Wetting agents for aseptic filling

A wetting agent composition consisting essentially of:

• (a) a sheeting agent, wherein the sheeting agent comprises at least one compound having the structure represented by formula I:
• R—O—(CH2CH2O)n—H,
• wherein R is a (C1-C12) alkyl group, and n is an integer in the range of 1 to 100;
• (b) a defoaming agent comprising a polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene block copolymer surfactant;
• (c) an association disruption agent of an alcohol alkoxylate EO/BO surfactant, and/or a C12-C14 fatty alcohol EO/PO surfactant;
• and
• (d) an additional ingredient selected from the group consisting of a carrier, a hydrotrope, a chelating/sequestering agent, and combinations thereof.

A composition consisting essentially of:

• (a) a wetting agent composition consisting essentially of:
• (i) a sheeting agent, wherein the sheeting agent comprises at least one compound having the structure represented by formula I:
• R—O—(CH2CH2O)n—H, wherein R is a (C1-C12) alkyl group, and n is an integer in the range of 1 to 100;
• (ii) a defoaming agent comprising a polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene block copolymer surfactant, wherein the weight percent ratio of sheeting agent to defoaming agent is between about 1:5 to about 5:1 in the composition;
• (iii) an association disruption agent of an alcohol alkoxylate ethylene oxide surfactant, alcohol alkoxylate butylene oxide surfactant, alcohol alkoxylate propylene oxide surfactant, C12-C14 fatty alcohol ethylene oxide surfactant or C12-C14 fatty alcohol propylene oxide surfactant;
• and
• (iv) an additional ingredient selected from the group consisting of a carrier, a hydrotrope, a chelating/sequestering agent, and combinations thereof;
• and
• (b) an antimicrobial agent.

A method for aseptic packaging comprising:

• (a) forming an aseptic packaging use solution comprising diluting a composition to a use concentration of between about 0.01 wt % to about 10 wt %, wherein the composition consists essentially of:
• (i) a wetting agent consisting essentially of:
• (a) a sheeting agent, wherein the sheeting agent comprises at least one compound having the structure represented by formula I:
• R—O—(CH2CH2O)n—H wherein R is a (C1-C12) alkyl group, and n is an integer in the range of 1 to 100;
• (b) a defoaming agent comprising a polyoxypropylenepolyoxyethylene block copolymer surfactant,
• (c) an association disruption agent of an alcohol alkoxylate ethylene oxide surfactant, alcohol alkoxylate butylene oxide surfactant, alcohol alkoxylate propylene oxide surfactant, C12-C14 fatty alcohol ethylene oxide surfactant or C12-C14 fatty alcohol propylene oxide surfactant;
• (ii) and an antimicrobial agent;
• (b) contacting a package with the aseptic packaging use solution;
• (c) filling the package with a substance selected from the group consisting of food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and combinations thereof;
• and
• (d) sealing the package.