Polyelectrolyte complexes for biocide enhancement

A composition comprising a polyelectrolyte complex of a polyanion, preferably selected from the group consisting of a natural polyanion such as xanthan gum, alginate, a lignin compound such as lignosulfonate, pectin, carrageenan, humic acid, fulvic acid, angico gum, gum Kondagogu, sodium alkyl naphtalene sulfonate, poly-γ-glutamic acid, maleic starch half-ester, carboxymethyl cellulose, chondroitin sulphate, dextran sulphate, hyaluronic acid, and a synthetic polyanion such as poly(acrylic acid), polyphosphoric acid, and poly(L-lactide), and a polycation preferably selected from the group consisting of poly-L-lysine, epsilon-poly-L-lysine, poly-L-arginine, chitosan oligosaccharide and chitosan, wherein said polyanion and said polycation are present in relative amounts of from 1:2 to 60:1 (w/w), said composition further comprising at least one biocide.