Peracid/peroxide composition and use thereof as an anti-microbial and a photosensitizer

1. A microbicidal and decontaminant composition comprising:

an aqueous solution of peroxides and peracids having equilibrium reaction products;

an anionic photoreactive surfactant comprising a phosphate ester comprising a hydrophilic polyoxyethylene chain having a range of PEO-3 to PEO-9 and an R-terminal group selected from the group consisting of a lipophilic alkyl chain having a range of C9 to C13 and an nonylphenol; and

a non-ionic polymer containing lactam which is polyvinyl pyrrolidone in an amount from approximately 0.015% to approximately 6% by weight, wherein said non-ionic polymer containing lactam interacts with said peroxides and said peracids by forming complexes; and wherein said non-ionic polymer containing lactam forms associations and adducts with said anionic photoreactive surfactant containing phosphate ester, said associations and adducts providing additional reactive chemistry that enhances the microbiocidal efficacy of the compositions.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said peroxides comprise hydrogen peroxide.

3. The composition of claim 2 wherein said hydrogen peroxide concentration is between approximately 0.1% and approximately 10% by weight.

4. The composition of claim 2 wherein said hydrogen peroxide concentration is between approximately 0.1% and approximately 6% by weight.

5. The composition of claim 2 wherein said hydrogen peroxide concentration is approximately 4% by weight.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said peracids comprise peroxyacetic acid.

7. The composition of claim 6 , wherein said peroxyacid concentration is in the range of approximately 50 ppm to approximately 3% by weight.

8. The composition of claim 6 , wherein said peroxyacetic acid concentration is in the range of approximately 0.2% by weight.

9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said equilibrium reaction products comprise acetic acid.

10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said non-ionic polymer containing lactam concentration is in the range from approximately 0.1% to approximately 3% by weight.

11. The composition of claim 1 wherein said non-ionic polymer containing lactam concentration is approximately 0.1% by weight.

12. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said anionic photoreactive surfactant containing phosphate ester comprises a mixture comprising ethoxylated phosphate mono- and diesters.

13. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said anionic photoreactive surfactant containing phosphate ester comprises a mixture comprising phosphate mono- and diesters of nonyl phenol ethoxylate.

14. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said anionic photoreactive surfactant containing phosphate ester comprises a mixture comprising phosphate mono- and diesters of tri-decyl alcohol ethoxylate.

15. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said anionic photoreactive surfactant containing phosphate ester and said non-ionic polymer containing lactam assist a multifunctional photo-enhanced microbicidal action of said composition.

16. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said non-ionic polymer containing lactam interacts with said peroxides and said peracids further by formation of adducts.

17. The composition of claim 1 wherein said composition is in the form of a concentrate.

18. A method of decontaminating a surface, comprising the step of applying a solution comprising the composition of claim 1 to said surface.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising exposing said surface to light.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said light comprises ultraviolet light.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein said light comprises ultraviolet light with wavelengths in the range of approximately 170 nm to approximately 400 nm.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein said light comprises ultraviolet light with wavelengths in the range of approximately 210 nm to approximately 310 nm.

23. A method of decontaminating smooth or porous surfaces comprising applying the composition of claim 1 to said surface.

24. A method of killing bacterial spores comprising:

applying the composition of claim 1 to said spores; and

exposing said spores to light substantially lacking in ultraviolet light content.

25. An antimicrobial composition comprising:

4% by weight hydrogen peroxide;

2000 ppm peroxyacetic acid;

an equilibrium quantity of acetic acid;

0.1% to 1% by weight of an non-ionic polymer containing lactam which is polyvinyl pyrrolidone, wherein said non-ionic polymer containing lactam interacts with said hydrogen peroxide and said peroxyacetic acid; and

0.05% to 0.5% by weight of an anionic photoreactive surfactant comprising a phosphate ester comprising a hydrophilic polyoxyethylene chain having a range of PEO-3 to PEO-9 and an R-terminal group selected from the group consisting of a lipophilic alkyl chain having a range of C9 to C13 and an nonylphenol, wherein said non-ionic polymer containing lactam forms associations and adducts with said anionic photoreactive surfactant containing phosphate ester, said associations and adducts providing additional reactive chemistry that enhances the microbiocidal efficacy of the composition.

26. The composition of claim 25 wherein said anionic photoreactive surfactant containing phosphate ester comprises a mixture of comprising ethoxylated phosphate mono- and diesters.

27. The composition of claim 25 wherein said anionic photoreactive surfactant containing phosphate ester comprises a mixture comprising phosphate mono- and diesters of nonylphenol ethoxylate.

28. A binary microbicidal and decontaminant composition comprising:

a first part comprising a stabilized solution comprising hydrogen peroxide, acetic acid, and peroxyacetic acid; and

a second part comprising an anionic photoreactive surfactant comprising a phosphate ester comprising a hydrophilic polyoxyethylene chain having a range of PEO-3 to PEO-9 and an R-terminal group selected from the group consisting of a lipophilic alkyl chain having a range of C9 to C13 and an nonylphenol, and a non-ionic polymer containing lactam, which is polyvinyl pyrrolidone said photoreactive surfactant containing phosphate ester;

wherein said first part and said second part when mixed form a microbicidal solution having an amount of polyvinyl pyrrolidone from approximately 0.015% to approximately 6% by weight, such that said non-ionic polymer interacts with said hydrogen peroxide and said peroxyacetic acid, and wherein said polymer forms associations and adducts with said surfactant, said associations and adducts providing additional reactive chemistry that enhances the microbiocidal efficacy of the composition.

29. The composition of claim 28 wherein said second part further comprises minors.

30. The composition of claim 28 wherein said microbicidal solution further comprises a balance of water.

31. The composition as claimed in claim 28 wherein at least one of

said first part and said second part are in the form of a concentrate.

32. The composition of claim 25 wherein said antimicrobial composition is also a sterilant.