Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-23
2003-05-06
Ogden, Necholus (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S152000, C510S153000, C510S155000, C424S044000, C424S049000, C424S055000, C424S070100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06559110
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present intention relates to the preparation of synthetic detergent (syndet) bar soap composition useful for washing and cleaning hands and other body parts for preventing the risk of infections caused by microorganisms which can also be efficaciously employed on other sanitizable animate and inanimate surfaces. More particularly, this invention pertains to the preparation of acidic syndet bar soap compositions and the material which results therefrom.
2. Description of Related Art
Typically soaps are prepared under conditions at above neutral pH. Thus the pH may be neutral or alkaline during preparation. At such pH levels, microorganisms can remain viable on the contaminated soaps. These can be transferred to the surface being treated by the soap. Additionally, spoilage microorganisms can multiply on the soap. Antimicrobial agents are often incorporated into such soaps to prevent microbial growth. However, such antimicrobial agents do not exhibit full antimicrobial potential due to the neutral or alkaline pH of the surrounding environment.
Synthetic detergent (syndet) bar soaps, are based on detergency of surface-active agents (synthetic detergents) instead of alkali salt or fatty acids used in conventional soaps. Because syndet soaps clean and lather like conventional soaps, general public often refers to syndet type compositions simply as soaps. Surface active agents incorporated in hand and toilet soaps remove soil and dirt from the surface of the skin or hair along with some microorganisms. However, these soaps may not kill microorganisms. Bar soaps may be contaminated with bacteria and even transmit these microorganisms during their use. Thus the use of soaps without antibacterial properties may even add microorganisms to the skin surfaces and be a vector for transmission of infections. Thus, these soaps cannot be relied upon to prevent spread of infective germs.
Antibacterial and bactericidal soaps used for personal and health care applications typically are soaps which incorporate various antimicrobial agents in addition to the surface-active agents at pH greater than 7.0 (neutrality). Antibacterial agents are often incorporated in soaps to prevent growth of microorganisms in the soap rather than as effective agents for reducing or eliminating germs on the surfaces being cleaned.
Thus, soaps labeled as “antibacterial” may prevent or inhibit the growth of microorganisms on the soap surface or in the soap matrix but not offer protection by killing germs on the contact surfaces, such as skin, hair or the like. Such antibacterial soaps cannot be routinely classified as “sanitizing” soaps. Only a few types of antibacterial soaps can reduce microbial populations on the skin, hair or other body parts. These contain antibacterial agents specifically selected for such activity. These commonly used antibacterial ingredients include esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid “parabens” (such as methyl parabens, propyl parabens, butyl parabens, and ethyl parabens), ethyl alcohol, imidazolidinyl urea, isothiazolin compounds, triclosan, dehydroacetate, o-phenyl phenol, quaternium compounds, boric acid, formaldehyde solutions, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).
These materials typically are prepared and employed in compositions at neutral to alkaline pH. Fatty acid soaps must be prepared at neutral or alkaline conditions in order preserve the cleaning properties of the given soap. Synthetic detergent soaps are prepared in a similar manner as it has been held that neutral or alkaline pH levels are required to achieve proper cleaning characteristics of the soap material.
Conventional soap compositions for skin care which achieve suitable levels of sanitization are high in cost or are toxic. Chlorine based products are harmful to the environment; also certain chlorine based products are not available to the public except in health-care institutions. Thus, a sanitizing soap which would be environmentally friendly and less toxic would be highly desirable. It would also be desirable to provide a sanitizing soap which is economical and microbicidal for preventing surface or topical infection without the drawbacks of available sanitizing soap products.
Anionic surfactants have been proposed for use in cleaning compositions as well as in sanitizers or disinfecting solutions. However, for use as soap, the anionic surfactant must be present in sufficient amount to generate foam for cleaning purposes, such as washing hands and for general personal hygiene, facial conditioning, and the like. The use of high concentration anionic surfactants and other surfactant containing compositions at low pH has been held to result in damage to the skin, dryness, cracking, chapping, and irritation of the skin. Thus, anionic surfactants at low pH have not been used as microbicidal and sanitizing soaps on skin and body surfaces.
Additionally, some of the antimicrobial agents used in bar soaps, such as triclosan, have been reported to enhance antibiotic resistance in certain strains of bacteria. It is feared that their use could create the risk of propagating drug resistant bacteria and transmitting such bacteria to multiple users of the bar soap. Preparation of bar soap which would have antimicrobial properties but permit elimination or reduction in the use of such antimicrobial agents would be highly desirable.
The need to provide good lathering cleaning and sanitizing soaps is still largely unfilled. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a method for preparing a syndet soap having good cleaning characteristics which also has enhanced effective sanitizing attributes. It would also be desirable to provide syndet soaps which are acidic in nature and can exhibit antimicrobial properties. It would also be beneficial to provide a syndet bar soap which would permit the incorporation of materials, such as alpha-hydroxy acids, to facilitate and promote beneficial healing and rejuvenating of the skin.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention is a synthetic detergent bar soap and method for making the same which is prepared under acidic conditions to enhance or provide antimicrobial properties to the material thus prepared. The material thus prepared exhibits at least one of the following advantages: a) under acidic conditions, the soap composition exhibits antimicrobial properties inhibiting survival and growth of microorganisms on the soap surface and on contact surfaces; b) the activity of antibacterial agents used in the soap can also be enhanced under acidic conditions; c) addition of alpha hydroxy-acids can also have beneficial effect in rejuvenating skin.
Thus the preparation of syndet soaps under acidic conditions can have cost savings or economic advantage in eliminating or reducing the amount or concentration of antimicrobial agents employed in the composition. Antimicrobial agents that are normally incorporated in antimicrobial soaps exhibit enhanced antimicrobial action under acidic conditions. Thus, the antimicrobial properties of materials already incorporated in the syndet bar soap can be further enhanced by addition of antimicrobial agents. Because of the enhanced antimicrobial activity under acidic conditions, the amount or concentration of antimicrobial agents can be reduced. This will provide an additional cost savings.
The soap composition consists essentially of:
a) an anionic surfactant present in an amount in the range from about 0.10 weight % to about 95.0 weight % based on the total weight of the concentrate composition; and
b) an acidifying agent present in an amount sufficient to provide a pH below 5.0.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention is predicated on the unexpected discovery that an effective synthetic detergent bar soap can be prepared under acidic conditions which will exhibit antimicrobial characteristics. The syndet bar soap composition is based on (a) cleaning, surface active and sudsing properties of anionic surface active agent or agents, (b) enhancement of antim
LandOfFree
Syndet bar soap having an acidifying agent does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Syndet bar soap having an acidifying agent, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Syndet bar soap having an acidifying agent will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3063256