Biocide Compositions Comprising Quaternary Ammonium and Urea and Methods for Their Use

Abstract

Composition and method for treating and/or preventing biological contamination using a biocide composition comprising at least one quaternary ammonium compound and urea. The method includes drying urea, and thereafter combining at least one quaternary ammonium compound and urea and may produce a potent biocide composition that is stable and able to chemically treat biological contamination in a variety of difficult to reach locations. Uses of the composition are also described.

1 . A method of making a biocide composition comprising:
 drying urea; and thereafter,   combining at least one quat and urea to form a quat/urea biocide composition.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of drying the urea comprises heating the urea. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of drying the at least one quat before the combining step. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of drying the at least one quat comprises heating the at least one quat and the step of drying the urea comprises heating the urea. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of heating the at least one quat comprises gradually heating the at least one quat to a temperature in a range from about 30 to about 40° C. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of heating the at least one quat comprises heating the at least one quat in the presence of a solvent. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of heating the urea comprises heating the urea to a temperature in a range from about 80 to about 120° C. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of heating the at least one quat comprises gradually heating the at least one quat to a temperature in a range from about 30° C. to about 40° C., and the step of heating the urea comprises heating the urea to a temperature in a range from about 80° C. to about 120° C. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of combining the at least one quat and urea comprises spraying the at least one quat onto the urea. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising granulating the biocide composition. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising adding organic solvent to the at least one quat before the step of heating the at least one quat. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one quat comprises one or more quats. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more quats and urea are present in the quat/urea biocide composition in amounts based on a weight ratio of the one or more quats to urea from about 10:90 to about 90:10, or from about 20:80 to about 60:40, or from about 30:70 to about 50:50, or a weight ratio of about 40:60. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the at least one quat includes an alkyl chain having a length in a range from 12 to 18 carbons. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein about 50 to about 100% by weight of the one or more quaternary ammonium compounds present in the quat/urea biocide composition have an alkyl chain has a length in the range of about 12 carbons to about 18 carbons. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein about 50 to about 100% by weight of the one or more quaternary ammonium compounds present in the quat/urea biocide composition have an alkyl chain has a length in the range of about 14 carbons to about 16 carbons. 
   
   
       17 . A quat/urea biocide composition comprising at least one quat and urea, and being stable at an application temperature up to 120° C. and capable of imparting a surface tension of 39 to about 64 dynes/cm 2  to an aqueous solution comprising the quat/urea biocide composition in an amount from about 0.001 to about 2% by weight of the solution. 
   
   
       18 . A quat/urea biocide composition made according to the method of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       19 . An aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprising water, at least one quat, and urea, and being stable at an application temperature up to 120° C. and having a surface tension of 39 to about 64 dynes/cm 2 . 
   
   
       20 . The solution of  claim 19  wherein the quat/urea biocide composition is present in the solution in an amount from about 0.001 to about 2% by weight of the solution. 
   
   
       21 . A method for treating one or more articles or an environment comprising applying a quat/urea biocide composition comprising urea and at least one quat, to the article or environment, the quat/urea biocide composition being stable at an application temperature up to 120° C. and capable of imparting a surface tension of 39 to about 64 dynes/cm 2  to an aqueous solution comprising the quat/urea biocide composition in an amount from about 0.001 to about 2% by weight of the solution. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the step of applying the quat/urea biocide composition includes applying the quat/urea biocide composition in an aqueous solution having a surface tension of 39 to about 64 dynes/cm 2 . 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the step of applying the quat/urea biocide composition includes applying the quat/urea biocide composition at a temperature in the range of about 40° C. to about 120° C. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the step of applying the quat/urea biocide composition includes immersion, spraying, fogging, drenching, or fumigation. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the one or more articles are one or more chicken carcasses and the step of applying the quat/urea biocide composition comprises applying the quat/urea biocide composition in an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprising the quat/urea biocide composition and water at a temperature in the range of about 40° C. to about 100° C. to the one or more chicken carcasses. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of applying the aqueous biocide solution comprises applying the aqueous biocide solution at a temperature in a range from about 50° C. to about 80° C., or about 60° C. to about 70° C., or a temperature of about 65° C. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the quat/urea biocide composition is present in the aqueous biocide solution such that the one or more quats are present in the aqueous biocide solution in a concentration in a range of about 10 ppm to about 1200 ppm, or about 25 ppm to about 500 ppm, or about 50 ppm to about 200 ppm, or in amount of about 100 ppm 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of applying the aqueous biocide solution comprises spraying the aqueous biocide solution onto the carcass or immersing the chicken carcass into the aqueous biocide solution. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the one or more articles are one or more poultry eggs and the method comprises applying the quat/urea biocide composition in an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprising the quat/urea biocide composition and water to an outer surface of the eggs. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the environment is a poultry farm and the method comprises applying the quat/urea biocide composition in an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprising the quat/urea biocide composition and water to a poultry breeding area. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the one or more articles are one or more poultry and the method comprises feeding the one or more poultry an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprising the quat/urea biocide composition and water. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the one or more articles are one or more human hands and the method comprises applying an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprising the quat/urea biocide composition and water to the human hand. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the environment is a beverage dispensing machine and the method comprises contacting at least a portion of the beverage dispensing machine with the quat/urea biocide composition in an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprising the quat/urea biocide composition and water. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the environment is a food silo and the method comprises storing food and the quat/urea biocide in the food silo. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the one or more articles are an agricultural crop and the method comprises applying an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprising the quat/urea biocide composition and water to the agricultural crop. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the environment is turf and the method comprises applying an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprising the quat/urea biocide composition and water to turf. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the environment is an oil well and the method comprises feeding an oil well drilling mud into an oil well, the oil well drilling mud comprising an oil well drilling lubricating material, water, and the quat/urea biocide composition. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the environment is an oil well and the method comprises feeding a recovery fluid into an oil well and then removing a mixture of the recovery fluid and oil from the oil well, the recovery fluid comprising an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprising the quat/urea biocide composition and water. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the environment is a conduit in a conduit and the method comprises contacting at least a portion of an interior surface of the conduit with an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprising the quat/urea biocide composition and water for controlling, eliminating, or preventing biofilm. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the environment is a shrimp farm and the method comprises applying an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprising the quat/urea biocide composition and water to a shrimp breeding area. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the one or more articles are paper pulp and the method comprises adding the quat/urea biocide composition to the paper pulp. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the one or more articles are one or more animals and the method comprises applying an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprising the quat/urea biocide composition and water to skin or hair of the one or more animals or both, for controlling pathogens on the one or more animals. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42  further comprising washing the one or more animals with a cleanser and thereafter applying the aqueous quat/urea biocide solution. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the one or more animals are one or more cows and the method of applying the aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprises applying the aqueous quat/urea biocide solution to one or more cow udders. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the one or more articles are one or more citrus plants and the method comprises applying an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprising the quat/urea biocide composition and water to one or more citrus plants for controlling citrus greening. 
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the environment is a peanut processing facility and the method comprises applying an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprising the quat/urea biocide composition and water to the peanut processing facility. 
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the environment is a swimming pool and the method comprises applying an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprising the quat/urea biocide composition and water to the swimming pool. 
   
   
       48 . An oil well drilling mud comprises an oil well drilling lubricating material, water, and a quat/urea biocide comprising urea and at least one quat.