# US 5,344,838 A · Sterilant composition > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,344,838 A - Document ID: US5344838A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/164,002 - Filed: 1993-12-08 - Granted: 1994-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 1985-01-18 - Assignees: Cetylite Industries, Inc. - Inventors: Stanley L. Wachman; Sidney Karlan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5344838A ## CPC - A01N 59/00: Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing elements or inorganic compounds - A01N 59/02: Sulfur; Selenium; Tellurium; Compounds thereof - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ## Abstract A biocidal, aqueous composition for killing bacteria, spores, fungi, and viruses on nonabsorbent surfaces comprises at least one quaternary ammonium compound, at least one aliphatic dialdehyde having from two to six carbon atoms, and at least one aliphatic hydroxyl compound having form one to eight carbon atoms. This sterilant is stable for weeks, is especially useful between pH 4 to 9, and may additionally comprise a chelating agent. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A biocidal, aqueous, composition for killing bacteria, spores, fungi, and viruses on nonabsorbent surface comprising: a) two quaternary ammonium compounds, each in the amount of from about 0.05 to 3 percent by weight, one of said two quaternary ammonium compounds is a heterocyclic quaternary ammonium compound, and the other of said quaternary ammonium compounds is an aliphatic quaternary ammonium compound having an aromatic and an alkyl moiety or having a long chain aliphatic and a lower alkyl moiety; b) one heterocyclic dialdehyde containing up to 6 carbon atoms in the amount of from about 0.5 to about 7 percent by weight; and c) at least one aliphatic hydroxyl compound having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms in the amount from 0.1 to about 3 percent by weight; all weight percents being in the final use dilution. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The biocidal composition of claim 1, wherein the weight percent of the heterocyclic dialdehyde in the final use dilution is in the amount of from about 2.6 to about 5 weight percent. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The biocidal composition of claim 1, further comprising a cheating agent in the amount of zero to about 0.025 weight percent of the final use dilution. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The biocidal composition of claim 3, wherein the cheating agent is tetrasodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The biocidal composition of claim 1, wherein the pH ranges from about 4 to about 9. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The biocidal composition of claim 1, wherein the dialdehyde is furan-2,5-dialdehyde comprising from 2.6 to 3.2 weight percent of the final use dilution. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The biocidal composition of claim 1, wherein the heterocyclic quaternary ammonium compound is n-hexylpyridinium halide. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The biocidal composition of claim 1, wherein the aliphatic quaternary ammonium compound contains an aromatic moiety which is benzylalkyl. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The biocidal composition of claim 1, wherein the aliphatic quaternary ammonium compound contains a long chain aliphatic moiety which is cetyldimethylethyl. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The biocidal composition of claim 1, wherein the aliphatic hydroxy compound is selected from the group consisting of isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, and their mixtures. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The biocidal composition of claim 1, further comprising a soluble, inorganic, nitrite salt. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The biocidal composition of claim 1, wherein all the all the quaternary ammonium compounds are halide salts. ### Claim 13 A method for sterilizing a nonabsorbent surface comprising the steps of contacting said surface with an effective sterilizing amount of an aqueous composition comprising: a) two quaternary ammonium compounds, each in the amount of from about 0.05 to 3 percent by weight, one of said two quaternary ammonium compounds is a heterocyclic quaternary ammonium compound, and the other of said quaternary ammonium compounds is an aliphatic quaternary ammonium compound having an aromatic and an alkyl moiety or having a long chain aliphatic and a lower alkyl moiety; b) one heterocyclic dialdehyde containing up to 6 carbon atoms in the amount of from about 0.5 to about 7 percent by weight; and c) at least one aliphatic hydroxyl compound having from one to eight carbon atoms in the amount from about 0.1 to about 3 percent by weight; all weight percents being in the final use dilution; and killing on said surface bacteria, spores, fungi, and viruses.