# US 7,754,766 B2 · Methods and composition for treating a material > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,754,766 B2 - Document ID: US7754766B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/380,077 - Filed: 2009-02-23 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Granted: 2010-07-13 - Earliest claimed: 2006-07-14 - Assignees: UrthTech, LLC - Inventors: Aziz C. Awad - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7754766B2 ## CPC - A01N 31/02: Acyclic compounds - A61P 31/02: Local antiseptics - 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 - A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS ## Abstract A composition and method are described for sanitizing or otherwise treating a material such as a non-living surface, living tissue, soil or atmosphere which may be contaminated by a toxin, chemical warfare agent, insect, prion, microorganism or other infectious agent. Also described are methods of making the composition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for sanitizing a material which comprises: (a) providing an aqueous composition which comprises a mixture of a lower alkanol containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkalinating agent and a fatty acid salt, wherein: (i) the fatty acid salt is present in an amount between about 0.1% and 25% by weight of the composition, and (ii) the lower alkanol is present in an amount between about 18% and 95% by weight of the composition; (b) applying the composition to the material in an effective amount to sanitize the material; and (c) optionally removing a resulting composition of step (b). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the fatty acid salt is an alkali or alkaline earth metal salt of a saturated fatty acid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the fatty acid salt is a sodium (Na), potassium (K), lithium (Li), calcium (Ca) or magnesium (Mg) salt. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the fatty acid salt is an alkali or alkaline metal salt of a fatty acid comprising 4 to 22 carbon atoms. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the fatty acid salt is an alkali or alkaline metal salt of lauric acid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the fatty acid salt is potassium laurate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the material is a Stachybotrys toxin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the material contains a microorganism or other infectious agent which is a fungus, a bacterium, a fungal spore, a bacterial spore, a virus or a conformationally altered prion. ### Claim 9 A composition which comprises in a mixture: (a) a lower alkanol containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein the lower alkanol is present in an amount between about 18% and 95% by weight of the composition; (b) a fatty acid salt soluble in the alkanol, wherein the fatty acid salt is present in an amount between about 0.1% and 25% by weight of the composition; (c) an alkalinating agent; and (d) water, wherein the water is present in an amount between about 15% and 60% by weight of the composition. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The composition of claim 9, wherein: (i) the composition is in the form of an aqueous solution, and (ii) the lower alkanol is present in an amount between about 30% and 95% by weight of the composition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The composition of claim 10 wherein the lower alkanol is methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol or mixtures thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The composition of claim 11 wherein the fatty acid derivative is an alkali or alkaline earth metal salt of a saturated fatty acid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The composition of claim 12 wherein the fatty acid salt is a sodium (Na), potassium (K), lithium (Li), calcium (Ca) or magnesium (Mg) salt. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The composition of claim 9 wherein the fatty acid salt is an alkali or alkaline metal salt of a fatty acid comprising 4 to 22 carbon atoms. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The composition of claim 14 wherein the fatty acid salt is an alkali or alkaline metal salt of lauric acid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The composition of claim 15 wherein the fatty acid salt is potassium laurate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The composition of claim 9 further comprising one or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of thickeners, emollients, moisturizers, corrosion inhibitors, propellants, perfumes, flavoring agents, defoamers, antioxidants and dyes. ### Claim 18 A method of treating a material, which comprises: (a) providing an aqueous composition which comprises a mixture of a lower alkanol containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a fatty acid salt, and an alkalinating agent, wherein: (i) the fatty acid salt is present in an amount between about 0.1% and 25% by weight of the composition, and (ii) the lower alkanol is present in an amount between about 18% and 95% by weight of the composition; and (b) applying the composition to the material in an effective amount to treat the material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein a resulting composition of step (b) is removed from the material. ### Claim 20 A method of making a composition, which comprises: mixing (a) a lower alkanol containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms; (b) a fatty acid; (c) an alkalining an agent; and (d) water; wherein: (i) an alkali metal fatty acid salt is formed to provide the composition, (ii) the fatty acid salt is present in an amount between about 0.1% to 25% by weight of the composition, (iii) the lower alkanol is present in an amount between about 18% and 95% by weight of the composition, and (iv) the water is present in an amount between about 15% and 60% by weight of the composition. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the lower alkanol is ethanol. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the fatty acid salt is an alkali or alkaline earth metal salt of a saturated fatty acid. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the fatty acid salt is a sodium (Na), potassium (K), lithium (Li), calcium (Ca) or magnesium (Mg) salt. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the fatty acid salt is an alkali or alkaline metal salt of a fatty acid comprising 4 to 22 carbon atoms. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the fatty acid salt is an alkali or alkaline metal salt of lauric acid. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the fatty acid salt is potassium laurate. ### Claim 27 A method of making a composition, which comprises: (a) providing a lower alkanol containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms; (b) providing a saturated fatty acid; (c) providing an alkalinating agent; and (d) mixing the lower alkanol, the saturated fatty acid, the alkalinating agent, and water to provide the composition, wherein: a resulting saturated fatty acid derivative formed by the mixing is present in an amount between about 0.1% to 25% by weight of the composition, (ii) the lower alkanol is present in an amount between about 18% and 95% by weight of the composition, and (iii) the water is present in an amount between about 15% and 60% by weight of the composition. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the lower alkanol is ethanol. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the saturated fatty acid comprises 4 to 22 carbon atoms. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the saturated fatty acid is lauric acid. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the alkalinating agent is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal hydroxide, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, alkali metal or hydrogen carbonates and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 32 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the alkalinating agent is selected from the group consisting of ammonium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, and mixtures thereof.