IP Library › Granted Patent US 12708118
Granted Patent B1
US 12708118 · App. 18/388,293 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Compositions and methods for decontamination

Inventor: Patrick D. Burton (Albuquerque, NM)
Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
A01N59/00A01N25/02A01P1/00A61L2/186
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12708118
App. No.
18/388,293
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

The disclosure relates to compositions, methods for making the compositions, and methods for decontaminating substrates wherein the decontaminating compositions comprise a mixture of a peroxide solution and a surfactant composition, wherein (i) the surfactant composition comprises: (a) from about 20% to about 40% xanthan gum, (b) from about 10% to about 25% levulinic acid, (c) from about 32% to about 63% ethyl lactate, and (d) from about 3% to about 7% polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate, wherein all weights are relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition, (ii) the peroxide solution comprises from about 1% to about 12% hydrogen peroxide, and the mixture comprises from about 0.001 g to about 10 g of the surfactant composition per liter of the peroxide solution.

Claims (70)

1 . A decontaminating composition comprising a mixture of a peroxide solution and a surfactant composition, wherein

(i) the surfactant composition comprises:

(a) from about 20% to about 40% xanthan gum,

(b) from about 10% to about 25% levulinic acid,

(c) from about 32% to about 63% ethyl lactate, and

(d) from about 3% to about 7% polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate,

wherein all weights are relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition,

(ii) the peroxide solution comprises from about 1% to about 12% hydrogen peroxide, and

the mixture comprises from about 0.001 g to about 10 g of the surfactant composition per liter of the peroxide solution.

2 . The decontaminating composition of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant composition comprises from about 25% to about 35% by weight xanthan gum, relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition.

3 . The decontaminating composition of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant composition comprises from about 15% to about 23% by weight levulinic acid, relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition.

4 . The decontaminating composition of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant composition comprises from about 40% to about 50% by weight ethyl lactate, relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition.

5 . The decontaminating composition of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant composition comprises from about 4% to about 6% by weight polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate, relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition.

6 . The decontaminating composition of claim 1 , wherein the pH of the mixture is basic.

7 . The decontaminating composition of claim 1 , wherein

(i) the surfactant composition comprises:

(a) from about 25% to about 35% xanthan gum,

(b) from about 15% to about 23% levulinic acid,

(c) from about 40% to about 50% ethyl lactate, and

(d) from about 4% to about 6% polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate,

wherein all weights are relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition,

(ii) the peroxide solution comprises from about 2% to about 8% hydrogen peroxide, and

the mixture comprises from about 0.1 g to about 4 g of the surfactant composition per liter of the peroxide solution.

8 . A method of decontaminating a substrate, comprising:

(A) mixing a peroxide solution with a surfactant composition, wherein

(i) the surfactant composition comprises:

(a) from about 20% to about 40% xanthan gum,

(b) from about 10% to about 25% levulinic acid,

(c) from about 32% to about 63% ethyl lactate, and

(d) from about 3% to about 7% polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate,

wherein all weights are relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition,

(ii) the peroxide solution comprises from about 1% to about 12% hydrogen peroxide, and

the mixture comprises from about 0.001 g to about 10 g of the surfactant composition per liter of the peroxide solution; and

(B) applying the mixture to a substrate.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the surfactant composition comprises from about 25% to about 35% by weight xanthan gum, relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the surfactant composition comprises from about 15% to about 23% by weight levulinic acid, relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the surfactant composition comprises from about 40% to about 50% by weight ethyl lactate, relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the surfactant composition comprises from about 4% to about 6% by weight polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate, relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the pH of the mixture is basic.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein

(i) the surfactant composition comprises:

(a) from about 25% to about 35% xanthan gum,

(b) from about 15% to about 23% levulinic acid,

(c) from about 40% to about 50% ethyl lactate, and

(d) from about 4% to about 6% polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate,

wherein all weights are relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition,

(ii) the peroxide solution comprises from about 2% to about 8% hydrogen peroxide, and

the mixture comprises from about 0.1 g to about 4 g of the surfactant composition per liter of the peroxide solution.

15 . A method of making a decontaminating composition comprising mixing a peroxide solution with a surfactant composition, wherein

(i) the surfactant composition comprises:

(a) from about 20% to about 40% xanthan gum,

(b) from about 10% to about 25% levulinic acid,

(c) from about 32% to about 63% ethyl lactate, and

(d) from about 3% to about 7% polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate,

wherein all weights are relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition,

(ii) the peroxide solution comprises from about 1% to about 12% hydrogen peroxide, and

the mixture comprises from about 0.001 g to about 10 g of the surfactant composition per liter of the peroxide solution.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein pH of the mixture is basic.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the surfactant composition comprises from about 25% to about 35% by weight xanthan gum, relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the surfactant composition comprises from about 15% to about 23% by weight levulinic acid, relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the surfactant composition comprises from about 40% to about 50% by weight ethyl lactate, relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein

(i) the surfactant composition comprises:

(a) from about 25% to about 35% xanthan gum,

(b) from about 15% to about 23% levulinic acid,

(c) from about 40% to about 50% ethyl lactate, and

(d) from about 4% to about 6% polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate,

wherein all weights are relative to the total weight of the surfactant composition,

(ii) the peroxide solution comprises from about 2% to about 8% hydrogen peroxide, and

the mixture comprises from about 0.1 g to about 4 g of the surfactant composition per liter of the peroxide solution.