U.S. patent application number 14/682663 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-13 for disposable antimicrobial wipes and methods of making.
This patent application is currently assigned to ECOLAB USA INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is ECOLAB USA INC.. Invention is credited to Wendy Chan, Sherri Tischler.
Application Number | 20160295859 14/682663 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57111168 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160295859 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chan; Wendy ; et
al. |
October 13, 2016 |
DISPOSABLE ANTIMICROBIAL WIPES AND METHODS OF MAKING
Abstract
An antimicrobial wipe is provided including a textile comprised
of natural fibers untreated with a chemical bonding agent, the
textile is treated with an antimicrobial composition, the
antimicrobial composition comprising a quaternary ammonium compound
and an organic acid, wherein the antimicrobial composition is
surfactant free, emollient free, and polymeric free. A method of
preparing such wipes is also provided.
Inventors: |
Chan; Wendy; (St. Paul,
MN) ; Tischler; Sherri; (Inver Grove Heights,
MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ECOLAB USA INC. |
St. Paul |
MN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
ECOLAB USA INC.
St. Paul
MN
|
Family ID: |
57111168 |
Appl. No.: |
14/682663 |
Filed: |
April 9, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61K 8/365 20130101;
D04H 1/4258 20130101; A47L 13/17 20130101; A61Q 17/005 20130101;
A61K 8/36 20130101; A61K 8/416 20130101; A01N 33/12 20130101; A61K
2800/33 20130101; A01N 25/34 20130101; A61K 8/0208 20130101; A01N
25/10 20130101; A01N 25/34 20130101; A01N 33/12 20130101; A01N
37/02 20130101; A01N 37/36 20130101; A01N 25/10 20130101; A01N
33/12 20130101; A01N 37/02 20130101; A01N 37/36 20130101; A01N
33/12 20130101; A01N 37/02 20130101; A01N 37/36 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A01N 25/34 20060101
A01N025/34; A01N 37/02 20060101 A01N037/02; A01N 33/12 20060101
A01N033/12 |
Claims
1. An antimicrobial wipe, comprising: a textile consisting of
lyocell fibers not treated with a chemical binding agent, an
antimicrobial composition applied to the textile, the antimicrobial
composition comprising a quaternary ammonium compound and from
about 0.05 to about 0.4 wt. % of an organic acid, wherein the
antimicrobial composition is free of surfactants other than
quaternary ammonium compounds, emollient free, and polymeric
free.
2. The wipe of claim 1 wherein the textile is comprised of a woven
or nonwoven web.
3-4. (canceled)
5. The wipe of claim 1 wherein the organic acid is comprised of
citric acid, maleic acid, tartaric acid, salicylic acid, glycolic
acid, adipic acid, glutaric acid, gluconic acid, succinic acid,
benzoic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, or combinations
thereof.
6. The wipe of claim 1 wherein the organic acid has a pKa from 2 to
7.
7. The wipe of claim 1 wherein the organic acid has a pKa of 2 to
6.
8. The antimicrobial wipe of claim 1 wherein the antimicrobial
composition comprises about 0.05 wt. % to about 0.4 wt. %
quaternary ammonium.
9. The antimicrobial wipe of claim 1 wherein greater than 40% of
the quaternary ammonium is expressed after squeezing the wipe for
about 5 to about 20 seconds.
10. The antimicrobial wipe of claim 1 wherein greater than 50% of
the quaternary ammonium is expressed after squeezing the wipe for
about 5 to about 20 seconds.
11. The antimicrobial wipe of claim 1 wherein the quaternary
ammonium is comprised of octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride,
dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium
chloride, dimethyl ethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl
ammonium carbonate, didecyl dimethyl ammonium bicarbonate,
benzethonium chloride, and combinations thereof.
12. The antimicrobial wipe of claim 1 wherein the wipe is
disposable and biodegradable.
13. The antimicrobial wipe of claim 1 wherein the antimicrobial
composition further comprises dye, fragrance, alcohol or any
combination thereof.
14. The composition of claim 11 wherein the organic acid and
quaternary ammonium are added simultaneously.
15. The composition of claim 14 wherein the organic acid and
quaternary ammonium are added consecutively.
16. (canceled)
17. A method of preparing an antimicrobial wipe, comprising:
applying organic acid and quaternary ammonium to a natural fiber
textile.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the organic acid and quaternary
ammonium are added simultaneously.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein the organic acid and quaternary
ammonium are added consecutively.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein the wipe is disposable.
21. The method of claim 16 wherein the organic acid is comprised of
citric acid, maleic acid, tartaric acid, salicylic acid, glycolic
acid, adipic acid, glutaric acid, gluconic acid, succinic acid,
benzoic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, or combinations
thereof.
22. The method of claim 17 wherein the organic acid has a pKa from
2 to 7.
23. The method of claim 17 wherein the organic acid has a pKa of 2
to 6.
24. The method of claim 17 wherein greater than 40% of the
quaternary ammonium is expressed after squeezing the wipe for 5-20
seconds.
25. The method of claim 17 wherein greater than 50% of the
quaternary ammonium is expressed after squeezing the wipe for 5-20
seconds.
26. The method of claim 17 wherein the quaternary ammonium is
comprised of octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dioctyl
dimethyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride,
dimethyl ethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium
carbonate, didecyl dimethyl ammonium bicarbonate, benzethonium
chloride, and combinations thereof.
27. The method of claim 17 wherein surfactant, dye, fragrance,
alcohol or any combination thereof is added to the textile.
28. A pretreated wipe consisting of a textile wipe and a
composition applied to the textile wipe, wherein the textile wipe
consists of lyocell, and wherein the composition comprises a
quaternary ammonium compound and a pretreatment chemistry
consisting of organic acid and water.
29. (canceled)
30. The wipe of claim 28 wherein the composition further comprises
dye.
31. The wipe of claim 28 wherein the composition further comprises
fragrance.
32. The wipe of claim 28 wherein the composition further comprises
alcohol.
33. The wipe of claim 28 wherein the composition further comprises
any combination of dye, fragrance, and alcohol.
34. The wipe of claim 28 wherein the textile is disposable.
35. The wipe of claim 28 wherein the textile consists of a woven or
nonwoven web.
36. (canceled)
37. The wipe of claim 28 wherein the organic acid is chosen from
the group of citric acid, maleic acid, tartaric acid, salicylic
acid, glycolic acid, adipic acid, glutaric acid, gluconic acid,
succinic acid, benzoic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, malic acid,
or combinations thereof.
38. The wipe of claim 28 wherein the organic acid has a pKa from 2
to 7.
39. The wipe of claim 28 wherein the organic acid has a pKa of 3 to
6.
40. The antimicrobial wipe of claim 28 wherein the composition
comprises about 0.05 wt. % to about 0.4 wt. % quaternary ammonium
and about 0.05 wt. % to about 0.4 wt. % organic acid.
41. The antimicrobial wipe of claim 28 wherein the wipe is
constructed to express greater than 40% of the quaternary ammonium
when squeezed for about 2 to about 30 seconds.
42. The antimicrobial wipe of claim 28 wherein the wipe is
constructed to express greater than 70% of the quaternary ammonium
when squeezed for about 5 to about 20 seconds.
43. The antimicrobial wipe of claim 28 wherein the quaternary
ammonium compound is selected from the group consisting of octyl
decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium
chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dimethyl ethyl benzyl
ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium carbonate, didecyl
dimethyl ammonium bicarbonate, benzethonium chloride, and
combinations thereof.
44. A method of preparing an antimicrobial wipe, comprising: a
first step of applying organic acid to a textile comprised of
natural fibers, and a second step of applying quaternary ammonium
to the textile.
45. The method of claim 42 wherein the first step is conducted by a
vendor and the second step is conducted by a customer.
46. The method of claim 42 wherein the wipe is disposable.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The invention generally relates to articles for cleaning
and/or sanitizing a surface. More particularly, the invention
relates to the combination of substrates and chemistries
particularly suitable for delivering a disinfectant or
antimicrobial agent. The invention also relates to substrates
treated with such a disinfectant or antimicrobial agent and methods
of preparing such disposable wipes
BACKGROUND
[0002] Disposable substrates are commonly used in cleaning
applications. Suitable substrates include woven and nonwoven
fabrics and various combinations thereof. Such substrates have been
saturated with cleaning agents such as disinfectants, solvents,
antimicrobials, detergents and the like. The resulting cleaning
products fabricated from such saturated substrates are accepted as
a convenient and practical means for cleaning surfaces.
[0003] Nonwoven surface cleaning or sanitizing articles fabricated
for the food service or hospitality industry often include a blend
of synthetic or natural fiber, as well as a binder formulation.
Such sanitizing articles are more popular as compared to terry
cloth towels due to the benefits derived from using a limited or
single use sanitizing or cleaning article. Reusable damp woven
terry cloth towels are thought to be more susceptible to bacterial
build up as they are left standing wet between uses.
[0004] As the use of disposable sanitizing wipes has increased,
nonwoven fabrics have been engineered to facilitate the sanitizing
process of food preparation and serving surfaces. Despite these
developments, it has been found that certain nonwoven fabrics have
a detrimental effect on a sanitizing solution. It has been found
that the inherent or applied ionic properties of the sanitizing
and/or cleaning article may neutralize the effectiveness of the
sanitizing solution over time. Many wipe or towel substrates
possess good absorption of antimicrobial solutions but many bind
via chemical affinity interactions with acid-anionic antimicrobials
such as quaternary ammonium antimicrobials. This second property
known as adsorption does not allow recovery or expression of the
antimicrobial agents of use-solutions. Such adsorption results in
failure to produce the desired anti-microbial efficacy. When
attempting to deliver an antimicrobial agent this is an unwelcome
property and is not easily overcome.
[0005] It is desirable to use natural fibers for the disinfectant
wipes, however, such natural fibers often tenaciously bind the
disinfectant chemicals thereby prohibiting expression onto a
surface. A need exists for a disposable wipe that is inexpensive
and does not require additional coatings or binders in order to
allow the disinfectant to release from the substrate. There is also
a need for a disposable external surface cleaning and/or sanitizing
wipe that may be used in conjunction with quaternary ammonium
disinfectant or antimicrobial which does not interact with or
impede the delivery of the disinfectant to the intended
surface.
[0006] The art is replete with coatings useful for overcoming the
binding affinity by the substrate for the disinfectant. They
generally focus upon aiding the release or expression of quaternary
actives. However, such coatings add another step, additional
chemicals, and added expense to a single use disinfectant wipe. To
date the industry has attempted to eliminate or mitigate
interaction between the disinfectant and the substrate by
pretreating the substrate with the disinfectant. Such a
pretreatment in essence saturates the substrate. A method of
reducing the interaction between the disinfectant and the substrate
involves coating the substrate with a chemical to neutralize the
substrate such that the substrate no longer binds or interacts with
the disinfectant.
[0007] A need exists for a disposable wipe that is inexpensive and
does not require additional coatings in order to allow the
disinfectant to release from the substrate. There is also a need
for a disposable external surface cleaning and/or sanitizing wipe
that may be used in conjunction with an antimicrobial agent which
does not interact with or impede the delivery of the disinfectant
to the intended surface. The present invention provides an elegant
solution to reduce or eliminate the interaction of substrate with
disinfectant.
SUMMARY
[0008] The present invention provides a disposable antimicrobial
wipe useful to sanitize surfaces. The surfaces for sanitizing are
primarily hard surfaces. The antimicrobial wipes of the invention
provide quick release of the antimicrobial agent or antimicrobial
chemistry. The antimicrobial wipe of the invention includes a
textile comprised of natural fibers that is not treated with a
chemical binding agent but is treated with an antimicrobial
composition. The antimicrobial treatment composition includes a
quaternary ammonium compound and an organic acid, wherein the
antimicrobial composition is surfactant free, emollient free and
polymeric free. While those skilled in the art will recognize that
quaternary ammonium compounds may be categorized as cationic
surfactants, the invention anticipates that no surfactants are
added to the antimicrobial chemistry composition added to the
disposable wipes beyond or in addition to the quaternary ammonium
compound(s).
[0009] In an embodiment the textile used in the antimicrobial wipe
is formulated from a woven or nonwoven web. Fibers useful for
making the textile used in the antimicrobial wipe of the invention
include cotton, cellulose, wood pulp, wool, silk, ramie, rayon,
flax, hemp, sisal, jute, kenaf, bamboo, coconut, TENCEL.RTM.,
LYOCELL, or combinations thereof. The textile used to prepare the
antimicrobial wipe of the invention may further include synthetic
fibers.
[0010] The organic acid useful for treating textiles to prepare
wipes of the invention include citric acid, maleic acid, tartaric
acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, adipic acid, glutaric acid,
gluconic acid, succinic acid, benzoic acid, lactic acid, acetic
acid, malic acid, or combinations thereof. In an embodiment of the
invention the organic acid has a pKa from about 2 to about 7. In an
embodiment of the invention textiles used to prepare antimicrobial
wipes of the invention are treated with about 0.05 wt. % to about
0.4 wt. % quaternary ammonium and about 0.05 wt. % to about 0.4 wt.
% organic acid.
[0011] Antimicrobial wipes of the invention provide release or
expression of greater than 40% of the quaternary ammonium when
squeezing the wipe for about 2 to about 30 seconds, or about 5 to
about 20 seconds. In another embodiment the antimicrobial wipe of
the invention releases greater than 50% of the quaternary ammonium
after squeezing the wipe for about 5 to about 20 seconds.
[0012] Quaternary ammonium compounds useful for preparing
antimicrobial wipes of the invention include octyl decyl dimethyl
ammonium chloride, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, didecyl
dimethyl ammonium chloride, dimethyl ethyl benzyl ammonium
chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium carbonate, didecyl dimethyl
ammonium bicarbonate, benzethonium chloride, and combinations
thereof. Antimicrobial wipes of the invention may further be
treated with dye, fragrance, alcohol or any combination
thereof.
[0013] A method of preparing a disposable antimicrobial wipe is
also disclosed. The method involves applying organic acid and
quaternary ammonium to a natural fiber textile. In an embodiment
the organic acid and quaternary ammonium are added to the textile
simultaneously. In another embodiment the organic acid and
quaternary ammonium are added consecutively to the textile. It is
expected that better expression of the quaternary ammonium compound
occurs if (1) the organic acid is added before the quaternary
ammonium or (2) the organic acid is added simultaneously with the
quaternary ammonium, rather than if the (3) quaternary ammonium is
added before the organic acid. Without being bound by theory it is
believed that the quaternary ammonium would saturate the textile
not allowing the later added organic acid to access the textile. In
an embodiment a vendor may offer disposable textile wipes that have
been contacted with an organic acid for sale to customers along
with a separate quaternary ammonium compound to be added to the
wipe container by the customer before use. The textile may be dried
after contact with the organic acid and before sale to the customer
with the separate quaternary ammonium compound.
[0014] In the method of preparing antimicrobial wipes organic acids
such as citric acid, maleic acid, tartaric acid, salicylic acid,
glycolic acid, adipic acid, glutaric acid, succinic acid, benzoic
acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, or combinations thereof
may be used. In methods of the invention the organic acid used to
treat the textile has a pKa from about 2 to about 7. In an
embodiment the organic acid has a pKa of about 2 to about 6.
[0015] In methods of preparing antimicrobial wipes of the invention
about 0.05 wt. % to about 0.4 wt. % quaternary ammonium and about
0.05 wt. % to about 0.4 wt. % organic acid is applied to the
textile. The weight percent of the quaternary ammonium and organic
acid is based on the use solution. That is, 0.05% weight percent is
the same as 500 ppm and 0.4% is equivalent to 4000 ppm. Regulations
require that food safe contact surfaces include a minimum of 150
ppm quaternary ammonium whereas healthcare surfaces require 4000
ppm quaternary ammonium based on actives. Greater than 40% of the
quaternary ammonium is expressed after squeezing the wipe for 5-20
seconds prepared according to the invention method. In another
embodiment greater than 50% of the quaternary ammonium is expressed
after squeezing the wipe for 5-20 seconds.
[0016] A pretreated antimicrobial wipe is also disclosed. Such
pretreated wipe consists of a textile of natural fibers treated
with pretreatment chemistry consisting of an organic acid and
water. The pretreated wipe may further consist of quaternary
ammonium and water combination added to the pretreated wipe. Such
pretreatment chemistry used to prepare a pretreated antimicrobial
wipe of the invention may consist of surfactant, dye, fragrance,
alcohol or any combination thereof.
[0017] Antimicrobial wipes prepared according to the method of the
invention may include disposable textiles wherein the textile
consists of a woven or nonwoven web. Natural fibers are used to
prepare the disposable textile used in the method of preparing
antimicrobial wipes. Such natural fibers consist of cotton,
cellulose, wood pulp, wool, silk, ramie, rayon, flax, hemp, sisal,
jute, kenaf, bamboo, coconut, TENCEL.RTM., LYOCELL, or combinations
thereof.
[0018] A method of preparing an antimicrobial wipe is provided. The
method includes a first step of applying organic acid to a textile
comprised of natural fibers, and a second step of applying
quaternary ammonium to the textile.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a graph illustrating the release of dimethyl
benzyl ammonium chloride comparing using citric acid as the organic
acid comparing the release of dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride
using glacial acetic acid as the organic acid
[0020] FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating the release of acid comparing
different concentrations of citric acid and different
concentrations of glacial acetic acid.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating the release of dimethyl
benzyl ammonium chloride comparing different concentrations of
citric acid and different concentrations of glacial acetic
acid.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating the release of dimethyl
benzyl ammonium chloride with different concentrations of citric
acid.
DETAILS OF THE INVENTION
[0023] "Cleaning" means to perform or aid in soil removal,
bleaching, microbial population reduction, rinsing, or combination
thereof.
[0024] As used herein, weight percent (wt %), percent by weight, %
by weight, and the like are synonyms that refer to the
concentration of a substance as the weight of that substance
divided by the total weight of the composition and multiplied by
100.
[0025] As used herein, the term "about" modifying the quantity of
an ingredient in the compositions of the invention or employed in
the methods of the invention refers to variation in the numerical
quantity that can occur, for example, through typical measuring and
liquid handling procedures used for making use solutions in the
real world; through inadvertent error in these procedures; through
differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of the
ingredients employed to make the compositions or carry out the
methods; and the like. The term about also encompasses amounts that
differ due to different equilibrium conditions for a composition
resulting from a particular initial mixture. Whether or not
modified by the term "about," the claims include equivalents to the
quantities.
[0026] It should be noted that, as used in this specification and
the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the"
include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates
otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a composition containing
"a compound" includes a mixture of two or more compounds. It should
also be noted that the term "or" is generally employed in its sense
including "and/or" unless the content clearly dictates
otherwise.
[0027] In the interest of brevity and conciseness, any ranges of
values set forth in this specification contemplate all values
within the range and are to be construed as support for claims
reciting any sub-ranges having endpoints which are real number
values within the specified range in question. By way of a
hypothetical illustrative example, a disclosure in this
specification of a range of from 1 to 5 shall be considered to
support claims to any of the following ranges: 1-5; 1-4; 1-3; 1-2;
2-5; 2-4; 2-3; 3-5; 3-4; and 4-5.
[0028] The term "substantially free" may refer to any component
that the composition of the invention lacks or mostly lacks. When
referring to "substantially free" it is intended that the component
is not intentionally added to compositions of the invention. Use of
the term "substantially free" of a component allows for trace
amounts of that component to be included in compositions of the
invention because they are present in another component. However,
it is recognized that only trace or de minimus amounts of a
component will be allowed when the composition is said to be
"substantially free" of that component. Moreover, the term if a
composition is said to be "substantially free" of a component, if
the component is present in trace or de minimus amounts it is
understood that it will not affect the effectiveness of the
composition. It is understood that if an ingredient is not
expressly included herein or its possible inclusion is not stated
herein, the invention composition may be substantially free of that
ingredient. Likewise, the express inclusion of an ingredient allows
for its express exclusion thereby allowing a composition to be
substantially free of that expressly stated ingredient.
[0029] As used herein the term, "consisting essentially of" in
reference to a composition refers to the listed ingredients and
does not include additional ingredients that, if present, would
affect the cleaning ability of the cleaning composition. The term
"consisting essentially of" may also refer to a component of the
cleaning composition. For instance, a surfactant package may
consist essentially of two or more surfactants and such surfactant
package would not include any other ingredients that would affect
the effectiveness of that surfactant package--either positively or
negatively. As used herein the term "consisting essentially of" in
reference to a method of cleaning or preparing a disinfecting wipe
refers to the listed steps and does not include additional steps
(or ingredients if a composition is included in the method) that,
if present, would affect the cleaning ability of the cleaning
method or the efficacy of the antimicrobial wipe.
[0030] As used herein, the term "microorganism" refers to any
noncellular or unicellular (including colonial) organism.
Microorganisms include all prokaryotes. Microorganisms include
bacteria (including cyanobacteria), spores, lichens, fungi,
protozoa, virinos, viroids, viruses, phages, and some algae. As
used herein, the term "microbe" is synonymous with
microorganism.
[0031] As used herein, the term "sanitizer" refers to an agent that
reduces the number of bacterial contaminants to safe levels as
judged by public health requirements. In an embodiment, sanitizers
for use in this invention will provide at least a 99.999% reduction
(5-log order reduction). These reductions can be evaluated using a
procedure set out in Germicidal and Detergent Sanitizing Action of
Disinfectants, Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of
Official Analytical Chemists, paragraph 960.09 and applicable
sections, 15th Edition, 1990 (EPA Guideline 91-2). The EPA Methods
and Guidelines are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entirety for all purposes. According to this reference a sanitizer
should provide a 99.999% reduction (5-log order reduction) within
30 seconds at room temperature, 25.+-.2.degree. C., against several
test organisms.
[0032] As used herein, the term "disinfectant" refers to an agent
that kills all vegetative cells including most recognized
pathogenic microorganisms, using the procedure described in
A.O.A.C. Use Dilution Methods, Official Methods of Analysis of the
Association of Official Analytical Chemists, paragraph 955.14 and
applicable sections, 15th Edition, 1990 (EPA Guideline 91-2). Such
EPA Procedures and Guidelines are hereby incorporated by reference
in their entirety for all purposes. As used herein, the term "high
level disinfection" or "high level disinfectant" refers to a
compound or composition that kills substantially all organisms,
except high levels of bacterial spores, and is effected with a
chemical germicide cleared for marketing as a sterilant by the Food
and Drug Administration. As used herein, the term
"intermediate-level disinfection" or "intermediate level
disinfectant" refers to a compound or composition that kills
Mycobacteria, most viruses, and bacteria with a chemical germicide
registered as a tuberculocide by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). As used herein, the term "low-level disinfection" or
"low level disinfectant" refers to a compound or composition that
kills some viruses and bacteria with a chemical germicide
registered as a hospital disinfectant by the EPA.
[0033] Differentiation of antimicrobial "-cidal" or "-static"
activity, the definitions which describe the degree of efficacy,
and the official laboratory protocols for measuring this efficacy
are considerations for understanding the relevance of antimicrobial
agents and compositions. Antimicrobial compositions can affect two
kinds of microbial cell damage. The first is a lethal, irreversible
action resulting in complete microbial cell destruction or
incapacitation. The second type of cell damage is reversible, such
that if the organism is rendered free of the agent, it can again
multiply. The former is termed microbiocidal and the later,
microbiostatic. A sanitizer and a disinfectant are, by definition,
agents which provide antimicrobial or microbiocidal activity. In
contrast, a preservative is generally described as an inhibitor or
microbiostatic composition.
[0034] The term "disposable" as used herein refers to a substrate
or textile that is discarded after one use.
[0035] As used herein, the term "chemical binding agent" or
"chemical bind-diminishing agent" or "coating" refers to chemical
treatments applied to the substrate before application of the
microbial agent which are normally used to ensure expression of
disinfectant chemicals from disposable wipes. Examples of such
coating agents include polymeric coatings as provided in U.S. Pat.
No. 6,258,368; US 2010/0207805; U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,996; US
2012/0045496; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,486,427.
[0036] The present invention contemplates the possibility of
omitting any components listed herein. The present invention
further contemplates the omission of any components even though
they are not expressly named as included or excluded from the
invention.
[0037] These and other aspects, advantages, and salient features of
the present invention will become apparent from the following
description and the appended claims.
[0038] The present invention begins with a suitable substrate. A
suitable substrate of the invention does not allow the disinfectant
or antimicrobial chemistry to adsorb to the textile. In accordance
with the present invention, the substrate includes natural fiber.
Suitable natural fibers useful to prepare textiles for use as the
disposable wipes used to carry antimicrobials of the invention
include cotton, cellulose, wood pulp, wool, silk, ramie, rayon,
flax, hemp, linen, sisal, jute, kenaf, bamboo, coconut,
TENCEL.RTM., LYOCELL, or combinations thereof.
[0039] Lyocell is the generic name for a biodegradable made from
treated wood pulp. Lyocell is commonly sold under the brand name
Tencel.RTM., manufactured by Lenzing AG based in Austria. Lyocell
fabric is considered a natural rather than synthetic product
because it is manufactured using plant material. The production
process for lyocell begins by treating wood chips approximately the
size of a coin until they form a substance similar to a thick
paper, which is then sent to a fabric production factory. Once
there, it is broken down into about 1 inch (about 2.5 cm) squares
and chemically dissolved. The resulting slurry is then forced
through a device called a spinneret, which has many small holes in
it, somewhat like a strainer. This causes the mixture to form long
fibers, which are chemically treated again, rinsed and dried, and
lubricated before being compressed, combed, and cut. After this,
they can be spun into yarn for use, either alone or in combination
with other materials.
[0040] Textiles useful to prepare wipes of the present invention
may further include synthetic fiber. Synthetic fibers that may be
used in accordance with the present invention include those formed
from polymers chosen from the group of thermoplastic polymers
consisting of polyolefin, and polyesters wherein the polyolefins
are chosen from the group consisting of polypropylene,
polyethylene, polyamides and combinations thereof.
[0041] Textiles used to prepare antimicrobial wipes of the
invention may be formulated from a woven or nonwoven web. Any
method of preparing nonwoven webs may be used to prepare textiles
useful in the present invention. Such methods include but are not
limited to air laid or dry laid, carded, hydroentangled, melt
blown, needlepunched, spunbond, spunlaced, and wetlaid. Fibers
useful for making the textile used in the antimicrobial wipe of the
invention include cotton, cellulose, wood pulp, wool, silk, ramie,
rayon, flax, hemp, sisal, jute, kenaf, bamboo, coconut,
TENCEL.RTM., LYOCELL, or combinations thereof.
[0042] Basis weight is a common term in the nonwoven textile
industry. The term is used to express how much a nonwoven fabric
weighs per unit area. The term is derived from the papermaking
industry. In most areas of the world basis weight is expressed as
grams per square meter. In the United States, lightweight nonwovens
such as diaper cover stock are generally provided in grams per
square meter although the metric and English systems are sometimes
mixed to express basis weight as grams per square yard. In heavier
fabrics such as needlepunch, the basis weight is often given in
ounces per square yard. The textile weight chosen for preparing
disposable wipes of the invention will depend upon the intended use
or intended market of the wipe. For example, a lighter weight
textile may be more useful for medical as compared to food service
surface disinfecting or the reverse may be true. The skilled
practitioner is able to select the appropriate textile weight for
the intended use.
[0043] The invention provides treating the textile with an organic
acid either as a pretreatment or in combination with the
antimicrobial agent. It has surprisingly been found that
incorporating an organic acid either as a pretreatment of the
textile or in combination with the antimicrobial chemistry allows
the disinfectant or antimicrobial agent to release satisfactorily.
In other words, by employing an organic acid in accordance with the
present invention the antimicrobial agent does not adsorb to the
surface of the textile allowing release or expression of the
antimicrobial chemicals. Examples of suitable organic acids useful
in preparing wipes of the invention include but are not limited to
citric acid, maleic acid, tartaric acid, salicylic acid, glycolic
acid, adipic acid, glutaric acid, gluconic acid, succinic acid,
benzoic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, or combinations
thereof. In an embodiment of the invention the organic acid has a
pKa from about 2 to about 7. In another embodiment the organic acid
has a pKa of about 2 to about 6, about 2 to about 5, about 2 to
about 4, and about 2 to about 3. In another embodiment of the
invention the organic acid has a pKa of about 2 to about 6, about 3
to about 6, about 4 to about 6, and about 5 to about 6. In another
embodiment of the invention the organic acid has a pKa of about 3
to about 7, about 4 to about 7, about 5 to about 7, and about 6 to
about 7. In yet another embodiment of the invention the organic
acid has a pKa of about 3 to about 4, 3 to about 5, and about 4 to
about 5.
[0044] Antimicrobial agents useful in preparing disposable
disinfectant wipes according to the invention include quaternary
ammonium compounds. Exemplary quaternary ammonium compounds having
antimicrobial properties include but are not limited to alkyl
dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride having an alkyl chain length of
8-18 carbon atoms. Such compositions are commonly referred to a
benzalkonium chloride compositions. Further examples of quaternary
ammonium compounds include but are not limited to octyl decyl
dimethyl ammonium chloride, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride,
didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dimethyl ethyl benzyl ammonium
chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium carbonate, didecyl dimethyl
ammonium bicarbonate, benzethonium chloride, myristyl trimethyl
ammonium chloride, methyl benzethonium chloride, cetalkonium
chloride, cetrimonium bromide (CTAB), carnitine, dofanium chloride,
tetraethyl ammonium bromide (TEAB), domiphen bromide,
benzododecinium bromide, benzoxonium chloride, choline,
cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), denatonium, dimethyl dioctyadecyl
ammonium chloride, and combinations thereof. When preparing
chemistry for addition to textiles in order to practice the
invention, a single quaternary ammonium compound may be used in
combination with an organic acid or a plurality of quaternary
ammonium compounds may be combined.
[0045] While those skilled in the art will recognize that
quaternary ammonium compounds may be categorized as cationic
surfactants, the invention anticipates that no surfactants are
added to the antimicrobial chemistry composition beyond or in
addition to the quaternary ammonium compound(s). That is, the
antimicrobial chemistry applied to the textiles to comprise the
disposable wipes of the invention are surfactant free apart from
the quaternary ammonium compound(s).
[0046] The invention particularly envisions excluding from use
silane quaternary ammonium compounds. Moreover, emollients and
polymeric binding agents may be omitted from antimicrobial wipes of
the invention.
[0047] In particular, the present invention provides a disposable
disinfectant wipe using a quaternary ammonium as a component in the
antimicrobial or disinfecting chemistry that is readily expressed
from the textile. The invention accomplishes the expression of a
quaternary ammonium without use of and without requiring a chemical
bind-diminishing agent or coating which are normally used to ensure
expression of disinfectant chemicals from disposable wipes.
[0048] Disposable disinfectant wipes of the invention or prepared
according to the method of the invention are useful for cleaning
hard surfaces. Examples of such hard surfaces include but are not
limited to glass, tile, ceramic, stainless steel, aluminum,
plastic, marble, granite, metal, and the like. Antimicrobial wipes
of the invention may be useful in preparing or cleaning food
service or kitchen surfaces or counters, medical or examination
tables or counters, appliance surfaces, door handles, and the like.
One skilled in the art will recognize the usefulness of the present
invention for sanitizing or disinfecting surfaces and will further
appreciate the benefit to throwing away such wipe after one
use.
[0049] The disinfectant or antimicrobial chemistry applied onto the
substrate or textile may optionally further include one or more
additives such as fragrances, dyes, pigments, emollients, bleaching
agents, anti-static agents, anti-wrinkling agents, odor
removal/odor capturing agents, ultraviolet light protection agents,
insect repellency agents, souring agents, mildew removing agents,
allergicide agents, and mixtures thereof. However, none of these
optional additives are intended to serve as a bond-diminishing
coating on the substrate. It is envisioned that such
optional/additional ingredients would be added with the
disinfectant to the substrate or textile surface. If such
optional/additional ingredients act to allow the disinfectant to
release from the substrate, such optional/additional ingredients
would not be used to pretreat the substrate. That is, the optional
or additional ingredients would not be added to the substrate
before the disinfectant.
[0050] Disinfectant or antimicrobial chemistries are coated onto
the substrate for length of times from about 20 seconds, 30
seconds, 45 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes and
up to about days, months, and even years. Pre-coated wipes may be
sold in airtight containers. Such pre-coated wipes may be in
contact with the disinfectant for days, months and up to and
including years. The present invention allows release of the
quaternary ammonium-containing disinfectant from the wipes no
matter the length of the application or soaking time.
[0051] Disposable wipes of the invention are prepared by either
applying the organic acid to the textile first or by applying the
organic acid to the wipe textile in the presence of the quaternary
ammonium compound. In the first option the textile is pretreated
with organic acid. In an embodiment about 5 grams to about 80 grams
of about 100 ppm to about 1000 ppm organic acid solution is added
to about 1 to about 5 g textiles. In another embodiment about 10
grams to about 50 grams of about 200 ppm to about 800 ppm organic
acid solution is added to about 1.5 to about 4.5 g textiles. In
another embodiment about 15 grams to about 45 grams of about 300
ppm to about 700 ppm organic acid solution is added to about 2 to
about 4.0 g textiles. In another embodiment about 17.5 grams to
about 40 grams of about 400 ppm to about 600 ppm organic acid
solution is added to about 2.1 to about 3.5 g textiles. In another
embodiment about 20 grams to about 35 grams of about 300 ppm to 900
ppm organic acid solution is added to about 1 to about 5 g
textiles. In another embodiment about 25 grams to about 35 grams of
about 400 ppm to 800 ppm organic acid solution is added to about 1
to about 5 g textiles. In another embodiment about 25 grams to
about 35 grams of about 400 ppm to 800 ppm organic acid solution is
added to about 1 to about 5 g textiles. In another embodiment about
25 grams to about 35 grams of about 350 ppm to 650 ppm organic acid
solution is added to about 1 to about 5 g textiles.
[0052] If the organic acid precedes addition of the quaternary
ammonium compound the wipe may be dried overnight or for some
shorter time to allow for the textile to become substantially dry.
One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the term
"dry" is relative to the humidity in the ambient air. If the
relative humidity is low a cotton fiber textile is said to be bone
dry when the moisture content is within about 7 to about 9 weight
percent. The present invention does not require that the moisture
content of the textile be "bone dry" before applying the
antimicrobial agent. Rather, the textile may have a moisture
content up to about 15 weight percent and still feel dry to the
touch. Once the textile is dry or substantially dry it is soaked or
immersed in 1000 ppm quaternary ammonium for from about 20 seconds
up to about 24 hours to about 2 days up to 2 years. If the organic
acid precedes addition of the quaternary ammonium compound the wipe
may be immediately soaked or immersed in 1000 ppm quaternary
ammonium for from about 20 seconds up to about 24 hours to about 2
days.
[0053] In an embodiment from about 300 ppm to about 2000 ppm
quaternary ammonium is used to soak the textile, about 350 ppm to
about 1900 ppm quaternary ammonium, about 400 ppm to about 1800 ppm
quaternary ammonium, about 500 ppm to about 1700 ppm quaternary
ammonium, about 600 ppm to about 1600 ppm quaternary ammonium,
about 700 ppm to about 1500 ppm quaternary ammonium, about 800 ppm
to about 1400 ppm quaternary ammonium, about 900 ppm to about 1200
ppm quaternary ammonium, and about 950 ppm to about 1100 ppm
quaternary ammonium.
[0054] In the second option organic acid is added directly onto the
textiles in the presence of quaternary ammonium so that the
quaternary ammonium level is about 1000 ppm and the organic acid
level is about 500 ppm. About 30 grams of 1000 ppm of the organic
acid/quaternary ammonium solution is added to the about 1.5 to
about 3.5 grams of textiles and the textiles are allowed to soak in
the solution for about 24 hours.
[0055] The following non-limiting Examples are provided as
illustrative embodiments of the invention. Notwithstanding that the
numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of
the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in
the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any
numerical values, however, inherently contain certain errors
necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their
respective testing measurements.
Example 1
[0056] Wipes were prepared using Tencel.RTM. textiles. Chemical
compositions provided in the table below were applied to three
different sets of wipes. The chemicals were added to the textile
simultaneously. That is, whenever an organic acid and quaternary
ammonium were applied to the wipes they were applied together (Test
1 and Test 2). The resultant wipes were tested for expression of
the antimicrobial quaternary ammonium compound by using the squeeze
method. The squeeze method was accomplished by squeezing a single
ply 3''.times.3'' textile by hand for about 5 to about 20 seconds
until all free liquid was dispensed and until the textile was no
longer dripping liquid. The amount of expressed liquid was
collected and the amount of quaternary ammonium was tested using
high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Raw Material (% active) Control Test 1 Test
2 Bardac* 205M (50%) 33.3% 33.3% 33.3% Citric acid monohydrate
(100%) 0 16.7% 0 Glacial Acetic acid (100%) 0 0 16.7% Water 66.7%
50% 50% SX 928** Substrate Substrate Substrate *Bardac 205M is
available from Lonza and is a blend of twin chain quaternary
ammonium compounds and alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride
(ADBAC) **SX928 is a 100% TENCEL .RTM. nonwoven textile
manufactured without chemical binder available from Suominen (based
in Poland) having a basis weight of 50 g/m.sup.2, thickness of 0.75
mm, absorbent capacity of 11.5 g/g and an absorbent rate of 1.2
seconds.
[0057] The release of dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride comparing
Test 1 (citric acid as the organic acid) vs. Test 2 (glacial acetic
acid as the organic acid) is shown FIG. 1. The 0 ppm noted in FIG.
1 is the control which provides the amount of quaternary ammonium
alone expressed because 0 ppm organic acid was added to the
samples. The results show that as the concentration of the organic
acid increased, the greater the expression of the quaternary
ammonium compound.
Example 2
[0058] Wipes were prepared as described in Example 1 above. Glacial
acetic acid and citric acid at concentrations of 10 ppm, 50 ppm,
and 500 ppm were separately applied to the Tencel.RTM. substrates
along with Bardac 205 quaternary ammonium. The wipes were prepared
in duplicate. The organic acid and quaternary ammonium chemicals
were added to the textile simultaneously. The chemistry was allowed
to soak the textiles for 24 hours. The resultant wipes were tested
for expression of the antimicrobial quaternary ammonium compound by
using the squeeze method. The squeeze method as explained above was
accomplished, the amount of expressed liquid was collected and the
amount of quaternary ammonium was tested using HPLC.
[0059] The release of acid comparing the different concentrations
of citric acid and the different concentrations of glacial acetic
acid is shown FIG. 2. Note that the acid analysis for 10 ppm acid
treatment is over 100% and is erroneous due to the limit of
detection for HPLC. The release of dimethyl benzyl ammonium
chloride comparing the different concentrations of citric acid and
the different concentrations of glacial acetic acid is provided in
FIG. 3. Again, note that the acid analysis for 10 ppm acid
treatment is over 100% and is erroneous since HPLC cannot detect
such low limits.
Example 3
[0060] Wipes were prepared as described in Example 1 above. Citric
acid at concentrations of 0 ppm, 500 ppm, 1000 ppm, 2000 and 4000
ppm were separately applied to the Tencel.RTM. substrates along
with Bardac 205 quaternary ammonium. The wipes were prepared in
duplicate. The organic acid and quaternary ammonium chemicals were
added to the textile simultaneously. The following is a table
showing the pH of citric acid and acetic acid at varying
concentrations:
TABLE-US-00002 pH of Acetic Concentration pH of Citric Acid Acid 10
ppm 2.48 2.69 50 ppm 2.58 2.62 500 ppm 2.65 2.56
[0061] The chemistry was allowed to soak the textiles for 24 hours.
The resultant wipes were tested for expression of the antimicrobial
quaternary ammonium compound by using the squeeze method. The
squeeze method as described above was employed to express liquid
from the textiles. The expressed liquid was collected and the
amount of quaternary ammonium was tested using HPLC.
[0062] The release of dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride comparing
the different concentrations of citric acid is shown FIG. 4. As the
citric acid concentration increased, the amount of quaternary
ammonium released also increased.
[0063] While typical aspects of embodiment and/or embodiments have
been set forth for the purpose of illustration, the foregoing
description and the accompanying drawings should not be deemed to
be a limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, various
modifications, adaptations, and alternatives may occur to one
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of
the present invention. It should be understood that all such
modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the
sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the
scope of the following claims.
* * * * *