Sanitizing rinse based on quat-anionic surfactant synergy

Abstract

Rinse aids and sanitizing rinse aids for various applications, including institutional machine sanitizing are disclosed. In particular, concentrated and use compositions, such as concentrated liquid rinse aid compositions, employing a synergistic combination of a quaternary ammonium compound and anionic surfactant are disclosed. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods of a sanitizing rinse providing desired antimicrobial efficacy against a broad spectrum of gram negative microbes, suitable foaming profiles, and beneficial applications of use of the same, including low temperature sanitizing rinse are provided.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method of sanitizing a surface with a sanitizing rinse aid composition comprising:
 contacting the sanitizing rinse aid composition with a surface, wherein the composition comprises an antimicrobial quaternary ammonium compound comprising a C 12 -C 16  alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, or a combination thereof, an anionic surfactant comprising octanoic acid, decanoic acid, ethylhexanoic acid, lauric acid, or a combination thereof, wherein the quaternary ammonium compound and the anionic surfactant form a complex without requiring nonionic surfactants, sequestrants, or chelating agents, and wherein the composition has a pH of 1 to 6; and   rinsing and sanitizing the surface;   wherein the composition provides at least an at least 3 log microbial kill on the surface at a temperature below about 160° F.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the sanitizing rinse composition is in the form of a solid. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising diluting the composition to provide a use solution by contacting the solid with an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the use solution comprises from about 25 ppm to about 400 ppm of the quaternary ammonium compound and from about 1 ppm and about 50 ppm of the anionic surfactant. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the sanitized surface is film-free and/or spot-free. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the sanitizing occurs within 30 seconds of contacting the surface. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the method occurs at a temperature of below about 120° F. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the composition is tolerant of water conditions of between about 0 ppm to about 500 ppm water hardness. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the method does not require additional rinsing steps. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the wherein method reduces the surface tension of a use solution of the composition to less than about 35 dynes/cm. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the reduction in surface tension results from synergy between the quaternary ammonium compound and the anionic surfactant, and wherein the synergy provides improved wetting, sheeting and/or rinsing performance. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the composition has a pH of between about 1 to about 5.5 in a use solution. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the composition further comprises an additional functional ingredient, and wherein the additional functional ingredient comprises an additional surfactant, thickener, viscosity modifier, solvent, solubility modifier, solubilizing agent, humectant, metal protecting agent, stabilizing agent, corrosion inhibitor, sequestrant, chelating agent, solidifying agent, sheeting agent, pH modifier, fragrance, dye, hydrotrope, coupler, buffer, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the additional functional ingredient is a solubilizing agent, stabilizing agent, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the method provides wetting, sheeting, and a reduced drying time at a temperature of at least about 140° C. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the method reduces the contact angle of the composition to less than about 30 degrees. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the composition reduces the contact angle of the composition to less than about 25 degrees. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the antimicrobial quaternary ammonium compound consists of a C 12 -C 16  alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the anionic surfactant consists of octanoic acid, decanoic acid, ethylhexanoic acid, lauric acid, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the composition provides at least an at least 5 log microbial kill on the surface.