Disinfecting and antimicrobial compositions

Abstract

Broad spectrum disinfecting and microbicidal compositions of biodegradable and environmentally friendly compositions containing esters formed from fatty organic alcohols and fatty carboxylic acids. These compositions display activities against the most resistant microbial forms including bacterial spores. The preparations can be used in health care, food processing, personal care and other industries where the use of harsh oxidizing chemicals is undesirable.

1 . A disinfecting and microbicidal composition comprising: 
 an alcohol ester of the reaction product of a fatty alcohol and a fatty organic acid, the ester being either a GRAS or food grade additive.    
   
   
       2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein, the ester corresponds to the formula: 
       R—COO—R 1    
     whereas R is an acid moiety where R equals C n  H 2n+1  or C n  H 2m+1  O, where n is an integer ranging from about 1 to about 8 and R 1  is an alcohol moiety and R 1  equals C m  H 2m+1 , where m is an integer ranging from about 1 to about 12.  
   
   
       3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the ester is selected from the group consisting of, methyl lactate, ethyl lactate, butyl lactate, propyl lactate and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The disinfecting and microbicidal composition of  claim 1  which further include a surface-active agent, the surface active agent being either GRAS or food grade additive.  
   
   
       5 . The disinfecting and microbicidal composition of  claim 1  which further includes an organic acidifying agent to adjust the pH of the composition from pH 2 to pH 12, the acidifying agent being either GRAS or food grade additive.  
   
   
       6 . The disinfecting and microbicidal composition of  claim 1  which further includes a reducing agent or an antioxidant classified as (GRAS) or food grade additive.  
   
   
       7 . The disinfecting and microbicidal composition of  claim 1  which further includes an aqueous or non-aqueous diluent, the dilutent being either GRAS or food grade additive.  
   
   
       8 . The disinfecting and microbicidal composition of  claim 1  which further includes a sequestering agent selected from group consisting of citric acid, sodium gluconate, isopropyl citrate, EDTA, sodium acid phosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) C 6 -C 18 alkyl- and alkenyl-sulfates;    (b) C 6 -C 18  alkyl- and alkenyl-ether sulfates,    (c) C 8 -C 16  alkyl diphenyl ether disulfonates,    (d) C 4 -C 18  fatty acid isethionates;    (e) C 6 -C 18  alkyl- and alkenyl sulfonates;    (f) dialkyl- and dialkenyl sulfosuccinates in which the alkyl or alkenyl groups independently contain from six to eighteen carbon atoms;    (g) C 6 -C 18  alkylbenzene sulfonates;    (h) naphthalene sulfonates;    (i) alkyl naphthalene sulfonates in which alkyl group contains from one to six carbons atoms;    (j) the mono-(n-alkyl) and mono-(n-alkenyl) acyl esters of C2-C4 hydroxylated mono-carboxylic acids in which the alkyl or alkenyl group contains from six to eighteen carbon atoms;    (k) the mono-(n-alkyl) and mono-(n-alkenyl) acyl esters of C2-C4 hydroxylated dicarboxylic acids in which the alkyl or alkenyl group contains six to eighteen carbon atoms;    (l) the mono-(n-alkyl) and mono-(n-alkenyl) alkyl esters of C2-C4 dicarboxylic acids, in which the alkyl or alkenyl group contains from six to eighteen carbon atoms;    (m) C4-C 18 fatty alcohol sulfoacetates, and    (n) mixture thereof, the surfactant being either the free acid or the salt thereof.    
   
   
       10 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of adipic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, dehydroacetic acid, erythorbic acid, fumaric acid, glutaric acid, gluconic acid, hyaluronic acid, hydroxyacetic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, salicylic acid, succinic acid, tannic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid. azelaic acid. sebacic acid, carboxylic acid polymers, homo- or hetero- polymerized carboxylic acid and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein the acid is lactic acid.  
   
   
       12 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein the diluent is selected from the group consisting of water, lactic acid, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, glycerol, silica and mixtures thereof.