Disinfectant

• US 6,224,827 B1
• Filed: 09/29/1997
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Original Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Inventors: Lembke, Fritz
• Primary Examiner(s): ANTHONY, JOSEPH DAVID
• Application Number:
  US08/930,003
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 422/7, 422/28, 424/616, 424/62, 424/405, 252/186.43, 510/131, 510/371, 510/372, 134/2, 134/22.14, 514/714, 514/724
• US Class Current: 422/28
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 2300/00 Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 31/02 Acyclic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 35/02 containing aliphatically bound aldehyde or keto groups, or thio analogues thereof; Derivatives thereof, e.g. acetals
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 37/16 containing the group; Thio analogues thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing elements or inorganic compounds

Abstract

The invention relates to a water-free alcohol disinfectant capable of destroying spores. Preferably, the disinfectant also contains an additional chemical sterilization agent, e.g., hydrogen peroxide, in very low concentrations within the range of between 0.5 and 3.0 percent of the weight of the alcohol solution. The disinfectant is usable in industrial contexts for bacteriological cleaning of surfaces, for example, inner walls in pipelines, conduits, reaction vessels, and other process equipment, without corroding or chemically attacking the material in such surfaces.

Claims

1. A method for disinfecting and cleaning equipment employed in industrial processes without chemically attacking or causing corrosion in said equipment, which comprises the step of contacting a surface of said equipment with a disinfectant comprising a practically water-free alcohol solution, hydrogen peroxide, wherein said hydrogen peroxide is present in a quantity of between 0.5 and 3.0% of the weight of said solution, and optionally a chemical destruction agent selected from the group consisting of peracetic acid, formaldehyde, and glutaraldehyde.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said surface is non-stainless steel, plastic, or rubber.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said hydrogen peroxide is present in a quantity of about 1% of the weight of said practically water-free alcohol solution.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said practically water-free alcohol solution is ethanol, n-propanol, or isoponanol, or mixtures thereof.