Potentiation of the Microbicide 2-(Thiocyanomethylthio)benzothiazole using an n-alkyl heterocyclic compound

A method for controlling the growth of microorganisms on a substrate comprising the step of contacting a substrate susceptible to the growth of microorganisms with:

• (a) 2-(Thiocyanomethylthio) benzothiazole (TCMTB) and
• (b) an N-alkyl heterocyclic compound of the formula:
• wherein n varies from 5 to 17, the heterocyclic ring defined by
• is a saturated or unsaturated, unsubstituted or substituted ring having four to eight members, and containing at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, O and S and wherein (a) and (b) are present in a combined amount effective to control the growth of at least one microorganism and the amount of N-alkyl heterocyclic compound (b) present potentiates the microbicidal activity of the TCMTB (a).

A method for controlling the growth of microorganisms on a hide during a leather tanning process comprising the step of contacting leather with:

• (a) 2-(Thiocyanomethylthio) benzothiazole (TCMTB) and
• (b) an N-alkyl heterocyclic compound of the formula:
• wherein n varies from 5 to 17, the heterocyclic ring defined by
• is a saturated or unsaturated, unsubstituted or substituted ring having four to eight members, and containing at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, O and S and wherein (a) and (b) are present in a combined amount effective to control the growth of at least one microorganism and the amount of N-alkyl heterocyclic compound (b) present potentiates the microbicidal activity of the TCMTB (a).

A liquor for use in a leather-tanning process comprising:

• (a) 2-(Thiocyanomethylthio) benzothiazole (TCMTB) and
• (b) an N-alkyl heterocyclic compound of the formula:
• wherein n varies from 5 to 17, the heterocyclic ring defined by
• is a saturated or unsaturated, unsubstituted or substituted ring having four to eight members, and containing at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, O and S, wherein (a) and (b) are present in a combined amount effective to control the growth of at least one microorganism on the leather and the amount of N-alkyl heterocyclic compound (b) present potentiates the microbicidal activity of the TCMTB (a), and wherein the liquor is selected from the group consisting of a pickling liquor, a chrome-tanning liquor, a vegetable tanning-liquor, a post-tan washing liquor, a retanning liquor, a dye liquor, and a fat liquor.

A microbicidal composition, comprising:

• (a) 2-(Thiocyanomethylthio)benzothiazole (TCMTB), and
• (b) an N-alkyl heterocyclic compound of the formula:
• wherein n varies from 9 to 15, the heterocyclic ring defined by
• is a saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted ring having four to eight members, and containing at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, O, and S, and wherein the TCMTB (a) and the N-alkyl heterocyclic compound (b) are present in a combined amount effective to control the growth of at least one microorganism and the amount of the N-alkyl heterocyclic compound (b) present potentiates or synergistically enhances the microbicidal activity of the TCMTB (a).

A method for controlling the growth of microorganisms on a substrate, comprising the step of contacting a substrate susceptible to the growth of microorganisms with:

• (a) 2-(Thiocyanomethylthio)benzothiazole (TCMTB), and
• (b) an N-alkyl heterocyclic compound of the formula:
• wherein n varies from 9 to 15, the heterocyclic ring defined by:
• is a saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted ring having four to eight members, and containing at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, O, and S, and wherein the TCMTB (a) and the N-alkyl heterocyclic compound (b) are present in a combined amount effective to control the growth of at least one microorganism and the amount of the N-alkyl heterocyclic compound (b) present potentiates or synergistically enhances the microbicidal activity of the TCMTB (a).

A method for controlling the growth of microorganisms on a hide during a leather tanning process, comprising the step of contacting the leather with:

• (a) 2-(Thiocyanomethylthio)benzothiazole (TCMTB), and
• (b) an N-alkyl heterocyclic compound of the formula:
• wherein n varies from 9 to 15, the heterocyclic ring defined by
• is a saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted ring having four to eight members, and containing at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, O, and S, and wherein the TCMTB (a) and the N-alkyl heterocyclic compound (b) are present in a combined amount effective to control the growth of at least one microorganism and the amount of the N-alkyl heterocyclic compound (b) present potentiates or synergistically enhances the microbicidal activity of the TCMTB (a).

A liquor for use in a leather-tanning process, comprising:

• (a) 2-(Thiocyanomethylthio)benzothiazole (TCMTB), and
• (b) an N-alkyl heterocyclic compound of the formula:
• wherein n varies from 9 to 15, the heterocyclic ring defined by
• is a saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted ring having four to eight members, and containing at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, O, and S, and wherein the TCMTB (a) and the N-alkyl heterocyclic compound (b) are present, in the liquor in a combined amount effective to control the growth of at least one microorganism on the leather, and the amount of the N-alkyl heterocyclic compound (b) present potentiates or synergistically enhances the microbicidal activity of the TCMTB (a), and wherein the liquor is selected from the group consisting of a pickling liquor, a chrome-washing liquor, a vegetable-tanning liquor, a post-tan washing liquor, a retanning liquor, a dye liquor, and a fat liquor.