Anti-microbial compositions comprising an aqueous solution of a germicidal polymeric nitrogen compound and a potentiating oxidizing agent

A method of treating industrial materials such as the biocidal treatment of water and the sterilization of hospital rooms, which comprises contacting the same with an antimicrobial composition comprising an aqueous solution of:

• (1) 0.001 to 5 percent by weight of germicidal polymer selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) an anti-microbial polymeric quaternary ammonium compound made by condensing a difunctional tertiary amine, or a mixture of two or more difunctional tertiary amines, and a molar quantity of 1,4-dichloro-2-butene that is equal to the moles of said difunctional tertiary amine or the molar sum of the difunctional tertiary amines in the mixture, the difunctional tertiary amines being of the type ##STR10## where Z consists of from one to three divalent aliphatic radicals of 2 to 10 carbon atoms which may contain 0 to 2 double bonds or 0 to 2 hydroxy substituents, wherein R' and R" are either the same of different and wherein they be (i) primary or secondary alkyls having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, where the sum of the carbon atoms in R' and R" are is no greater than 36, (ii) hydroxy or dihydroxy derivatives of the aforesaid primary or secondary alkyls, (iii) benzyl, (iv) alkyl benzyl or (v) combined with N to form a heterocyclic group of either 5, 6 or 7 atoms;
• or said difunctional tertiary amines and a monofunctional tertiary amine condensed with 1,4-dichloro-2-butene wherein the molar quantity of the difunctional tertiary amine is greater than the molar quantity of the monofunctional tertiary amine, and,
• (b) a polydiguanide;
• and,
• (2) 0.001 to 5 percent by weight of an oxidizing agent which has a standard reduction potential in the range defined by that of hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide and hypochlorite, is soluble in water, non-toxic and, in said compositions, enhances the activity of said compound by oxidation in situ at low concentrations.

A method of treating soft contact lenses by contacting the same with an antimicrobial composition comprising an aqueous solution of:

• (1) 0.001 to 0.05 percent by weight of germicidal polymer selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) an anti-microbial polymeric quaternary ammonium compound made by condensing a difunctional tertiary amine, or a mixture of two or more difunctional tertiary amines, and a molar quantity of 1,4-dichloro-2-butene than is equal to the moles of said difunctional tertiary amine or the molar sum of the difunctional tertiary amines in the mixture, the difunctional tertiary amines being of the type ##STR11## where Z consists of from one to three divalent aliphatic radicals of 2 to 10 carbon atoms which may contain 0 to 2 double bonds or 0 to 2 hydroxy substituents, wherein R' and R" are either the same of different and wherein they be (i) primary or secondary alkyls having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, where the sum of the carbon atoms in R' and R" are is no greater than 36, (ii) hydroxy or dihydroxy derivatives of the aforesaid primary or secondary alkyls, (iii) benzyl, (iv) alkyl benzyl or (v) combined with N to form a heterocyclic group of either 5, 6 or 7 atoms;
• or said difunctional tertiary amines and a monofunctional tertiary amine condensed with 1,4-dichloro-2-butene wherein the molar quantity of the difunctional tertiary amine is greater than the molar quantity of the monofunctional tertiary amine, and,
• (b) a polydiguanide;
• and,
• (2) 0.001 to 0.05 percent by weight of an oxidizing agent which has a standard reduction potential in the range defined by that of hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide and hypochlorite, is soluble in water, non-toxic and, in said compositions, enhances the activity of said compound by oxidation in situ at low concentrations.