Acidic biofilm remediation
AssigneeEcolab USA Inc.
InventorsGregory G. Griese, Mark Levitt, Richard K. Staub, Stefanie Gilbreth
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Abstract
Methods and compositions for biofilm remediation are disclosed. Biofilm is reduced and removed from soiled surfaces by providing to a surface in need an effective amount of a composition comprising a biocidal surfactant and at least one organic solvent. According to the invention, the biofilm remediation compositions reduce and remove biofilm formation by administering a one-step cleaner and disinfectant. The biofilm remediation compositions are stable and effective in concentrated and diluted ready-to-use formulations comprising an anionic sulfated or sulfonated surfactant that is not an organocarboxylic acid, a sparingly soluble organic solvent and optionally a soluble organic solvent.
Claims20
A method of biofilm remediation from a surface comprising:
- contacting a biofilm on the surface with a biocidal composition comprising
- from about 1 to about 30 wt-% of an anionic surfactant, wherein the anionic surfactant excludes short chain (C1-C5) organocarboxylic acid and is a sulfonated acid;
- from about 5 to about 25 wt-% of a soluble organic solvent;
- and
- from about 10 to about 40 wt-% of a sparingly soluble organic solvent;
- wherein the ratio of said soluble organic solvent to said sparingly soluble organic solvent is between about 10:1 and about 1:10 by weight percent;
- wherein said sparingly soluble organic solvent is soluble in the soluble organic solvent to an extent of less than about 20 wt-%;
- wherein the biocidal composition has a pH of less than about 3.5;
- wherein the biofilm comprises an extracellular matrix comprising polysaccharides and microbes.
A method of biofilm remediation from a surface comprising:
- contacting a biofilm on the surface with a biocidal composition comprising
- from about 0.1 to about 2 wt-% of an anionic surfactant, wherein the anionic surfactant is not a short chain (C1-5) organocarboxylic acid and is a sulfonated acid;
- from about 0.1 to about 2 wt-% of a soluble organic solvent in dilution;
- and
- from about 0.5 to about 5 wt-% of a sparingly soluble organic solvent in dilution;
- wherein the ratio of said soluble organic solvent to said sparingly soluble organic solvent is between about 10:1 and about 1:10 by weight percent;
- wherein said sparingly soluble organic solvent is soluble in the soluble organic solvent to an extent of about 15 wt-% or less;
- and
- wherein the biocidal composition has a pH of less than about 3;
- wherein the biofilm comprises an extracellular matrix comprising polysaccharides and microbes,
- wherein the microbes comprise one or more of a Pseudomonas, an Escherichia, a Staphylococcus, and/or a Listeria;
- wherein the biocidal composition provides a 3-log order reduction of microbes on the biofilm-soiled surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.