Disinfection method and composition therefor

• US RE36,064 E
• Filed: 04/23/1993
• Issued: 01/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alcide Corp (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kross, Robert D., Davidson, Eugene A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Criares, Theodore J.
• Application Number:
  US08/052,641
• Time in Patent Office: 2,104 Days
• Field of Search: 424/665, 424/661
• US Class Current: 424/665
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing elements or inorganic compounds

Abstract

There is disclosed, in one aspect, chlorous acid generating compositions useful for disinfecting substrates. The compositions comprise aqueous solutions containing a suitable amount of a protic acid, such as citric or malic acid, and a suitable amount of a metal chlorite, such as sodium chlorite. The chlorite ion concentration which is in the form of chlorous acid in the composition is no more than about 15 percent by weight of the total amount of chlorite ion concentration. In a preferred embodiment, the composition also contains a vicinal dihydroxy or polyhydroxy compound. In another preferred embodiment, the composition contains at least a 10-fold molar excess of a water soluble chloride ion compared to the total concentration of chlorite ion. In another aspect, there is disclosed a process for disinfecting substrates. This process comprises applying the compositions described above to a substrate. In yet another aspect, there is disclosed a process for preparing the compositions described above. This process comprises contacting the protic acid with the metal chlorite to form the disinfecting composition.

Claims

1. A process for disinfecting a substrate comprising contacting said substrate with an aqueous solution consisting essentially of from about 0.01% to about 6% by weight of an organic acid, wherein the pK of the organic acid is from about 2.8 to about 4.2, and wherein the organic acid is not lactic acid, and from about 0.0001% to about 0.45% by weight based upon the total weight of said composition of a metal chlorite, such that the chlorite ion concentration in the form of chlorous acid is not more than about 15% by weight of the total amount of chlorite ion concentration.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the metal chlorite is sodium chlorite.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, glycolic acid, mandelic acid, salicyclic acid, carbonic acid, and combinations thereof.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the organic acid is citric acid.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein the substrate is selected from skin, tissue, body fluids and mucous membranes.

5. A process for disinfecting a substrate comprising contacting said substrate with an aqueous solution consisting essentially of from about 0.01% to about 6% by weight glycolic acid, and from about 0.01% to about 0.45% by weight based upon the total weight of said composition of a metal chlorite, such that the chlorite ion concentration in the form of chlorous acid is not more than about 15% by weight of the total amount of chlorite ion concentration.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein glycolic acid ranges from about 0.05% to about 3% by weight of the total composition.

7. The process of claim 5 wherein glycolic acid ranges from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of the total composition.

8. The process of claim 5 wherein the metal chlorite ranges from about 0.03% to about 0.3% by weight of the total composition.

9. The process of any one of claims 5-8 wherein the metal chlorite is sodium chlorite.

11. A process for disinfecting a substrate comprising contacting said substrate with an aqueous solution consisting essentially of from about 0.01% to about 6% by weight of an organic acid, wherein the pK of the organic acid is from about 2.8 to about 4.2, and wherein the organic acid is not lactic acid, and from about 0.01% to about 0.45% by weight based upon the total weight of said composition of a metal chlorite, such that the chlorite ion concentration in the form of chlorous acid is not more than about 15% by weight of the total amount of chlorite ion concentration.

12. The process of claim 11 wherein the organic acid ranges from about 0.05% to about 3% by weight of the total composition.

13. The process of claim 11 wherein the organic acid ranges from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of the total composition.

14. The process of claim 11 wherein the metal chlorite ranges from about 0.03% to about 0.3% by weight of the total composition.

15. The process of any one of claims 11-14 wherein the metal chlorite is sodium chlorite.

16. The process of any one of claims 11-14 wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, glycolic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid, carbonic acid, and combinations thereof.

17. The process of claim 11 wherein the substrate is selected from skin, tissue, body fluids and mucous membranes.

18. A chlorous acid generating composition comprising an aqueous solution consisting essentially of from about 0.01% to about 6% by weight of an organic acid, wherein the pK of the organic acid is from about 2.8 to about 4.1, and wherein the organic acid is not lactic acid, and from about 0.0001% to about 0.45% by weight based upon the total weight of said composition of a metal chlorite, such that the chlorite ion concentration in the form of chlorous acid is not more than about 15% of weight of the total amount of chlorite ion concentration.

19. The composition of claim 18 wherein the metal chlorite is sodium chlorite.

20. The composition of claim 18 wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, glycolic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid, carbonic acid, and combinations thereof.

21. The composition of claim 18 wherein the organic acid is citric acid.

22. A chlorous acid generating composition comprising an aqueous solution consisting essentially of from about 0.01% to about 6% by weight of an organic acid, wherein the pK of the organic acid is from about 2.8 to about 4.2, and wherein the organic acid is not lactic acid, and from about 0.01% to about 0.45% by weight based upon the total weight of said composition of a metal chlorite, such that the chlorite ion concentration in the form of chlorous acid is not more than about 15% by weight of the total amount of chloride ion concentration.

23. The composition of claim 22 wherein the organic acid ranges from about 0.05% to about 3% by weight of the total composition.

24. The composition of claim 22 wherein the organic acid ranges from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of the total composition.

25. The composition of claim 22 wherein the metal chlorite ranges from about 0.03% to about 0.3% by weight of the total composition.

26. The composition of any one of claim 22-25 wherein the metal chlorite is sodium chlorite.

27. The composition of any one of claim 22-25 wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, glycolic acid, mandelic acid, salicyclic acid, carbonic acid, and combinations thereof.

28. A chlorous acid generating composition comprising an aqueous solution consisting essentially of from about 0.01% to about 6% by weight glycolic acid, and from about 0.01% to about 0.45% by weight based upon the total weight of said composition of a metal chlorite, such that the chlorite ion concentration in the form of chlorous acid is not more than about 15% by weight of the total amount of chlorite ion concentration.

29. The composition of claim 28 wherein glycolic acid ranges from about 0.05% to about 3% by weight of the total composition.

30. The composition of claim 28 wherein glycolic acid ranges from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of the total composition.

31. The composition of claim 28 wherein the metal chlorite ranges from about 0.03% to about 0.3% by weight of the total composition.

32. The composition of any one of claims 28-31 wherein the metal chloride is sodium chlorite. .Iadd.

33. A process for disinfecting a substrate comprising contacting said substrate with an aqueous composition consisting essentially of a mixture of from about 0.01% to about 6% based upon the total weight of said composition of a protic acid, wherein the protic acid is not lactic acid, and from about 0.0001% to about 0.45% by weight based upon the total weight of said composition of a metal chlorite, such that the chlorite ion concentration in the form of chlorous acid is not more than about 15% by weight of the total amount of chlorite ion concentration..Iaddend..Iadd.34. The process of claim 33 wherein the erotic acid ranges from about 0.05% to about 3% by weight of the total composition..Iaddend..Iadd.35. The process of claim 33 wherein the protic acid ranges from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of the total composition..Iaddend..Iadd.36. The process of claim 33 wherein the metal chlorite ranges from about 0.01% to about 0.45% by weight of the total composition..Iaddend..Iadd.37. The process of claim 33 wherein the metal chlorite ranges from about 0.03% to about 0.3% by weight of the total composition..Iaddend..Iadd.38. The process of claim 33 wherein the metal chlorite is sodium chlorite..Iaddend..Iadd.39. A chlorous acid generating composition comprising an aqueous composition consisting essentially of a mixture of from about 0.01% to about 6% based upon the total weight of said composition of a protic acid, wherein the protic acid is not lactic acid, and from about 0.0001% to about 0.45% by weight based upon the total weight of said composition of a metal chlorite, such that the chlorite ion concentration in the form of chlorous acid is not more than about 15% by weight of the total amount of chlorite ion concentration..Iaddend..Iadd.40. The composition of claim 39 wherein the protic acid ranges from about 0.05% to about 3% by weight of the total composition..Iaddend..Iadd.41. The composition of claim 39 wherein the protic acid ranges from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of the total composition..Iaddend..Iadd.42. The composition of claim 39 wherein the metal chlorite ranges from about 0.01% to about 0.45% by weight of the total composition..Iaddend..Iadd.43. The composition of claim 39 wherein the metal chlorite ranges from about 0.03% to about 0.3% by weight of the total composition..Iaddend..Iadd.44. The composition of claim 39 wherein the metal chlorite is sodium chlorite..Iaddend.