Antimicrobial sanitizing composition containing n-alkyl and n-alkenyl succinic acid and methods for use

An antimicrobial concentrate composition capable of being diluted with a major amount of water to form an antimicrobial solution, the concentrate composition comprising:

• (a) a dicarboxylic acid having the general formula:
• ##STR4## wherein R is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon moiety having two carbons;
• R' is a substituted or unsubstituted n-alkyl or n-alkenyl moiety having between about 6 and about 12 carbon atoms;
• and R" is a substituent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alcohol, the dicarboxylic acid being present in an amount between about 0.25 and about 25 percent by weight based on the total weight of the concentrate;
• (b) a solubilizer present in an amount between about 0.25 and about 20 percent by weight based on the total weight of the concentrate;
• (c) an acid present in an amount capable of yielding a solution pH below about 5.0 upon dilution of the concentrate to a use solution;
• and
• (d) an anionic diluent, the diluent selected from the group consisting of alcohols, water and mixtures thereof, the diluent being present in an amount between about 10.0 and about 95 percent by weight based on the total weight of the concentrate.