof at least one composition defined according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         24 . A perfumed/antimicrobial property-imparting polymer comprising at least one microporous polymer and intimately admixed therewith in the pores thereof at least one composition defined according to  claim 2 .  
     
     
         25 . A perfumed/antimicrobial property-imparting polymer comprising at least one microporous polymer and intimately admixed therewith in the pores thereof at least one composition defined according to  claim 3 .  
     
     
         26 . A perfumed/antimicrobial property-imparting polymer comprising at least one microporous polymer and intimately admixed therewith in the pores thereof at least one composition defined according to  claim 4 .  
     
     
         27 . A perfumed/antimicrobial property-imparting polymer comprising at least one microporous polymer and intimately admixed therewith in the pores thereof at least one composition defined according to  claim 5 .  
     
     
         28 . A perfumed/antimicrobial property-imparting polymer comprising at least one microporous polymer and intimately admixed therewith in the pores thereof at least one composition defined according to  claim 6 .  
     
     
         29 . A perfumed/antimicrobial property-imparting polymer comprising at least one microporous polymer and intimately admixed therewith in the pores thereof at least one composition defined according to  claim 7 .  
     
     
         30 . A perfumed/antimicrobial property-imparting polymer comprising at least one microporous polymer and intimately admixed therewith in the pores thereof at least one composition defined according to  claim 8 .  
     
     
         31 . A perfumed/antimicrobial property-imparting polymer comprising at least one microporous polymer and intimately admixed therewith in the pores thereof at least one composition defined according to  claim 9 .  
     
     
         32 . A perfumed/antimicrobial property-imparting polymer comprising at least one microporous polymer and intimately admixed therewith in the pores thereof at least one composition defined according to  claim 10.