Anti-microbial compositions and related methods

Abstract

The claimed invention is directed to compositions and methods effective in preventing microbial contamination or reducing microbial count associated with a contaminated surface, comprising a biocidal system comprised of a primary biocide, a pH buffer agent, a surfactant, all in an aqueous based carrier, wherein the compositions may be considered environmentally friendly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition for preventing microbiological contamination or reducing a microbial count associated with a contaminated surface comprising: 
       about 0.01% to about 20.0% by weight of a biocidal system comprising:
 i. from about 0.01% to 25% by weight of a primary biocide, wherein the primary biocide is selected from salts of copper, zinc or silver; and 
 ii. at least about 0.01% to 25% by weight of a pH buffer, where the pH buffer is a biocidal, dermal, non-corrosive acid composition, having a proton count range of from 1.0×10 20  to 9.9×10 26  and an embodied conductivity of 250 mV. 
 
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1  further comprising from about 0.01% to 2.0% by weight of a surfactant. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the surfactant is polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan trioleate. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the primary biocide is a silver salt. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the primary biocide is silver nitrate. 
     
     
         6 . A composition for preventing microbiological contamination or reducing a microbial count associated with a contaminated surface comprising: 
       about 0.01% to about 20.0% by weight of a biocidal system comprising:
 i. from about 0.01% to 25% by weight of a primary biocide, wherein the primary biocide is selected from salts of copper, zinc or silver; and 
 ii. at least about 0.01% to 25% by weight of a pH buffer, where the pH buffer is a biocidal, dermal, non-corrosive acid composition, having a proton count of 1.0×10 20  and an embodied conductivity range of from 250 mV to 1500 mV. 
 
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 6  further comprising from about 0.01% to 2.0% by weight of a surfactant. 
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the surfactant is polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan trioleate. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the primary biocide is a silver salt. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the primary biocide is silver nitrate. 
     
     
         11 . A composition for preventing microbiological contamination or reducing a microbial count associated with a contaminated surface comprising: 
       about 0.01% to about 20.0% by weight of a biocidal system comprising:
 i. from about 0.01% to 25% by weight of a primary biocide, wherein the primary biocide is selected from salts of copper, zinc or silver; and 
 ii. at least about 0.01% to 25% by weight of a pH buffer, where the pH buffer is a biocidal, dermal, non-corrosive acid composition, having a proton count of from about 1.0×10 20  and an embodied conductivity of from 250 mV. 
 
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 11  further comprising from about 0.01% to 2.0% by weight of a surfactant. 
     
     
         13 . The composition according to  claim 12 , wherein the surfactant is polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan trioleate. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the primary biocide is a silver salt. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein the primary biocide is silver nitrate.