Antimicrobial agent
AssigneeRengo Co., Ltd.
InventorsShoji Yoshimura, Hiroyuki Minami
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Abstract
A silver-containing antimicrobial agent which is excellent in affinity to fiber, antimicrobial property, anti-fungus property and stability to heat and light. It comprises carboxymethyl cellulose containing silver in the amount of 0.01 to 1% by weight and having the degree of substitution to carboxymethyl group of not less than 0.4. The carboxymethyl cellulose may be a crosslinked compound to make the antimicrobial agent water resistant.
Claims9
An antimicrobial agent comprising a silver salt of carboxymethylcellulose of formula ##STR2## wherein R is H or a carboxymethyl group which is selected from the group of CH.sub.2 COOH and CH.sub.2 COOM wherein M is an alkali metal, and n is 100-2000;
- wherein R is H and not a carboxyl group to the extent that the degree of substitution is not less than 0.4, and
- wherein H in CH.sub.2 COOH or M in CH.sub.2 COOM is replaced with silver to the extent necessary to provide a compound with a silver content of 0.01 to 1% by weight.
A method of providing an antimicrobial effect to materials comprising adding a compound of formula 1 ##STR3## wherein R is H or a carboxymethyl group which is selected from the group of CH.sub.2 COOH and CH.sub.2 COOM wherein M is an alkali metal, and n is 100-2000;
- wherein R is H and not a carboxyl group to the extent that the degree of substitution is not less than 0.4, and
- wherein H in CH.sub.2 COOH or M in CH.sub.2 COOM is replaced with silver to the extent necessary to provide a compound with a silver content of 0.01 to 1% by weight, to said materials.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.