Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – With halogen – nitrogen – oxygen – or phosphorus containing...
Reexamination Certificate
1997-04-30
2001-03-06
Kopec, Mark (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
With halogen, nitrogen, oxygen, or phosphorus containing...
C510S218000, C510S219000, C510S234000, C510S426000, C510S427000, C510S428000, C510S434000, C510S477000, C510S480000, C510S495000, C510S498000, C510S131000, C134S003000, C134S022100, C134S022130, C134S022140, C134S022160, C134S022170, C134S022190, C134S034000, C134S039000, C134S040000, C134S041000, C134S042000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06197738
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many applications which require the application of a sanitizing preparation to a surface to prevent buildup of microorganisms on the surface and consequent health threats. One such application is cleaning and sanitizing processing equipment, and counters and tables which are in contact with food, such as in restaurants. Another application is disinfecting and cleaning surfaces in hospitals and health care facilities. Also, a sanitizing preparation is desired to remove microorganisms from the skin of a person by applying the preparation in the form of a lotion, ointment or salve directly to the skin.
In such applications, it is desirable to kill the microorganisms on the surfaces and thereafter remove the remnants of the organism by a cleaning process. In the past, most sanitizing preparations have killing power, but little cleaning power. Further, the sanitizing preparations used in the past generally contain caustic or toxic ingredients and must be washed off with water, or isolated from the skin of the person applying it, such as with gloves. The commonly used sanitizing preparations are based on chlorine, iodine, or quaternary compounds, and require care in applying the preparation and present a storage and health hazard.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sanitizing preparation which may be applied by hand and will not harm the skin of the person applying the preparation. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a sanitizing preparation which may be applied to the skin of a person to remove microorganisms from the skin. Further, it is an object of the invention to provide such a sanitizing preparation which is more effective than bleach in destroying the most important disease producing microorganisms In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sanitizing preparation which not only effectively destroys microorganisms, but also is an effective surface cleaner without the need of a water rinse.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has long been known that microorganisms are inhibited by an acidic atmospheres Accordingly, an organic acid with a pH less than three is utilized as an ingredient of the preparation according to the present invention. While organic acids, such as citric acid, retard the growth of microorganisms, they have not been noted for the rapid destruction of such organisms.
The inventor has found that the direct kill rate of certain important bacterial organisms is increased by applying a preparation to such surfaces which adds a chelating agent to the organic acid. Further, the direct kill rate of the preparation is further increased to exceed that of chlorine by the addition of a surfactant. In addition, a preparation with an organic acid, chelating agent and surfactant functions as an effective cleaning agent. Further, the inventor has found that the ingredients of this composition may be selected of noncaustic and nontoxic materials, and the resulting sanitizing cleaner is itself noncaustic and nontoxic.
The organic acid must have a pH less than three, and creates an inhospitable environment for microorganisms. Not all microorganisms will be killed by the organic acid alone, and the addition of a chelating agent expands the organisms that will be killed by the composition and increases the kill rate. It is believed that the chelating agent functions by tying up the metals and making them unavailable to the microorganism. Microorganisms require metals to carry out normal functions, and the effect of the chelating agent is believed to starve the microorganisms and destroy them.
The preparation utilizes a surfactant to wet the surfaces that are subjected to the preparation and facilitate cleaning of those surfaces. The surfactant not only facilitates use of the preparation as a cleaner, but it also affects the kill rate of microorganisms. It is believed that the surfactant effects the outer protective membrane of the microorganism, and creates openings for the entry of the preparation into the microorganism to expedite the reaction of the ingredients of the preparation on the microorganism. It is further believed that the surfactant causes the microorganism to leak protoplasm, thus reducing its defenses and impeding its ability to reproduce.
The inventor has also found that the kill rate can be increased by the addition of a buffering agent to the preparation. It is believed that the buffering agent maintains the hydrogen potential of the composition constant, thus accelerating the reaction of the preparation.
Organic acids are available which also have a chelating function, although a weaker function than available chelating agents. Also, surfactants are available which have a chelating function, although a weak function. It is thus possible to optimize the chelating function by selecting an organic acid and surfactant which will contribute to the chelating function.
Water may be added to the preparation to form a solution, and it has been found that a highly dilute solution of a preparation consisting of about 85% to 98% of an organic acid, about 0.2% to about 10% of a chelating agent, and about 0.2% to about 5% of a surfactant, by weight, will function as a sanitizing cleaners. A solution of between about 0.2% and 5% of the preparation to between about 99.8% to 95% water by weight has been found to be effective. The solution will be more effective with a preparation containing between about 0.2% to about 5% of a buffering agent by weight.
The preparation may also be combined with a lotion and used as a hand cleaner. A water based lotion is particularly desirable since it also functions as a moisturizer. A combination of as little as about 1% of the preparation to about 99% water based lotion has been found to produce a sanitizing and cleaning lotion which also moisturizes the skin.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
There is no drawing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Among the organic acids that are useful in the preparation, citric acid has been preferred for use in the applications set forth above. Other organic acids which are suitable for practicing the invention are fumaric acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, and adipic acid, and mixtures of the enumerated acids.
Among the chelating agents that are suitable for use in the preparation of the invention, ethylene-diaminetetraacetic acid, known as EDTA , and its salts, particularly its sodium and potassium salts, are preferred. Other chelating agents suitable for practicing the invention are salicylic acid, polyphosphates, ascorbicacid and blends of these enumerated chelating agents. Even citric acid, a hydroxypolycarboxylic acid, acts as a chelating agent in this nontoxic sanitizing cleaner.
The preparation requires an anionic surfactant, and the preferred surfactants are sodium lauryl sulfate or ammonium lauryl sulfate. Other suitable surfactants for practicing the invention are the sarcosinates, particularly sodium lauryl sarcosinate, the sulfoacetates, particularly sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, the sulfosuccinates, particularly disodium monoaleanida or laureth sulfosuccinate, or blends of the enumerated surfactants.
The inventor has found monosodium or potassium phosphate, or mixtures thereof to be the preferred buffering agents. The buffering agent should have a pH less than about 5.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the preparation is a mixture of citric acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or its salts, sodium lauryl sulfate and monosodium phosphate. This preparation has been found to be very effective against pseudomonas, staphylococcus and salmonella, as well as the saccharomyces bailii yeast. It is believed that one of the reasons for the effectiveness of this preparation is the fact that citric acid and sodium lauryl sulfate both function as mild chelating agents, and the chelating effect of these ingredients is additive with that of EDTA and/or its salts.
The organic acid must be sufficiently acidic to produce a pH for the preparation as a whole less than 3, and prefer
Burmeister Marshall A.
Kopec Mark
Mruk Brian P.
LandOfFree
Nontoxic sanitizing cleanser based on organic acids and... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Nontoxic sanitizing cleanser based on organic acids and..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Nontoxic sanitizing cleanser based on organic acids and... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2536668